Pubdate: Tue, 25 Mar 2014
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer, The (PA)
Copyright: 2014 Philadelphia Newspapers Inc
Contact:  http://www.philly.com/inquirer/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/340
Author: Jan Hefler
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)

N.J. SENATOR: ALLOW RECREATIONAL POT

Nick Scutari, Who Helped Get Medical Marijuana Legalized, Cited 
Colorado's Revenue Windfall.

A prime author of New Jersey's medical marijuana law wants the state 
now to emulate Colorado and legalize the recreational use of pot by adults.

Citing the windfall Colorado is enjoying from marijuana sales, State 
Sen. Nick Scutari (D., Union) announced Monday that he had drafted a 
bill to legalize marijuana for recreational use and hoped to get it 
assigned to a committee as soon as possible and then posted for a vote.

New York and Rhode Island have similar bills in legislative committees.

Scutari acknowledged that Gov. Christie may refuse to sign it, 
especially since the Republican governor recently told a town-hall 
meeting he would never support such a measure.

"He's not going to be the governor forever," Scutari told a throng of 
reporters at a news conference Monday. "The governor is a man of 
facts. ... I think he'll be open minded to consider it" once he 
understands the benefits, Scutari said.

The senator estimates the state could realize more than $100 million 
in annual revenues by taxing marijuana and could save another $100 
million that is now spent enforcing marijuana laws and prosecuting 
people for possessing marijuana.

The lawmaker said 70 percent of this money could be targeted to 
fixing bridges, building roads, and improving other deteriorating 
infrastructure. The rest, he said could be used for drug-education 
efforts and treatment, and for women's health programs.

Scutari, a Linden prosecutor, said legalization also would decrease 
crime the same way that lifting the prohibition against alcohol sales 
decades ago killed the black market.

He said there is "no evidence" that marijuana is more harmful than 
alcohol. "No one has ever died from using marijuana," he said. "Our 
residents are being locked up and carrying permanent criminal records 
because of arrests from marijuana crimes."

Earlier this year, Colorado became the first state to allow retail 
pot sales after voters gave their approval. After a remarkable 
opening and far greater sales than originally anticipated, Colorado 
officials are projecting tax revenues of more than $107 million this year.

Washington is expected to become the second state after it completes 
the approval of dispensaries.

Scutari, the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said his 
bill would allow New Jersey residents to purchase up to one ounce of 
marijuana at a licensed outlet and to grow up to six marijuana plants 
in an enclosed private area.

Users would be barred from smoking marijuana in public places and 
from driving while impaired. Towns could regulate, tax, or even ban 
the sale of marijuana, he said.

"This is a journey of a thousand steps," Scutari said, explaining 
that his 20-page bill is just the first step in getting legalization. 
Scutari, a primary sponsor of the medical marijuana bill that was 
adopted in 2010, has said that measure took five years before it was 
signed into law.

At a town hall in Flemington last week, Christie said that he would 
not decriminalize, legalize, or permit marijuana for recreational 
use. Doing so would be the "wrong message to send to children" and 
young adults, he said.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom