By Maddy Vitale
Health experts, law enforcement officers and lawmakers Tuesday denounced a proposal to legalize marijuana, saying that it could be a gateway drug, pose a danger on the highways and create an atmosphere where people would be walking around and going to work high.
The marijuana symposium was held at the Avalon Golf Club in Cape May Court House and was hosted by the drug treatment and prevention center Cape Assist, based in Wildwood. The event focused on recreational use of marijuana. Speakers agreed that medical marijuana use is needed, recreational is not.
“We feel it is a very important conversation to have today about marijuana and the community,” said emcee Natalia Wilber, community educator at Cape Assist, as she introduced the panelists. “The safety of the children is at stake.”
Approximately 100 people attended the symposium. They included educators, police officers, local lawmakers and clergy.
Cape Assist Substance Use Navigator Joe Faldetta told the crowd that addiction for profit targets the vulnerable.
“Kids have a higher percentage of depression and suicide. Here we stand in the middle of a mental health crisis and we are talking about legalizing something to cultivate another mental illness,” Faldetta said. “Our kids are worth protecting. Their futures and potential are worth protecting.”
Middle Township Police Chief Chris Leusner, who is also vice president of the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police, said the answer is obvious.
“When you look at the facts it is pretty clear. It (legalizing marijuana for recreational use) is not good for New Jersey, and I hope our Legislature will take a look at decriminalization, not legalization,” he said. “We are concerned about safety on the roadways.”
Leusner also pointed out that, unlike intoxicated driving arrests, it could be difficult to determine the level of THC, the active ingredient in cannabis, in a person’s system.
“We have concerns about what the proper level is. There isn’t an agreement,” he said of the level of THC. “When it comes to alcohol, there is an agreement, but we do not have that when it comes to cannabis or THC.”
Speakers Stephen Reid, who is executive director of NJ-RAMP and also the mayor of Point Pleasant Beach, Assemblyman Bob Andrzejczak, Cape Regional Physicians Associates nurse Susan Ellis and Dr. Shirley Moten, of Cape Regional Medical Center, also spoke.
Reid, who emphasized that he and his anti-marijuana NJ-RAMP organization are in support of medical marijuana, told the crowd there is not one good reason to legalize recreational marijuana.
“We are here to talk about recreational marijuana. Last year in November we knew recreational marijuana was coming,” Reid said. “As mayor of Point Pleasant Beach, we didn’t want it in our town. We want to keep it family friendly.”
Reid added that legalization is all about money. He said lawmakers want the added tax revenue it would bring to the state. However, he said, the negative effect far outweighs any money gained.
“If legal, more workers will go out and get high and go to work like that,” he noted.
A bill pending in the state Legislature to legalize marijuana could also allow for pot shops. Speakers at the symposium noted that medical marijuana facilities could have a section of the building where people could buy marijuana for recreational use.
While some lawmakers are supportive of the legalization of recreational marijuana in the state, Assemblyman Andrzejczak, the sole state lawmaker on the panel, said he is vehemently opposed to it. He said Cape May County is a tourist destination visited by those who love the beaches and shores. If legislation is passed, people may be coming for another reason, to smoke marijuana, he believes.
“It really won’t be a win-win for the state from an economic standpoint,” he said. “I would be against it.”
Andrzejczak said with the opioid crisis that plagues the nation, legalizing marijuana use is just adding “fuel to the fire.”
He said, though, he is supportive of expanding medical marijuana and decriminalization.
“Decriminalization is the way to go. You aren’t arresting people for marijuana offenses and tying up the courts,” Andrzejczak said. “This coming month, recreational use will be up for a vote and I will be voting no.”
Audience members applauded his remarks.
During the public portion of the symposium, people voiced their feelings about marijuana.
Lower Township Councilman Thomas Conrad said he is opposed to the bill.
“It doesn’t help anyone,” he said. “This is scary to me. We have an opioid problem. We have to make sure our residents are educated.”
Cape May County Freeholder Jeffrey Pierson was in the audience and weighed in on the matter by telling a story about a family tragedy.
He spoke about how he lost a grandson to drug abuse that he said started with marijuana and grew to other drugs.
Pierson said he is adamantly opposed to approving the legalization of recreational marijuana. In an interview later, he said he told Gov. Phil Murphy’s representatives at a recent event that he is against the bill.
Panelists are uncertain what will become of the bill and whether New Jersey will join Colorado and California in the legalization of recreational marijuana.
Gregory Hudgins, Woodbine school board president, listened to the panel and at the end, when it was his opportunity to speak, he said: “My concern is we aren’t learning from our mistakes. Money is not worth our kids.”
