When New Jersey voters are asked this fall to decide on a state constitutional amendment that would legalize recreational marijuana and regulate its sale, the Ocean County Board of Freeholders want them to just say no.
The five-member, all-Republican board is expected to approve a resolution at its next regular meeting on Wednesday that will declare its opposition to the proposed amendment.
Freeholder Virginia E. Haines, who is a Republican National Committee member and former state assemblywoman, said the legalization of recreational marijuana will encourage people to experiment with harder drugs that may lead to increased addiction issues in the state.
“Whatever the tax revenues the state may realize, there may be socioeconomic, mental health and dependency consequences that far exceed the economic benefit,” Haines said, who is sponsoring the proposed resolution — which is a symbolic gesture that carries no legal weight.