As with all things cannabis in New Jersey, Thursday’s historic vote was marked by dysfunction, vicious political infighting and resentment.
Shortly after moving the bill to the floor with an emotional speech meant to cap his yearslong legalization effort, Sen. Nicholas Scutari, the lead sponsor, got into a shouting match with Sen. Ron Rice (D-Essex), head of the Legislative Black Caucus and a cannabis opponent, over who had done more (or less) for disadvantaged communities.
Sen. Nia Gill, another Essex County Democrat who’s also a member of the Black caucus, piled on, claiming Scutari didn’t deserve to “take a bow” for passing a measure that’s typically been framed by arguments relating to racial equity and the ravages of the war on drugs.
Adding to the confusion was the fact that both the Senate and Assembly were conducting their voting sessions over the phone to avoid exposure to Covid-19, which is once again sending hundreds of New Jersey residents to the hospital each day.
Senate President Steve Sweeney, one of the state’s two most powerful lawmakers, was forced to play referee as Rice and Scutari traded barbs over who was an “enemy of the people” or who “ought to be ashamed” for their failures as a legislator. In some respects, holding a remote session may have been a saving grace. It was only a few months ago that the two nearly came to blows during a caucus meeting over their differences on cannabis policy.