NJ.com - Christie: Not even 'casual' marijuana use is OK
4/22/2014
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on April 22, 2014 at 8:00 AM, updated April 23, 2014 at 12:30 PM
TRENTON — Gov. Chris Christie stressed once again Monday night that he will never support the legalization of marijuana in New Jersey — especially after a recent study about the detrimental effects of casual pot use.
The Republican governor has long been opposed to legalizing recreational marijuana in New Jersey. But a resident who called into Christie's monthly radio show argued that legal pot is inevitable and could lead to more tax revenue and even more jobs for the state.
"Let me just stop you right there," Christie said on 101.5-FM. "You say it's going to come down the road. You know when it may come down the road? When I'm gone."
Christie cited a study by the Journal of Neuroscience last week that concluded even casual marijuana use — smoking once or twice a week to get high — can alter the brain. The authors of the report said it was the first study to examine light marijuana use.
"I am not going to be the governor who is going to tell our children and our young adults that marijuana use is okay," Christie said. "Because it's not. I don't care about the tax money that may come from it."
Last month, state Sen. Nicholas Scutari (D-Union) introduced a bill that would regulate the growth, possession, and sale of recreational marijuana in New Jersey in an effort to stem the illegal drug market and bring new tax revenue.
But Christie has said he opposes the measure. And he stressed during Monday night's show that anyone who thinks it's a good idea to legalize pot should look at Colorado, one of two states in the U.S. to do so.
"Go to Colorado and see if you want to live there," the governor said. "See if you want to live in a major city in Colorado, where there are head shops popping up on every corner, and people flying into your airport just to get high.
"To me, it's not the quality of life we want to have here in the state of New Jersey," he added. "And here's no tax revenue that's worth that.