Gov. Murphy's Home County Of Monmouth Rejects Legal Pot

MONMOUTH COUNTY, NJ — New Jersey's marijuana fight continues to intensify. When he was campaigning for governor, Gov. Phil Murphy promised to legalize recreational marijuana and tax it, saying it will bring in millions to the state's coffers.

But a growing number of municipalities across New Jersey are saying not so fast, including Murphy's own home county of Monmouth. On Thursday night, Monmouth County Freeholders passed a resolution saying they oppose recreational marijuana sales.

"Recent news stories have indicated that the Governor of the State of New Jersey will move to legalize recreational marijuana use within his first 100 days in office," read the resolution, introduced by Freeholder Director Tom Arnone, which unanimously passed last night. "The Board of Chosen Freeholders of the County of Monmouth opposes the legalization of recreational marijuana use."

Murphy, a Democrat, lives in Middletown in Monmouth County, a traditionally Republican stronghold of New Jersey. Murphy lost his home county of Monmouth to Republican Kim Guadagno in the Nov. 2017 governor's race (she got 54% of the vote; he got 43%), so it's perhaps not surprising he and the freeholders disagree on recreational cannabis.

“We’re heartened that Monmouth County — Governor Murphy’s home county — is the first county government in New Jersey to formally oppose the legalization of recreational marijuana," said Jeanette Hoffman, a spokeswoman for New Jersey Responsible Approaches to Marijuana Policy, which is against legalizing pot. "Despite what the Big Marijuana lobby may claim, legalizing recreational marijuana is not inevitable. We urge Governor Murphy to listen to legislators, health professionals, law enforcement, and members of his own party who all have serious concerns.”

While the freeholders' vote was mostly symbolic (they cannot forbid Monmouth County towns from allowing pot sales), Monmouth is now the first county in New Jersey to pass a resolution like this. It is not yet known what stance major Monmouth towns like Holmdel and Middletown will take on legalized pot. So far, only Jersey City and Asbury Park have said they would welcome recreational marijuana sales in their towns.

As Patch reported, other towns like Toms River, Old Bridge, Point Pleasant, Berkeley and Chatham have all gone on the offensive in the legal weed debate, either passing or currently drawing up ordinances that ban recreational pot sales there.

The freeholders gave many reasons for their vote last night, saying many health professionals consider marijuana a “gateway” drug, and that the opioid epidemic is well known to Monmouth County residents.

"Even though opioids are currently 'legal' and available by prescription, (opioid use) has not been controlled and, in fact, has become an epidemic," read the resolution.

The Freeholders said they are not against medical marijuana, according to More Monmouth Musings.

Monmouth County Freeholders said they're also concerned about an increase in traffic accidents from driving driving stoned and the inability of police departments to field test for marijuana.

"In 2016 the Rocky Mountain High Density Drug Trafficking Area annual report shows that the number of medical marijuana centers in Colorado is greater than the number of Starbucks coffee shops, and the number of recreational marijuana outlets is greater than the number of McDonald’s restaurants. The report also demonstrates that marijuana use among Colorado teens aged 12 to 17 is 74% above the national average," read the resolution.

Gov. Murphy said he would sign a legalization bill if it was brought before him, but right now he does not have the votes to get the state Legislature to legalize weed. NJ.com reported earlier this month that about half a dozen Democratic state senators — including Sens. Joseph Vitale of Middlesex, Ronald Rice and Richard Codey of Essex, Jeff Van Drew of Cape May, Shirley Turner of Mercer and Brian Stack of Hudson County — said they would vote against a bill legalizing recreational marijuana.

Earlier this week, Murphy directed the New Jersey Department of Health and the Board of Medical Examiners to review the state’s existing medical marijuana program, with the goal of eliminating barriers to access for patients who suffer from illnesses that could be treated with medical marijuana.

Pictured: Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders (left to right) John P. Curley, Director Thomas A. Arnone, Deputy Director Lillian G. Burry and Patrick Impreveduto