"Jersey Shore Towns Struggle with Rowdy Teens and Marijuana Law"

Officials and residents of several beachside towns in New Jersey are expressing concerns that the state's criminal justice reforms, including the decriminalization of marijuana, are emboldening rowdy teenagers to engage in disruptive and illegal behavior on beaches and boardwalks. The laws, designed to keep more juveniles out of the court system, have limited police officers' interactions with teenagers. Incidents of underage drinking, drug use, fights, assaults, and property damage have been reported, prompting some lawmakers to propose rolling back parts of the laws and reinstating fines for underage possession of alcohol and marijuana.