New Jersey Assembly Bill ACR76

New Jersey 2024-2025 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/9/24
• Refer: 1/9/24

Caption

Proposes constitutional amendment to dedicate tax revenue from legal sale of recreational marijuana for mental health, addiction recovery and drug rehabilitation services.

Impact

If this constitutional amendment is approved by voters, it will establish a dedicated funding stream within the state's general fund that will be exclusively reserved for mental health and addiction-related services. This ensures that the state will not use these designated funds for any other purpose, providing a level of financial security for these vital services. Moreover, it may help to alleviate some of the financial pressures faced by mental health providers and rehabilitation services that often struggle for adequate funding.

Summary

Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 76 (ACR76) proposes a significant amendment to the New Jersey Constitution, which aims to allocate tax revenue generated from the legal sale of recreational marijuana specifically for mental health, addiction recovery, and drug rehabilitation services. This new amendment would modify Article VIII, Section 1 of the Constitution by setting aside an amount equal to the tax collected from marijuana sales for these targeted services. This financial allocation seeks to enhance available resources for mental health and substance abuse interventions at a critical time when drug recovery initiatives are increasingly needed.

Contention

Supporters of ACR76 argue that the amendment is a prudent use of tax revenue, capitalizing on the state’s move towards the legalization of recreational marijuana to support crucial public health services. However, potential points of contention could arise regarding the sufficiency of tax revenue generated from marijuana sales to meet the demands of mental health and addiction treatment services. Critics may express concerns about the reliance on what they perceive as an unstable revenue source and the implications of limiting how tax revenue can be utilized by the state budget.