RT 40: “What did you learn from your Nevada trip? [about legal cannabis]”
MFG: “Socially, [reform] decriminalized cannabis. That’s important for any urban center because there are so many lives that have been destroyed because they have gotten some kind of blemish for having marijuana.”
RT 40: “Should the licenses be given out in a way that reflects disproportionate incarceration rates for African-Americans for marijuana-related offenses?”
Atlantic City is already a popular gambling destination. Now, it could soon become a hotspot for a different kind of recreation; recreational marijuana.
The city’s mayor, Frank Gilliam, has said A.C. could become a marijuana mecca if recreational marijuana is legalized in the Garden State.
State Sen. Ronald Rice, D-Essex, said he is concerned about the money behind the pro-legalization movement and the promises of an economic windfall for New Jersey following a public hearing at the Second Baptist Church on the impacts recreational marijuana could have on minority communities.
Atlantic City Mayor Frank Gilliam said last week he believes legalization is the “new gold rush” and could be a boon for the resort’s economy. Most of the nine-member City Council have said they want more information about what a state legalization bill would look like before they decide.
“Going green” could be taking on a new meaning in two casino towns, both of which are of great interest for Frank Gilliam: Atlantic City and Las Vegas.
Gilliam, Atlantic City’s mayor, has been one of the strongest proponents of legalizing marijuana in New Jersey. He has said doing so would boost local economies and increase tourism, especially along the Boardwalk.