N.J. considers tougher penalties for dealing ‘wet’ drug combination

A New Jersey Senate committee has unanimously backed a measure that would increase penalties for dealers of a dangerous drug combination.

 

Sen. Donald Norcross says the Drug Dealer Accountability Act was prompted by the decapitation of a 2-year-old boy and the fatal slashing of a 6-year-old. He says those crimes, which both occurred in Camden, were linked to use of the drug known as “wet” that’s created by dipping marijuana in PCP.

“It is a horrific drug that causes paranoia, delusional behavior, a disconnect from the body, and they tend to have superhuman strength,” said Norcross, D-Camden. “It’s literally a time bomb walking in our neighborhoods, and we have to stop it.”

For the first time, the legislation ties the dealer to offenses committed by someone on the drug.

Norcross says that will act as a strong deterrent by allowing prosecutors to charge dealers with a crime one degree lower than the most serious offense committed by users.