When Christie leaves office, supporters will make their move.
By ALAN BAUER
When 2018 kicks off, or shortly thereafter, taxes, transportation and pensions will be joined by another hot topic of debate in Trenton: legalized recreational marijuana use.
Already a bill to legalize pot is floating around the Legislature, but even supporters acknowledge it isn’t going anywhere. There’s a zero percent chance Gov. Christie would sign it.
But Christie leaves office in January, and the next governor might be more open to the idea. In fact, Democrat Phil Murphy supports legalization.
When the topic comes up, it deserves vigorous debate, as legalization would be a 180-degree turn from current law.
New Jersey is tough on pot smokers.
Get caught with fewer than 50 grams or with paraphernalia and you could get six months in jail.
Supporters of legalization are not talking about taking small steps, such as decriminalization. They’re talking about the state shifting from locking up people who possess pot to selling those people pot — or at least overseeing how those people are sold pot.
Those who will be arguing in favor of the change will talk about hundreds of millions of dollars in tax revenue, tens of thousands of new jobs and an end to individuals carrying a criminal record for a relatively minor offense.
Opponents will counter with the negative impact marijuana can have on everything from a person’s health to the economy, not to mention the moral arguments about drug use at any level.
It’s quite possible if Murphy is elected, New Jersey will join the eight states that already have legal recreational marijuana use. Polls over the years show a majority of residents would support such a move.
But the change shouldn’t happen without serious, thoughtful debate and careful consideration of how such a move would dramatically alter laws and lifestyles. This wouldn’t be a tweak to a statute. It would be a complete reversal of public policy.
