New Jersey statute
N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5.3b — Crimes relative to synthetic cannabinoid; degree
Current through P.L.2025, c.346, and J.R.22
Part of Chapter 35, New Jersey Statutes.
Criminal charges under this statute
Full text of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5.3b
Statutory text current through the P.L.2025, c.346, and J.R.22. This publication reproduces the official text of the New Jersey Statutes from the statute files published by the New Jersey Legislature; it is not the official statutes of the State of New Jersey.
2. a. It is a crime for any person knowingly or purposely to manufacture, distribute or dispense, or to possess or have under his control with intent to manufacture, distribute, or dispense a synthetic cannabinoid.
b. A person who violates subsection a. of this section where the quantity involved, including adulterants and dilutants, is one ounce or more is guilty of a crime of the second degree.
c. A person who violates subsection a. of this section where the quantity involved, including adulterants and dilutants, is less than one ounce is guilty of a crime of the third degree.
d. As used in this chapter, the term, "synthetic cannabinoid" shall include any material, compound, mixture, or preparation that is not included in Schedules I, II, III, IV, and V, other than as a synthetic cannabinoid; is not a federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved drug; and contains any quantity of the following substances, their salts, isomers (whether optical, positional, or geometric), homologues (analogs), and salts of isomers and homologues (analogs), unless specifically excepted, whenever the existence of these salts, isomers, homologues (analogs), and salts of isomers and homologues (analogs) is possible within the specific chemical designation:
(1) Naphthoylindoles. Any compound containing a 3-(1-naphthoyl) indole structure with substitution at the nitrogen atom of the indole ring by an alkyl, haloalkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkylmethyl, cyc1oalkylethyl, 1-(N-methyl-2-piperidinyl)methyl, or 2-(4morpholinyl)ethyl group, whether or not further substituted in the indole ring to any extent and whether or not substituted in the naphthyl ring to any extent. This structural class includes but is not limited to: JWH 015; JWH 018; JWH 019; JWH 073; JWH 081; JWH 122; JWH 200; JWH 210; JWH 398; AM 2201; and WIN 55 212.
(2) Naphthylmethylindoles. Any compound containing a 1H-indol-3-yl-(1-naphthyl)methane structure with substitution at the nitrogen atom of the indole ring by an alkyl, haloalkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkylmethyl, cycloalkylethyl, 1-(N-methyl-2piperidinyl)methyl, or 2-(4-morpholinyl)ethyl group, whether or not further substituted in the indole ring to any extent and whether or not substituted in the naphthyl ring to any extent. This structural class includes but is not limited to: JWH-175; and JWH-184.
(3) Naphthoylpyrroles. Any compound containing a 3-(1naphthoyl)pyrrole structure with substitution at the nitrogen atom of the pyrrole ring by an alkyl, haloalkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkylmethyl, cycloalkylethyl, 1-(N-methyl-2piperidinyl)methyl, or 2-(4-morpholinyl)ethyl group, whether or not further substituted in the pyrrole ring to any extent and whether or not substituted in the naphthyl ring to any extent. This structural class includes but is not limited to JWH 307.
(4) Naphthylmethylindenes. Any compound containing a naphthylideneindene structure with substitution at the 3-position of the indene ring by an alkyl, haloalkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkylmethyl, cycloalkylethyl, 1-(N-methyl-2-piperidinyl)methyl, or 2-(4-morpholinyl)ethyl group, whether or not further substituted in the indene ring to any extent and whether or not substituted in the naphthyl ring to any extent. This structural class includes but is not limited to JWH-176.
(5) Phenylacetylindoles. Any compound containing a 3-phenylacetylindole structure with substitution at the nitrogen atom of the indole ring by an alkyl, haloalkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkylmethyl, cycloalkylethyl, 1-(N-methyl-2-piperidinyl)methyl, or 2-(4morpholinyl)ethyl group, whether or not further substituted in the indole ring to any extent and whether or not substituted in the phenyl ring to any extent. This structural class includes but is not limited to: RCS-8 (SR-18); JWH 250; JWH 203; JWH-251; and JWH-302.
(6) Cyclohexylphenols. Any compound containing a 2-(3hydroxycyclohexyl)phenol structure with substitution at the 5-position of the phenolic ring by an alkyl, haloalkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkylmethyl, cycloalkylethyl, 1-(N-methyl-2piperidinyl)methyl, or 2-(4-morpholinyl)ethyl group, whether or not substituted in the cyclohexyl ring to any extent. This structural class includes but is not limited to CP 47,497 (and homologues(analogs)); cannabicyclohexanol; and CP 55, 940.
(7) Benzoylindoles. Any compound containing a 3-(benzoyl)indole structure with substitution at the nitrogen atom of the indole ring by an alkyl, haloalkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkylmethyl, cycloalkylethyl, 1-(N-methyl-2-piperidinyl)methyl, or 2-(4morpholinyl)ethyl group, whether or not further substituted in the indole ring to any extent and whether or not substituted in the phenyl ring to any extent. This structural class includes but is not limited to: AM 694; Pravadoline (WIN 48,098); RCS 4; and AM-679.
(8)[2,3-Dihydro-5-methyl-3-(4-morpholinylmethyl)pyrrolo[1,2,3-de]-1, 4-benzoxazin-6-yl]-1-napthalenylmethanone. This structural class includes but is not limited to WIN 55,212-2.
(9) (6aR, 10aR)-9-(hydroxymethyl)-6, 6-dimethyl-3-(2-methyloctan-2-yl)-6a,7,10,10a-tetrahydrobenzo[c]chromen-l-ol 7370. This structural class includes but is not limited to HU-210.
(10) Adamantoylindoles. Any compound containing a 3-(1adamantoyl)indole structure with substitution at the nitrogen atom of the indole ring by an alkyl, haloalkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkylmethyl, cycloalkylethyl, 1-(N-methyl-2-piperidinyl)methyl, or 2-(4-morpholinyl)ethyl group, whether or not further substituted in the adamantyl ring system to any extent. This structural class includes but is not limited to AM-1248.
(11) Any other synthetic chemical compound that is a cannabinoid receptor agonist and mimics the pharmacological effect of naturally occurring cannabinoids that is not listed in Schedules II through V or is not an FDA approved drug.
L.2013, c.35, s.2.
Official sources
Legal terms used in this section
Questions this section answers
What degree of offense is crimes relative to synthetic cannabinoid; degree in New Jersey?
It depends on the circumstances: crimes relative to synthetic cannabinoid; degree ranges from a crime of the third degree to a crime of the second degree in New Jersey under N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5.3b.
Synthetic cannabinoid - one ounce or more: crime of the second degree (N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5.3b) · Synthetic cannabinoid - less than one ounce: crime of the third degree (N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5.3b)
Which New Jersey statute covers crimes relative to synthetic cannabinoid; degree?
Crimes relative to synthetic cannabinoid; degree is governed by N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5.3b (Crimes relative to synthetic cannabinoid; degree).
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.