A divided Sussex County freeholder board approved a non-binding resolution opposing the legalization of recreational marijuana in New Jersey.

The all-Republican board voted 3-2 in favor of the resolution on Wednesday night, joining the governing boards of at least three other counties -- Cape May, Ocean and Monmouth -- that previously declared their opposition.

From left to right, Sussex County freeholders Carl Lazzaro, George Graham and Jonathan Rose at a meeting in 2017 (Rob Jennings / NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

Freeholders Jonathan Rose and Carl Lazzaro, who ran as a team in the Republican primary in June and were defeated, took opposing sides on the resolution.

Railing against what he described as the harm stemming from marijuana, Lazzaro said, "We don't need to have your mind altered to have fun," according to a video of the meeting posted by Sussex County.

He took issue with the arguments of legalization supporters like Gov. Phil Murphy and others who have characterized marijuana as primarily an issue of social justice and fairness.

"I see that what New Jersey's doing, not much different than what California did, is the quest for more money," Lazzaro said.

"We can't control our spending habits and now we want to get more money, but yet we don't realize that all the money that will be garnered from this will be used in the administration of it, and there won't be any left over, and we've kind of legitimatized a way of life that doesn't lead to anything productive," Lazzaro said.

Rose, on the other hand, voted against the resolution.

"With the understanding that freedom can be scary and freedom can be dangerous, I am in favor of decriminalization at a minimum, and legalization at a maximum," Rose said.

Rose criticized the so-called 'war on drugs,' singling out the prosecutions of otherwise law-abiding citizens for using marijuana.

"Drug use is a complicated, difficult topic. I think that it is primarily a mental health issue and not a criminal issue. I think that when we look back at the war on drugs, it's been an absolute, unmitigated disaster for civil liberties," Rose said.

Freeholder George Graham joined Rose in voting no on the resolution. In addition to Lazzaro, freeholders Sylvia Petillo and Herb Yardley favored it.

The resolution merely offers an opinion; it would not have an impact should New Jersey legalize recreational use.

The freeholder board in Monmouth County, where Murphy lives, was the first to formally oppose legalization. It adopted a resolution in January.

Similar resolutions were approved in February by freeholders in Ocean County and Cape May.

As legislators continue to discuss legalization, New Jersey residents appear somewhat split on the issue.

A Quinnipiac University poll released in August found that while 62 percent are in favor of legalizing marijuana, only 50 percent want it sold in their communities -- while 45 percent said they didn't want it in their towns.

Rob Jennings may be reached at rjennings@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @RobJenningsNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook