State and federal law declared marijuana as dangerous as LSD and heroin nearly 50 years ago.

But a recent state court decision said it's time New Jersey revisit that decision, as the acceptance of cannabis as medicine rapidly grows.

And New Jersey's top cop wants to hear from you on this subject.

Later this month, the state Attorney General's Office will host four public hearings seeking input as to whether marijuana should remain a "schedule 1" drug, meaning it has a high potential for abuse and no accepted medicinal value.

Scrapping this designation for pot would not lead to legalizing or decriminalizing the drug's use, according to a statement from Attorney General Gurbir Grewal's office. But it could reduce the severity of criminal penalties, or other ways it is regulated.

The hearings are a direct result of a state Appellate Court ruling in October that concluded the Division of Consumer Affairs had the authority to re-classify marijuana from the "schedule 1" category of the most harmful of drugs.

"Medical benefits from the use of marijuana not known in 1971, when the Controlled Dangerous Substance Act became effective...and impediments to its lawful use as a result of its Schedule 1 classification, are abundant and glaringly apparent now," according to the opinion by Judge Michael Guadagno.

The ruling was based on a lawsuit filed by a man serving a life sentence under the drug kingpin statute for numerous marijuana distribution arrests.

Genny Barbour, a teenage girl in Maple Shade with autism, also joined the case, as her family fought for her right to use cannabis oil at school to control her seizures in 2015.

Former Gov. Chris Christie said he would appeal the decision, but he finished his term in mid-January. Gov. Phil Murphy announced in February he would abide by the ruling.

The Attorney General's Office offered suggestions on which topics should be addressed at the hearings.

Marijuana's actual or relative potential for abuse;

Scientific evidence of marijuana's pharmacological effect, if known;

State of current scientific knowledge regarding marijuana;

Marijuana's history and current pattern of abuse;

The scope, duration, and significance of abuse;

What, if any, risk there is to the public health;

Marijuana's psychic or physiological dependence liability;

Whether the substance is an immediate precursor of a substance already controlled under state law.

Two of the public hearings -- billed as "informal conferences" -- will be held in Newark at the Division of Consumer Affairs office, 124 Halsey Street, on April 19 at 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The other two will be at the Richard J. Hughes Justice Complex, 25 Market Street, Trenton on April 24 at 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Requests to speak should be submitted in writing to Maryann Sheehan, Director of Legislative and Regulatory Affairs, Division of Consumer Affairs, at PO Box 45027, Newark, NJ 07101 or electronically at: www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/Proposals/Pages/default.aspx no later than April 12. People who do not register will be allowed to speak, time permitting. People may also submit written comments to one of those addresses in lieu of testifying by April 12.

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Susan K. Livio may be reached at slivio@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @SusanKLivio. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.