Wayne Mayor Pleased That NJ Legislature Cancelled Marijuana Vote

WAYNE, NJ — Township leaders were pleased that the state Legislature canceled a vote on marijuana legalization on Monday.

"I am pleased that the vote did not place today to legalize recreational marijuana and hope that the legislation never passes. I am glad that our 40th District representatives, Senator Kristine Corrado and Assemblymen Chris DePhillips and Kevin Rooney oppose the legislation," Mayor Chris Vergano said.

State officials have the wrong priorities, Vergano said.

"I seriously wish that our elected officials in Trenton would wake up and treat a much higher priority, the deadly opiate problem that we are facing throughout this state," Vergano said. "People are dying on a daily basis and, unfortunately it appears that making marijuana legal is a much higher priority for those in Trenton. I don't understand their logic."

Senate President Stephen Sweeney said he was "disappointed" that the bill would not pass, but he said he remains committed to passing it in the future. (See related: New Jersey Cancels Vote On Marijuana Legalization)

"The legalization of adult-use marijuana will get passed in the state of New Jersey, one way or another," Sweeney said during a press conference.

Sweeney has said that, if the bill failed to get support now, the legislation could be reintroduced after the November state Legislature elections or in the form of a public referendum.

Reporting by Tom Davis, Patch staff

Email: daniel.hubbard@patch.com