legalize-marijuana.jpg

Marijuana growing at a medical marijuana dispensary in Woodbridge. Sen. Nicholas Scutari wants New Jersey to legalize the sale and possession of marijuana, not just for medicinal purposes.

(Andrew Mills/The Star-Ledger)



TRENTON —Legalizing the sale and possession of marijuana in New Jersey has some civil rights advocates giddy over the idea but others would like to see the proposal go up in smoke.

Gov. Chris Christie, who has the final say over the bills that reach his desk, has said several times he is against the legalization of marijuana. That continues to be his position, his spokesman, Michael Drewniak, said today.

State Sen. Nicholas Scutari (D-Union), who said he plans to introduce legislation legalizing marijuana, said he knows he has a lot of convincing to do with Christie and his fellow lawmakers, but he wants to start the discussion.

He said he is using Colorado as a model. That state began allowing the sale of marijuana for recreational use on Jan. 1. Washington State's law legalizing marijuana willl take effect later this year.

Jay Lassiter, a medical marijuana advocate, questioned why Scutari didn’t push for the issue to be placed on the ballot in November to circumvent a Christie veto. He said the Assembly and Senate, controlled by Democrats, could have come up with enough votes to push through legalization sooner.

“The ballot would be the only way we could get it quickly. The fact that we’re doing it legislatively automatically implies that the process will be longer and more drawn out,” he said.

Lassiter said legalizing marijuana in New Jersey would also fix problems with the state’s medical marijuana law, which he called “a mess” because of its strict requirements for patients.

But, he said, support is growing for legalization.

“The iron is hot. The political winds are more conducive,” he said. “Bring it on!”

Rev. Errol Cooper, head of prison ministry for the First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens in Somerset, said he would like to see the day when there aren’t so many people of color in jail for minor drug offenses.

But he’d rather see it come about by decriminalizing certain drug offenses or knocking them down to summonses.

“We’re moving too quickly for our own good,” he said. “To lessen the penalty for it is one thing, but to legalize it across the board is another. We need to wait a few years and see what transpires in Colorado. I don’t think it’s wise to jump on the band wagon with everyone else just because it’s the hot trend.”

South Brunswick Police Chief Raymond Hayducka, the immediate past president of the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police, said the organization has always been against legalizing marijuana and most likely will be opposed to this bill as well.

“In the past, we have been opposed to it completely. We are going to review his proposal but it’s pretty safe to say we’ll oppose that, too,” Hayducka said.

“We see the effects of marijuana. We see it’s problematic for law enforcement agencies. We don’t need additional problems,” he added.

Hayducka said there isn’t enough research supporting legalization.

But Udi Ofer, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey, said studies have revealed one big inequity.

"Studies have repeatedly shown that whites and blacks consume marijuana at similar rates, yet people of color overwhelmingly suffer the criminal consequences,” Ofer said. “In New Jersey, African-Americans are arrested for marijuana possession at a rate of close to 3-1 when compared to whites, despite similar usage rates. The time has come to tax, regulate, and legalize marijuana for personal use.”

FOLLOW THE STAR-LEDGER: TWITTER • FACEBOOK • GOOGLE+

MORE UNION COUNTY NEWS