BELVIDERE — Betting that the recent legalization of marijuana in Colorado and Washington state will eventually spread to the East Coast, a California-based agricultural company says land it owns in New Jersey could easily transition to hydroponic cannabis cultivation, The Record reported.

A California-based agricultural company says land it owns in New Jersey could transition to cannabis cultivation, that is, if the state legalizes the drug first, according to a report.

Terra Tech Corp. owns an acre of land in Lincoln Park and currently operates a five-acre greenhouse in Belvidere, which CEO Derek Peterson told the newspaper was "built with cannabis in mind."

However, until legislation in Trenton allows for businesses to begin growing the plant, Peterson told the newspaper the new greenhouse will allow its Edible Gardens center to increase its production of other hydroponic plants, including basil and tarragon. The new greenhouse, which is completely hydroponic, could transition to grow cannabis, the newspaper reported.

According to NJBIZ, Terra Tech is also exploring its options or has already set up shop in other states — Indiana, Nevada and Florida — with the aim of pursuing developing markets.

Peterson told the newspaper that the company is in it for the long haul, as he doesn't expect legalization in New Jersey to happen under Gov. Chris Christie.

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The Star-Ledger reported

earlier this month that Christie has vowed to oppose legislation brought by state Sen. Nicholas Scutari (D-Union) that would make the sale and possession of marijuana legal in New Jersey.

"I'm not going to do that on my watch," Christie told a crowd in Fairfield on April 9, according to the newspaper. "I'm just not. I don't think it’s the right thing to do for our state."

Nearly 60 percent of New Jersey adults say alcohol and tobacco pose a greater hazard than marijuana, according to a Monmouth University/Asbury Park Press poll released earlier this month. The poll also indicated that residents are split on whether to legalize pot, with about 48 percent in favor of making it lawful to buy a small amount and 47 percent opposed to it.