It’s time to legalize marijuana in NJ

As state moves toward legalization, Justice Department stands in way

Haley Tomasso, R1 News Editor|January 19, 2018

Five years ago, Colorado and Washington became the first states to legalize recreational marijuana in the U.S. We have come a long way since then as eight states plus Washington, D.C., have now legalized the drug for recreational use and 20 states have legalized it for medical use. In California alone, the new legal market is worth an estimated $5.1 billion this year, according to GreenWave Advisors. In Colorado, marijuana taxes have benefited everything from school construction to scholarships.

So with several possible benefits to legalizing marijuana, what’s taking New Jersey so long?
Governor Phil Murphy has pledged to legalize the use of recreational marijuana within the first 100 days of his inauguration. Such a law could increase state tax revenues by more than $300 million per year, according to a study by New Jersey Policy Perspective and the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey.

While marijuana users may find this incredible, they shouldn’t get too excited yet. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has revoked the Obama administration policy that kept the federal government from interfering with the states that have legalized recreational and medical marijuana use.  

I, along with many other advocates, believe that the legalization of marijuana reduces the number of arrests and eliminates black market use. According to the Drug Policy Alliance, arrests for the possession, cultivation and distribution of marijuana have declined significantly in all states and districts that have legalized marijuana. In Washington, D.C., for instance, taxpayers have saved money from an 85-percent drop in marijuana arrests.

And while marijuana is linked to some health issues, it is known that legal substances such as tobacco and alcohol are the leading causes of various health issues such as cardiovascular disease and lung cancer. These risks are not associated with marijuana use.
Due to the economic benefits and low health risks of marijuana use, there is no doubt that New Jersey should be next in line for legalization.