Marijuana: Is NJ About to Go Green?

Commentary By Nick Leonetti

Marijuana has been a contentious issue in our country for a relatively long time now and has not lost any of its steam.  Not to say the medicinal benefits of cannabis haven’t been recognized since at least the nineteenth-century (it notably eased cholera symptoms and reduced nausea); however, there has been a palpable fear made prevalent when Americans have had to decide whether or not marijuana should be legalized. 

According the author, Eric Schlosser, the government played a more decisive role in marijuana use at the turn of the century.  Simply put, around the time of the Mexican Revolution, xenophobia toward our southern neighbors flourished.  Texans noticed that immigrants enjoyed the marijuana plant recreationally, surmising that it incited violence and misbehavior.  This led to a state-by-state outlaw of the drug, which would eventually led to a national ban in 1937 via the Marihuana Tax Act.  The rest is history.

Presently, Americans are still trying to decide whether or not marijuana should be legalized nation-wide, literally wracking their brains on the subject.  Not being a partaker, myself (I never cared for it), I personally believe legalizing marijuana would be a huge help, specifically in regard to prison reform.  The health benefits cannot be discounted, either.  This all has not gone unnoticed by the state departments, and things are changing rapidly.  Some more progressive-thinking states have already made all use of cannabis fully legal (Colorado, California, Washington, Nevada, and Illinois, just to name a few) and have seen very positive outcomes.  Colorado, for example, the first state in the nation to try out this heady experiment, has seen arrest rates drop a ton and a healthy economy to boot. Nothing’s perfect, though, and there are some residents of Colorado who do find the drug becoming way too normalized.

But what about our beautiful Garden State?  Where do we fall into all of this?  Are we ready to make this leap?  Governor Phil Murphy believes we are more than ready to take the next step.  As of November of last year, the governor has fully backed the legislation to legalize marijuana in New Jersey.  Though, this wasn’t always the case – Murphy has stated before that decriminalizing marijuana would also essentially legalize drug dealing and black-market activity – the governor is more decisive now than he has ever been.  One of the reasons he has changed his tune so recently is due mainly to low-level offences that are overwhelmingly and prevalently targeted at minorities.  He has called this “wholly unacceptable.”

New Jersey is slowly making a transition, testing the waters, so to speak.  Dispensaries are popping up statewide like – ahem – weeds.  More than 65,000 patients are participating in this program, and as of right now, there are eight dispensaries in the state, four of them right here in South Jersey thus far.  The requirements to open a dispensary are extremely rigorous and must follow the strict operating procedures given by the New Jersey Department of Health.  In other words, everything is legitimate with no nefarious behavior to be found.  Murphy is a huge advocate of these programs, and one of the main reasons they are growing at such a rapid rate in the state of New Jersey.  At this point, the latest dispensary, the Apothecarium, is set to open in Phillipsburg, New Jersey.  This chain already has locations on the west coast and has seen a swelling amount of popularity.  It should fit quite nicely into this new, burgeoning market.

This issue is, sadly, a political one, but Governor Murphy is optimistic, and so am I.  For too long have individuals, particularly black and brown males, been given too harsh a sentence due to marijuana use.  The prison system is a failed one in many ways, and I do believe legalizing marijuana would be taking a strong step in the right direction for everyone especially the people who have received harsh convictions for minor offences solely due to marijuana possession.

Earlier this month, in Gov. Murphy’s most recent State of the State address he laid out a refreshingly progressive agenda. Even though the governor has received some pretty harsh criticism from a few folks on the other side of the isle (specifically Senate President Steve Sweeney in regard to taxing millionaires, another issue worthy of covering), I do believe Murphy’s head is in the right place at the right time.  Murphy and legislative leaders are in full agreement on recreational marijuana use, and the subject will be up to NJ voters in November to make the final decision in the matter.  If this vote passes, New Jersey would be the twelfth state to fully legalize marijuana.  The question, what does this mean for us as Jersey residents?

Well, I have already stated what it would do for prison reform.  There are also the economic benefits to consider.  The marijuana industry is a hugely profitable one.  If commercialized, NJ could find itself reaping the benefits from a booming industry.  Colorado and Washington have seen a positive impact on tax revenue, as well as job growth.  As a result, we are looking at investment opportunities that could mean even more wealth and prosperity. 

The worry will always be there regarding cannabis.  There are obviously some legitimate worries when discussing any control substance, but there are legitimate worries as far as alcohol goes too, which is a much more harmful and damaging when abused.  We have to look at the bottom line here and whether or not the positives outweigh the negatives.  This writer believes they do, but it’s not just up to me.  In order to decide whether or not New Jersey wants to join the other states that are prospering from the legalization of marijuana, we need to vote on November 8.  Will the Garden State allow the cannabis plant to flourish with its delicious tomatoes and blueberries, or will we let a golden opportunity go up in smoke?

Nick Leonetti is an adjunct professor at Stockton University.  He is married to the poet Maria Provenzano.  E-mail any questions regarding his writing at NLeonetti85@msn.com.

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