New Jersey Governor Christie shoots down marijuana proposal idea

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Greg Skidmore/Flickr.
Chris Christie doesn’t want you to get high.


New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has made it really clear that he won’t relax the state medical marijuana laws or even consider recreational cannabis legalization. But in case you missed the point, ol’ Tollbooth Christie reiterated his point yesterday at a town hall meeting.
“They want tax revenue from legalization,” Christie told the crowd in Sayreville, New Jersey last night. “It’s the motivation for the bill and I am not going to turn our state into a place where people fly in to get high for tax revenue. I’ve made it very clear since 2009 that I oppose this … it’s not going to happen under this [governor]under any circumstances.”


Christie’s comments are directed at state Sen. Nicholas Scutari who introduced a bill last month that would legalize the use and sales of limited amounts of cannabis to adults 21 and up. According to Scutari’s bill, the state could see an additional $100 million in tax revenue if pot was made legal.
“Anybody that looks at the facts, knows that the war on marijuana has been a miserable failurure,” Scutari said last month. “We’re not delusional about how simple the effort would be, but I think from a standpoint of moving this state and this country forward on its archaic drug laws, I think it’s a step in the right direction.”
Of course, with Christie at the helm of the state the bill has little to no chance of passing. Scutari knows this, but he says his bill is the start of a “journey of 1,000 steps.” As for the governor? “He’s not going to be the governor forever,” Scutar quipped.
Currently, possession of 50 grams or less is a “disorderly person” charge with up to six months in jail and $1,000 in fines. Get caught with more than 50 grams, and you’re looking at a felony with up to $25,000 in fines and 18 months in jail. Growing penalties are also stiff: cultivation of an ounce or more is a felony with a mandatory three years in jail. Even simply being under the influence of marijuana anywhere in the state is illegal.

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