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Sen. Nicholas Scutari wants New Jersey to legalize the sale and possession of marijuana

(Tony Kurdzuk/The Star-Ledger)

TRENTON — State Sen. Nicholas Scutari wants New Jersey to follow in the footsteps of Colorado and Washington state by legalizing the sale and possession of marijuana.

Calling the state's war on marijuana "a miserable failure," Scutari (D-Union), chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said he plans to introduce legislation this term calling for the legalization of the drug that so far is only allowed in New Jersey for medicinal purposes.

While Colorado would be the model for New Jersey, Scutari said he would also study that state's law carefully to avoid any pitfalls that could undermine New Jersey's effort. He said legalization of the sale and possession of marijuana would help police stop fighting a losing and expensive battle in the war on drugs and would prevent otherwise law-abiding citizens from ruining their futures with a minor drug conviction.

Acknowledging it is a "controversial issue," Scutari said the bill's introduction — expected within the next month — is "the opening of a dialogue" with other lawmakers and the Christie administration. Gov. Chris Christie, former U.S. Attorney for New Jersey, has been vehemently opposed to legalization of the sale and possession of marijuana and has resisted efforts to expand the state's new medical marijuana laws.

"We're not delusional about how simple the effort would be," Scutari said. "But I think from a standpoint of moving this state and this country forward on its archaic drug laws, I think it's a step in the right direction.

"It's high time that we address this issue head on," he added.

Scutari, a sponsor of the state's medical marijuana law, said the legislation would not be a decriminalization of the state's marijuana laws.

"All that does is, to some degree, free people to obtain the marijuana, but it's still going to be manufactured and dealt illegally. And that's absolutely the wrong direction that we should go in," he said. "We should be trying to get drug dealers and criminals off our street corners and this is an effort for doing that."

He said details still have to be worked out, such as how many licenses would be permitted. Legalizing marijuana would create a regulated Industry in New Jersey that would promote job creation and tax revenue, he said.

"It will provide us with a tremendous cost savings and time savings for our law enforcement officers," said Scutari, a municipal prosecutor. "It'll save our citizens from the unnecessary multiple court appearance and criminal record and it'll provide us with much needed tax revenue."

It took a decade to get New Jersey's medical marijuana laws passed but Scutari said he hopes it won't take that long to legalize pot.

Beginning Jan. 1, Colorado began allowing the sale of recreational marijuana to those 21 or older. Washington's law takes effect later this year while officials set up a licensing system. Several communities in that state, however, have passed laws banning marijuana growers, processors and retailers.

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