Atlantic City mayor calling for legal marijuana exclusivity to boost city’s economy

It may be just a pipe dream, but Atlantic City’s mayor is ready to delve into high finance.
Now that New Jersey voters have approved recreational marijuana, Mayor Marty Small wants his city to be the only place in the state where it can be sold for three to five years. Small says the city should get first dibs on tax money that recreational marijuana would generate because it currently gets nothing from state-imposed parking, luxury, hotel and sports betting taxes.
“We must find ways to increase tourism and promote the great City of Atlantic City,” Small said in a statement. “We look forward to the much-needed revenue streams that recreational marijuana can generate and the boost it would bring to our economy.”
But state Assemblyman Joe Danielsen bluntly says, “That's never going to happen.”
Although New Jersey voters passed the legal cannabis amendment, state lawmakers have yet to work out the details to make it happen. A date has not yet been set.
The Associated Press wire services contributed to this report.