Jersey City Prosecutor Aims to End Pot Prosecutions in N.J.
*By Jacqueline Corba*
The chief prosecutor of Jersey City, N.J., said the state legislature could pass a bill legalizing recreational marijuana before the end of the year.
"If we're able to get a vote soon enough," prosecutor Jake Hudnut told Cheddar on Tuesday, "conceivably there will never be another person prosecuted in New Jersey for simple marijuana possession, and I really think that should be the benchmark."
Hudnut stopped prosecuting marijuana cases on July 19, less than a month after taking office.
About 30,000 people are arrested in marijuana cases each year in New Jersey, which holds the record for the [second highest arrests in the nation behind Wyoming](https://www.nj.com/marijuana/2018/04/new_jersey_arrests_more_people_for_marijuana_than.html).
Hudnut said people of color are three times more likely to be arrested or prosecuted for marijuana possession.
"One of the most troubling parts of my career as a defense attorney was standing next to so many young men of color pleading guilty to marijuana when I knew so many of my white friends were doing the same thing, but they were able to do it without fear of being arrested and prosecuted," said Hudnut, who spent seven years as a defense attorney.
New Jersey's Attorney General Gurbur Grewal briefly stepped in, saying Hudnut [overstepped his authority](https://nj.gov/oag/newsreleases18/AG-Grewal-to-Prosecutors--Municipal-Decriminalization.pdf), but himself formed a working group of 20ーincluding Hudnutーto explore the state's handling of marijuana cases and ultimately paused prosecutions himself.
Hudnut said if a bill could be put in front of the legislature before the AG's [moratorium](https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/24/nyregion/nj-marijuana-medical-decriminalization.html) on prosecutions ends, it would effectively end the prohibition on marijuana in New Jersey for the foreseeable future.
For more, [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/state-of-weed-prosecution-in-jersey-city).
Texas authorities say the gunman who massacred 21 people at an elementary school was in the building for over an hour before he was killed by law enforcement officers.
After more than a decade of covering mass shootings, I am struck by the resilience of communities to rebuild after unbelievable tragedy. I am also struck by the numbness. The numbness we must maintain to tell the stories of the victims, explain the crimes of the shooter.
After the latest school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, it wouldn't be a surprise if the traumatic event takes a toll on your mental health — or that of your children. Amy Morin, the editor-in-chief of Verywell Mind and licensed psychotherapist, joined Cheddar News to share coping skills and offer advice about how to talk to your children about these increasingly common tragic events. “I think its important for parents to know what the school’s plan is, what the teacher's plan is, and then we can have our own plans with kids too," she noted. "It's so important for us to talk to kids about how they're feeling — guaranteed they've heard something about it, so ask them what they know already, use age-appropriate language, and rather than just dismissing their fears by saying don't worry about it or I'm sure you'll be safe, talk to them about their feelings."
Cheddar News reporter Megan Pratz brings the latest from the scene of yesterday's horrific school shooting at a Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. Now the second-deadliest school shooting in U.S. history with 19 children and two adults killed, Pratz goes into comments by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, details about the deceased shooter, and reactions from members of the community.
The world of mobile app design is changing quickly, and it’s farewell to color, quirks and exotic fonts. Gather one and all, for a new age of app interfaces has arrived right under our noses, with simplicity being the style of choice. With nearly 3 million apps available on Google Play Store, and 1 in 4 apps getting deleted after just one use, you’d think standing out would be a wise move. Watch and see why blending in can help an app’s chances of survival.
If you're thinking of securing a restaurant reservation for Mother's Day, you should probably pick up the phone and call now. Lawrence Banton looks into the dining rush around the special holiday.
Brian Stewart, the U.S. brand ambassador for Belvedere Vodka, joined Cheddar News to show off the cocktail called the Belvedere Raspberry Circuit to pair with the Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix, a race getting underway for the very first time on May 8. “I wanted this drink to be very approachable, but I also wanted to drink to be as luxurious and exciting as the race itself," he said.
