As Governor Murphy noted today, community violence intervention programs are proving to be effective tools in reducing crime.

Now, a number of those organizations are gearing up to share a part of new funding being made available through a fund created within New Jersey's recreational cannabis industry to reinvest in the communities most in need.

Melissa Rose Cooper reports.

A lot of us out here, like, you know, we was born and raised in know we're funding community.

Prime example, we have community health care workers that are a part of age group.

They either suffer on the violence, interpersonal violence, or they, you know, we was raised in the community.

So I feel as though like we can be able to give back to the community and help them because, you know, when people come in, we're meeting them at their bedside, the most.

Vulnerable moment, which is why now is the sheriff of Newark Community Street Team says its hospital violence intervention program with University Hospital is a much needed initiative.

Health care workers partner up with community advocates in an effort to reduce crime by providing various crisis intervention assistance for victims and their families, including counseling, conflict mediation and access to social services.

Sharif knows firsthand the impact a program like this can make, having lost her son's father to gun violence.

It made me feel like I needed to put more effort and more like I wanted to help the community because I felt like if we had this program allowed when he was alive, I felt like he would still be here.

The program is one of nearly a dozen across New Jersey set to share $5.2 million in state funding to assist with crime reduction.

The money will come from the Cannabis Regulatory Enforcement Assistance Marketplace Modernization Fund, which reinvests in communities most affected by the criminalization of marijuana.

This reinvestment is going to, you know, directly make this state healthier and sustainable.

So I think that's really something that New Jersey is pioneering on as far as, you know, being able to, you know, identify, you know, what many felt that, you know, they have, you know, really made, you know, many people in our community vulnerable and entering the justice system to kind of like we franchised them, give them restore the rights, and then also reinvesting in the communities that's going to have a long term impact.

Positive impacts to Chirali Patel of Blaze responsibly is helping clients achieve.

So you've done expungement throughout the state of New Jersey, helped over 800 people last year with free legal services.

And we also do a lot of free education for the community that's done through social media and online presence.

But while the cannabis industry is providing more opportunities for residents, Patel says there are still some concerns.

The reality of not having access to traditional banking and capital is what leads to a lot of issues that we're seeing right now because real estate is tight.

So when you add the fact that municipalities get to opt in and create their own zones, you're already restricting the areas where they can operate out of.

And then if you don't have the capital to acquire that real estate, you're kind of out of luck.

But she's optimistic.

Things will improve.

Dr. Collette Adams believes the reinvestment of cannabis funding for hospital based violence intervention programs is another step in the right direction.

We are pleased that we're refunded for another cycle, for another program here.

And what that means for us is that we get to continue this great work, this hospital and other hospitals that have been awarded.

It's an expensive undertaking to employ an entire team that is focused, completely, really focused.

Imagine a team that is focused completely on working with individuals in that who've come to the hospital who are victims of crime.

This funding allows us to keep that going.

Positive Signs.

The cannabis industry is helping to keep people off the streets and try to save more lives.

For NJ Spotlight News.

I'm Melissa Ross Cooper.