They are all Democrats, but the primary candidates vying for the right to challenge U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew, R-2nd, differ on how they view legalization of recreational cannabis.
Montclair State University Professor Brigid Harrison, of Longport; West Cape May Commissioner John Francis; and former House Oversight Committee staffer Will Cunningham, of Vineland, favor legalization as a social justice and economic driver.
Former teacher and mental health advocate Amy Kennedy, on the other hand, opposes recreational legalization of marijuana but favors decriminalization and expungement of criminal records. She also favors ending cannabis’ listing as a Schedule 1 drug, defined as the most addictive and having no medical uses.
Changing its listing under the Controlled Substances Act would allow more research to be done on its medical uses and how it affects health, Kennedy said.