Warren County Asks Towns To Ban Pot Sales

WARREN COUNTY, NJ — The Warren County Freeholders voted to oppose recreational marijuana, and asked towns within the county to ban sales.

The freeholders unanimously passed a resolution Wednesday night opposing state efforts to legalize recreational marijuana, and asking towns to pass local ordinances banning its sale within their borders.

“They’re pushing it through pretty darn quick,” Freeholder Jason J. Sarnoski, the member who introduced the resolution, said. The resolution says the tax benefits of legalizing marijuana do not overrule the social costs of marijuana use.

The resolution is non-binding, and does not force towns to do anything. “We can state our opinion," Sarnoksi said, adding that the freeholders will send a copy of the resolution to local governments.

The freeholders vote comes just days after committees in the State Senate and Assembly voted to advance bills that would legalize recreational marijuana. Those measures now head to the full Senate and Assembly for a vote. If passed by both, it would head to Gov. Phil Murphy's desk. He has supported legalizing marijuana, but has not said if he supports the bills in their current state.

If signed into law, the bills give towns 180 days to enact ordinances banning the sale of marijuana within their borders. Numerous New Jersey towns have already decided to bar pot sales.

• Read more: NJ Lawmakers Make Big Decision On Marijuana Legalization
• Read More: 5 Hurdles Before Pot Is Sold In NJ Stores

Image via Shutterstock