Efforts to legalize marijuana in New Jersey are in the air.
Single-engine prop planes — hired by two separate organizations — dragged pro-weed banners through the skies Saturday over the South Jersey beaches. The banners urged state residents to vote yes Nov. 3 on a ballot measure to legalize recreational cannabis use.
Polling shows that roughly three out of five Jersey voters support the measure, which would allow marijuana sales to all adults 21 and over.
But advocates aren’t taking anything for granted. They fear that most people might miss the question on the ballot if they don’t know it’s there.
“I think the message has only reached the echo chamber, and that’s why I’m flying the banner planes,” said Ellie Siegel, an attorney and cannabis industry consultant who is spending $2,500 to spread the news for 3.5 hours. “It’s such a straightforward way to reach a mass audience.”