Though the bill now awaits a full vote in the state legislature, state Sens. Vin Gopal (D-11) and Declan O’Scanlon (R-13) say they aren’t convinced it’s strong enough to pass in its current form.
“There’s a lot of discussion that has yet to be had and I don’t think the votes are there yet,” O’Scanlon said in a Nov. 27 interview with The Two River Times. “Both sides need to take a breath and focus on getting answers to legitimate concerns and questions and then legislate on those answers, whether those answers perpetuate our beliefs or not.”
O’Scanlon was a “no” vote at Monday’s hearing, but denounced what he called “hyperbolic anarchy, chaos, death and destruction” preached by anti-legalization groups.
“I didn’t vote ‘no’ because I wanted to give credibility to the over-the-top pronouncements of naysayers. But there are deliberative questions that I’m still receiving and they deserve to be answered,” O’Scanlon said.
O’Scanlon specifically cited law enforcement concerns posed by Monmouth County Sheriff Shaun Golden, a point Gopal agreed needs to be investigated further.