2C:35B-2. Findings, declarations regarding civil actions against drug dealers

2. The Legislature finds and declares:

a. Although the criminal justice system is an important weapon in the battle against controlled dangerous substances, the civil justice system can and must also be used. The civil justice system can provide an avenue of compensation for those who have suffered harm as a result of the marketing and distribution of controlled dangerous substances. The persons who have joined the marketing of controlled dangerous substances should bear the cost of the harm caused by that market in the community.

b. The threat of liability under this act serves as an additional deterrent to a recognizable segment of the network for marketing controlled dangerous substances. Because of this threat, a person who has assets unrelated to the sale of controlled dangerous substances, who markets controlled dangerous substances at the workplace, who encourages friends to become users, is likely to decide that the added cost of entering the market is not worth the benefit. This is particularly true for a first-time, casual dealer who has not yet made substantial profits.

c. This act is intended to provide a mechanism whereby the costs of the injuries caused by illegal drug use will be borne by those who benefit from illegal drug dealing.

d. This act imposes liability against all participants in the marketing of controlled dangerous substances, including small dealers, particularly those in the workplace, who are not usually the focus of criminal investigations. Small dealers increase the number of users and ultimately are the people who become large dealers. It is these small dealers who are most likely to be deterred by the threat of liability.

L.2001, c.114, s.2.