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New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie derided Colorado for its recreational pot law. "For the people who are enamored with the idea with the income, the tax revenue from this, go to Colorado and see if you want to live there," he said.

(AP)

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie isn't making any friends in Colorado after recent digs at the state's recreational pot law.

Christie, according to CNN, this week questioned the "quality of life" in Colorado, questioning why people would want to live in a state where "there's head shops popping up on every corner and people flying into your airport just to come and get high."

When pressed by a constituent this week on marijuana legalization, Christie was clear:

"You know it may come down the road when I'm gone. It's not going to come while I'm here," he said.

At town halls, he frequently warns that expanded laws could lead to a "slippery slope" of legalized marijuana, like recently passed laws on recreational use in Colorado and Washington State. He has, however, said that he's willing to think about legalizing medical marijuana in edible form for patients above the age of 18.

Christie made the remarks in an appearance on NJ1015.com.

"For the people who are enamored with the idea with the income, the tax revenue from this, go to Colorado and see if you want to live there," the Republican said.

The (Newark) Star-Ledger responded with an editorial, criticizing Christie's stance on pot and calling the state's approach to marijuana crimes a waste of time.

Our state spends more than a hundred million dollars a year to arrest tens of thousands of people on marijuana charges. The result? Not a decline in pot smoking. Just unnecessarily criminal records, unfairly attached to young men of color — crushing their job prospects in New Jersey, a state with one of the highest unemployment rates in the nation.

Does this sound like a good quality of life to you?

Not surprisingly, Colorado politicians have a lot to say about Christie's swipe at their state.

U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet told Politico that Christie's welcome to visit Colorado anytime.

"Whether it's hiking season or snow season, we invite Gov. Christie to experience Colorado's quality of life anytime," the Democrat told POLITICO in a statement, borrowing language from Christie's earlier comments. "From the beauty of the rolling hills of the Eastern Plains to the magnificent landscapes in the mountains and from our smallest rural towns to our largest cities, Colorado offers the greatest quality of life in the nation. In fact, our quality of life is one reason more innovative companies are moving into the state. If Gov. Christie does find the time to visit, I'm sure he'll find our Western hospitality on display."

And then there's this list published by Denver Westword citing the ways in which Colorado outdoes New Jersey.

-- Noelle Crombie