Opponents of Recreational Marijuana Legalization Show Up in Force at Black Caucus Hearing

New Jersey State Senator Ron Rice, an African-American legislator who represents Newark and is head of the Legislative Black Caucus, said he wanted to get the full story when the caucus scheduled hearings on a proposal to legalize marijuana in the state.

The first hearing, held Wednesday at the Cityline Church in Jersey City, included testimony from a mother who cried as she talked about losing her son to marijuana because of a bad batch he bought on the street; a Nevada police-officer who talked about the marijuana tourism and pot party buses that have come the state; and a Newark pastor who pointed to Colorado, where fatal accidents involving drivers who tested positive for marijuana have soared.

About 75 people attended, and those who spoke overwhelmingly opposed legalization, an idea promoted by recently elected Governor Phil Murphy. His plan has been embraced and actively pushed by the marijuana growing and selling industries. Murphy said legalizing marijuana for recreational use could raise hundreds of millions in revenue and could end the disproportionately high number of blacks arrested and jailed for selling or using marijuana.

State Senator Rice said legalization would only create more addicts, and destroy cities like Newark, which is already struggling with foreclosures.

Pro-legalization speakers argued the drug helps the sick, including veterans living in pain, and not legalizing it would be unkind. Opponents said the answer is not to make recreational use legal, but to expand the already legal medical marijuana program in New Jersey.