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New Jersey’s mayors want to have their say on any legalization of marijuana.

They are an emerging constituency and the clout they wield may sway lawmakers when the final vote is taken in Trenton.

Representatives from the New Jersey League of Municipalities, the New Jersey Urban Mayors Association and the New Jersey Conference of Mayors have been making the rounds since two committees approved the legislation, (S2703) on Nov. 26, meeting with state lawmakers and the Murphy administration, League President and Fanwood Mayor Colleen Mahr said

Mayors also are directly dialing their Assembly and Senate representatives to share thoughts about the law, she said.

One of their chief concerns is the 2 percent excise tax. The mayors want 5 percent.

Based on research and talking with local officials in states with legal weed, 2 percent won’t cover the anticipated demand on services from the board of health, code enforcement, law enforcement and education, Mahr said.

“We know that implementation will fall heavily on local municipalities, and, when citizens have concerns, they are going to call town hall,” Mahr said.

Senate President Stephen Sweeney, D-Gloucester, said he’s keeping an open mind, but he’s dubious about giving 5 percent. Higher taxes may keep people buying from a drug dealer, he said.

Sweeney has repeatedly said he won’t support a state tax higher than 12 percent for the same reason. He said he could accept another 2 percent for municipalities which host weed businesses, but five seems steep.

The legislation will include money to train police officers to become drug recognition experts, he added.

“I did not say no, but I’ve said show me how and why,” Sweeney said. “All these numbers are a guess.”

Mahr said she sees Sweeney’s point and is grateful mayors are getting a seat at the negotiating table. Industry insiders say they welcome the mayors’ input because they may help convince a state lawmaker on the fence to vote yes.

Mahr also want to hear more about the companion legislation on expunging marijuana-related arrests.

“A stated objective of the bill is to address the inequities and the failures of the War on Drugs,” Mahr said. “Yet the expungement provision only addresses convictions for a small subset of actions that are now proposed to be legalized.

“My goal is — regardless of whether a town is going to opt out or choose to participate — is to make sure the bill passed reflects the needs and concerns of local government, and benefits those towns that want to participate” Mahr said.

“It is municipalities that will ultimately lead the way as this new industry gets off the ground,” Mahr said.

The negotiations will continue into 2019. Legislative leaders left a meeting Thursday afternoon without reaching an accord with Gov. Phil Murphy on the tax rate and other key details.

The article first appeared in NJ Cannabis Insider.

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