Monmouth County fights against potential pot legalization

<p>Gov. Phil Murphy has made it clear that he wants to make recreational marijuana legal in New Jersey.</p>

News 12 Staff

Jan 27, 2018, 3:09 AM

Updated 2,279 days ago

Share:

Monmouth County fights against potential pot legalization
Gov. Phil Murphy has made it clear that he wants to make recreational marijuana legal in New Jersey.
But some leaders in Murphy’s home county are pushing back – the Monmouth County freeholders say that they don’t want marijuana in their towns.
"The only reason this is being done is for revenue and revenue only. Nobody had ever said any other reason,” says Monmouth County Freeholder Tom Arnone.
Recreational marijuana is legal in eight states. Colorado, one of the first, reported earnings of $247 million in 2017 from taxes, fees and licensing.
But Murphy says that revenue isn’t the only reason to legalize marijuana. He says that obtaining medical marijuana in New Jersey is too difficult. He announced a review of the state’s medical marijuana program on Tuesday.
"My personal opinion is the list is far too narrow. Going in, that needs to be expanded dramatically,” Murphy said.
Arnone says that he also worries about the message children are getting if marijuana is legalized.
"We talk every day about the heroin situation and if people can be naive again to think this is not a gateway to that,” he says.
Officials in the Monmouth County town of Asbury Park say that they want a marijuana dispensary in their town.
Coil and Company Vape Supply shop owner Chris Cook says that he would like to be able to sell it in his shop.
“We have people coming in, 100 people a week, asking if we intend to be a dispensary,” he says. “Our answer is, absolutely.”
Asbury Park leaders have already stated that they will allow sales of recreational marijuana if it is legalized. It will be up to all 53 municipalities in Monmouth County to decide if they want to follow along.


More from News 12
1:49
Fire in Newark displaces dozens of people, destroys businesses

Fire in Newark displaces dozens of people, destroys businesses

2:23
Spotty showers overnight with lows around 48; breezy but sunny Wednesday ahead

Spotty showers overnight with lows around 48; breezy but sunny Wednesday ahead

1:17
Police: 4 thieves stole high-end handbags from Montclair shop

Police: 4 thieves stole high-end handbags from Montclair shop

1:37
NJ Business Coalition urges lawmakers to reconsider corporate transit fee

NJ Business Coalition urges lawmakers to reconsider corporate transit fee

0:28
Police: Man accused of stealing steaks from Bayonne Walmart at knifepoint

Police: Man accused of stealing steaks from Bayonne Walmart at knifepoint

0:19
Road rage incident in Jersey City caught on camera; police seek driver

Road rage incident in Jersey City caught on camera; police seek driver

0:56
Jersey Proud: Man walks across the US raising money for ‘America Walks’

Jersey Proud: Man walks across the US raising money for ‘America Walks’

2:00
Seaside Park enacts new ‘No Wake Zone’ law to prevent people causing havoc in flooded streets

Seaside Park enacts new ‘No Wake Zone’ law to prevent people causing havoc in flooded streets

1:07
Paterson middle school briefly goes into lockdown following gunshots at nearby home

Paterson middle school briefly goes into lockdown following gunshots at nearby home

2:04
Police: Crews rescue 46 dogs from fire inside Pio Costa industrial complex in Fairfield

Police: Crews rescue 46 dogs from fire inside Pio Costa industrial complex in Fairfield

0:31
Sources: Body recovered in Barnegat Bay believed to be missing Island Heights woman

Sources: Body recovered in Barnegat Bay believed to be missing Island Heights woman

1:52
Police: South Brunswick crash involving car and motorcycle kills 1

Police: South Brunswick crash involving car and motorcycle kills 1

0:55
News 12 and Red Bulls host Weather Education Day at Red Bull Arena

News 12 and Red Bulls host Weather Education Day at Red Bull Arena

0:20
Police: Burglar found in crawl space at Ocean Township diner

Police: Burglar found in crawl space at Ocean Township diner

Police: 1 person killed in car crash on Route 535 in South Brunswick

Police: 1 person killed in car crash on Route 535 in South Brunswick

0:29
Moscow court rejects Evan Gershkovich's appeal, keeping him in jail until at least June 30

Moscow court rejects Evan Gershkovich's appeal, keeping him in jail until at least June 30

0:27
Newark Liberty International Airport’s Terminal A named world’s best terminal by Skytrax

Newark Liberty International Airport’s Terminal A named world’s best terminal by Skytrax

1:52
Rahway police seek public’s help identifying suspects in attempted car thefts, burglaries

Rahway police seek public’s help identifying suspects in attempted car thefts, burglaries

0:29
Former Wildwood mayor indicted for 2nd time, accused of tax evasion

Former Wildwood mayor indicted for 2nd time, accused of tax evasion

0:31
Authorities ID 3 people killed in South Brunswick crash

Authorities ID 3 people killed in South Brunswick crash