By Leo Bridgewater and Scott Rudder

When you look at us and our backgrounds, on the surface, most people would not necessarily see two people with a lot in common. One grew up in the capital City of Trenton, the other in the woods of the Pine Barrens. Different childhoods. Different experiences. Yet we share many powerful bonds: We are both fathers, Army veterans, and both politically active, although in opposite political parties. And we have independently fought for years to legalize cannabis.

It was the common ground of ending cannabis prohibition that brought the two of us together. We see this as an opportunity to right the wrongs of the past, and establish a responsible, sustainable industry, with opportunities for the broadest cross-section of people in New Jersey.

The true, positive impact of legalization is best seen when looking at states with larger cannabis industries as well as national data. Take for example some of the chief concerns regarding cannabis legalization: Teenage use, driving fatalities and crime.

As fathers and veterans, we share these concerns. So here are the facts:

In fact, the most comprehensive law enforcement report ever conducted on cannabis, issued by Colorado’s Division of Criminal Justice, demonstrates that not only are DUI’s down in Colorado, but traffic fatalities involving proven cannabis-impaired drivers have fallen, too.

Why? Education, regulation and enforcement. Keeping cannabis illegal and unregulated has failed. A smartly regulated industry coupled with education is the solution that has proven to work.

Right now, under the status quo of cannabis prohibition and its archaic 1930’s era laws, New Jersey taxpayers spend more than $130 million arresting tens of thousands of people every year for simple possession. Of those arrested, minority men and women are arrested at three to four times the rate of their white counterparts, even though they consume cannabis at the same rate.

Think about that: over the past decade, we have spent a billion dollars arresting over 300,000 people, who are disproportionately people of color from communities whom bare the scars from the battles of the war on drugs, for something that has been proven to be safer than alcohol and many prescription drugs such as opioids. And for those caught up with a cannabis-related conviction in their background, their ability to get a job, apply for college, join the military or get a loan of any kind becomes a nightmare that can ruin lives.

The status quo has failed and is too costly both in terms of lives and money. So, rather than spending billions arresting thousands, let’s adopt the lessons learned from the numerous other states that have legalized. Let’s switch the paradigm, provide a more socially just New Jersey, put tens of thousands of people to work and create a thriving economic industry in the state.

Regardless of where you grew up, regardless of the color of your skin, regardless of your political affiliation, we can all agree that our current system has failed, and we must do better. This effort established a common ground and brought one kid from the hood and one kid from the wood together to fight for responsibly regulated cannabis industry: to bring it out of the shadows while simultaneously expunging the records of those unnecessarily caught up in the outdated and failed war on cannabis. We can do better, and we will do better through education and regulation. It’s working in other states and it will work here.

Leo Bridgewater is a Veteran Activist and National Direct of Veterans Outreach with Minorities For Medical Marijuana. Scott Rudder is a former mayor and New Jersey State Assemblyman. Mr. Rudder is now the President, New Jersey CannaBusiness Association.

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