While the virus crisis was a major priority of state officials and lobbyists last year, Brindle said the push to legalize marijuana in New Jersey also lead to heavy spending.
Preliminary figures indicate pro-marijuana advocates jointly spent at least $1.5 million on lobbying in 2020. Several of the same advocates also contributed most of the $2.3 million spent to secure passage of a legalization ballot question in November 2020. Marijuana backers also contributed $65,000 to other committees and candidates last year.
Lobbyists spent a record $1.9 million in 2019 to campaign on marijuana legalization—half a million dollars more than 2018, according to the report.
Those efforts were ultimately unsuccessful, and the question has since been bounced to voters for the presidential election this November.
“Given the big numbers from other states and the fact that the creation of a lucrative new industry hangs in the balance, it isn’t inconceivable that the fall ballot contest could cost upwards of $10 million,” Brindle said.
The potential for a ballot question next year asking the public to decide whether or not to legalize recreational marijuana foreshadows huge spending by independent, outside groups.
Keep in mind that it was just three years ago that New Jersey had its most expensive ballot contest ever- a $25 million election in which voters balked at allowing casinos outside of Atlantic City.
A ballot initiative involving legalized marijuana also would surely invite millions of dollars of spending by special interests attempting to influence the people to support or oppose legalization.
It took a big push by major corporations to bring a whole new industry- casinos- to New Jersey. Marijuana interests may need a similar boost.
While medical marijuana already has been legalized in the state, legislation allowing recreational use has run into stiff resistance even though pro-marijuana spending on lobbying rose nearly 319 percent to $1.4 million in 2018.
Governor Murphy and legislative leaders are continuing to hold meetings to try to rescue the bill, which Senate President Steve Sweeney gave only a 50-50 change of passage on April 29, 2019.