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A day before state legislative committees will discuss a ballot question to legalize marijuana in New Jersey, opponents are pushing back, calling on lawmakers to stop “rushing” the issue and vote down the proposed question.

Members of NJ-RAMP (Responsible Approaches to Marijuana Policy) and other anti-marijuana organizers gathered at the Statehouse Annex Wednesday to ask lawmakers to pump the brakes.

“We fought hard last year to make sure this did not come to fruition,” said Stephen Reid, NJ-RAMP’s executive director. “This is just one way to skirt the system and invite big business into New Jersey.”

State Senate and Assembly committees on Thursday will hold hearings on a proposed constitutional amendment that would legalize marijuana.

In order to get it on next November’s election ballot, the amendment needs to win by either a three-fifths majority in both houses, or by a simple majority in votes this year and in 2020. That makes it likely that the amendment will get votes in both houses sometime this month.

Gov. Phil Murphy made legalizing marijuana one of his campaign promises, but the fight has hit several setbacks. A vote on a legalization bill was pulled in March because the state Senate did not have enough votes to pass it. While another effort had gained traction in recent weeks, Senate President Stephen Sweeney announced late last month he would not take the bill to the floor, and instead move it to the ballot for voters to decide.

Those who spoke Wednesday morning took issue with the brevity of a ballot question, which leaves out vital details on how various forms of marijuana would be regulated. That’s also a complaint from supporters of legal weed who worry a short question will fail to address social justice issues that have followed the black market.

Currently, the question reads as follows:

“Do you approve amending the Constitution to legalize a controlled form of marijuana called ‘cannabis’? Only adults at least 21 years of age could use cannabis. The State commission created to oversee the State’s medical cannabis program would also oversee the new, personal use cannabis market. Cannabis products would be subject to the State sales tax. If authorized by the Legislature, a municipality may pass a local ordinance to charge a local tax on cannabis products.”

An interpretation of the question specifies the soon-to-be appointed Cannabis Regulatory Commission for medical marijuana would oversee the market. It also says cannabis products would be subject to state sales tax, and municipalities impose a local tax, too, if authorized by lawmakers.

“We need to take a breath,” said Mary Pat Angelini, who served as a Republican in the Assembly from 2008 to 2016. “We need to look at what has happened in other states. We have a unique opportunity to learn from other states.”

The group fears legalizing marijuana will lead to increased use among youth, fatal car crashes and youth suicide. Data on those points in states that have legalized weed has largely remained inconclusive.

Angelini said lawmakers who have moved the issue to the ballot rather than letting legalization die with a no vote have “shirked" their duty to the public and instead thrust it upon citizens who will “vote without a full perspective.”

If the question goes on the ballot, millions are expected to be spent in advertising and lobbying. Reid said NJ-RAMP has little in the bank to compete with pro-cannabis corporate interests, and likely will not have ads or billboards. Instead, they’ll work on the ground, going door-to-door to inform voters.

“We are the David in the Goliath flight,” he said.

Amanda Hoover can be reached at ahoover@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @amandahoovernj. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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