On Friday, Sayegh informed the City Clerk’s office that he was vetoing an ordinance passed 6-1 by the Paterson City Council just days earlier that would have opted Paterson out of the State’s cannabis program.
“Pateronsians have overwhelmingly voted in favor of legal cannabis and I have a duty to respect their wishes,” Sayegh said in his memo announcing the veto. “Indeed, not one member of the Council has suggested that legal cannabis be prohibited in Paterson.”
In casting their votes that Sayegh would ultimately veto, only Councilwoman-At-Large Dr. Lilisa Mimms and 5th Ward Councilman Luis Velez gave any real insight into their thinking.
“Opting out is not a bad thing,” Mimms said, adding that the action would give the Administration and council more time to “make sure the language is right.”