The Ridgewood Blog Brings a Free Market Laissez-faire Point of View to Local, New Jersey State and National Issues.
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Garfield NJ, with the passing of marijuana legalization in New Jersey many municipalities are not sure what the best possible course of action is. Should New Jersey towns embrace legalization or shun it ?
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Trenton NJ, Its official New Jersey has legalized marijuana . Phil Murphy signed into law three bills putting into effect a ballot question overwhelmingly supported by voters last year.
Since 1970, marijuana has been categorized as a Schedule 1 controlled substance. That means it’s been placed alongside heroin and LSD as a dangerous drug. Presidential candidates now seem to embrace the full legalization of marijuana. This might seem like a stark reversal from the war that the Democratic and Republican administrations have waged on drugs for decades.
It reflects on the rapid spread of the need and use of marijuana for recreational and medical purposes at the state legal. The markets for marijuana are also proliferating with more voters supporting the ending of the prohibition of marijuana use. Almost two-thirds of all voters support the legalization of marijuana. And, this number is likely to increase in the coming years.
Continue reading Andrew Yang: ‘Marijuana Should Be Legal Nationwide’
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Trenton NJ, Senator Declan O’Scanlon (R-Monmouth) today released the following statement regarding his position on a lame duck vote on marijuana legalization:
Continue reading NJ GOP Senator Recreational Marijuana Legalization Should Be Decided by Voters
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Trenton NJ, Senate President Steve Sweeney (D-Gloucester/Salem/Cumberland) issued the following statement expressing his firm commitment to enacting legislation to legalize adult use marijuana and the continuation of social justice reforms:
“While we are all disappointed that we did not secure enough votes to ensure legislative approval of the adult use cannabis bill today, we made substantial progress on a plan that would make significant changes in social policy.”
Sen. Paul Sarlo emerged from the Senate Majority conference room a few minutes ago and was swiftly surrounded by the assembled press.
Finally, as he walked away, he said, “I haven’t changed my mind.”
Sarlo of Bergen County is believed to be a “no” vote.
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Trenton NJ , Today, the New Jersey Assembly Appropriations Committee and Senate Judiciary Committee voted in support of legislation (S2703/A4497) that would the legalize, tax and regulate marijuana for adults 21 years and older.
Roseanne Scotti, New Jersey State Director of the Drug Policy Alliance, issued the following statement after today’s votes:
“Today’s votes are an important step toward legalizing adult-use marijuana in New Jersey. Although this bill is not perfect, we greatly appreciate the changes that the sponsors of the legislation have made based on the recommendations of advocates.
Continue reading New Jersey Assembly Appropriations & Senate Judiciary Committees Vote in Support of Marijuana Legalization
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Ridgewood NJ, Senator Michael Doherty (R-23) is voting “no” on legislation to legalize the recreational use of marijuana in New Jersey, saying the proposal represents “a deal with the devil” that will sacrifice children and communities for short-term political gain.
Doherty made his comments as the Senate Judiciary Committee began consideration of S-2703, which would legalize the recreational use of cannabis by adults.
Continue reading Marijuana Legalization Is “Deal with the Devil”
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Trenton NJ, In advance of committee hearings on legislation that would legalize marijuana in New Jersey, Senator Gerald Cardinale (R-39) electronically distributed the following letter and data to his fellow legislators in the State Senate and Assembly, legislative committee aides, the Governor’s Office, and the media.
Senator Cardinale also plans to testify in opposition to the legislation (S-2703) at the Senate Budget Committee hearing. The hearing is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Monday, November 26, 2018, in Committee Room 4 in the Statehouse Annex. An audio livestream of the hearing can be accessed here.
Continue reading New Jersey Senator Cardinale : “Just Say No to Drugs “
Marijuana legalization is coming close to happening in New Jersey.
By Jeff Edelstein, The Trentonian
POSTED: 06/08/17, 11:08 AM EDT | UPDATED: 1 DAY AGO
And just like a puff of smoke (drifting out of a dorm room and blown through a empty paper towel roll with a dryer sheet stuffed in the end), marijuana prohibition in New Jersey is wafting away.
It feels almost ridiculous, knowing this, but it’s true: Democratic candidate Phil Murphy favors full, Colorado-style legalization, and he’s also the presumptive favorite to win the governor’s seat. (For the record, Republican candidate Kim Guadagno has stated she’s in favor of considering decriminalizing small amounts of pot, which is nice, but isn’t the full kettle.)
Anyway, I posited on Wednesday that marijuana might end up being a key issue in the race for governor. After all, nearly 400,000 adult New Jerseyans smoke weed at least once a month, according to a study done by New Jersey United for Marijuana Reform and New Jersey Policy Perspective. That amount of people could tip an election.
The question than becomes: Am I nuts, or could this really happen? Could the stoned minority be the difference-maker in the 2017 New Jersey governor’s election?
