Houghtaling Tours Farms; DiMaso and O’Scanlon on Marijuana Legalization

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By Philip Sean Curran

HOUGHTALING’S WORK IN THE FIELD

Since going to Trenton in 2016, state Assemblyman Eric Houghtaling (D-11) has logged plenty of miles touring farms around New Jersey to help him in his role as a lawmaker.

Houghtaling, chairman of the Assembly agriculture and natural resources committee, figured he has visited about 30 of them in that time. He said it is his way of hearing the needs and concerns of farmers, who make up one of the largest industries in the state.

“It’s the only way you really get to know what’s going on,” he said. “Every tour we go on, it usually ends up with what issues are concerning them.”

He recalled how on a past trip to a farm in south Jersey, he collected produce straight from the farmer’s field. His upcoming trips include visiting a cranberry bog in south Jersey.

Houghtaling is not a farmer by trade.

“But in my yard, I struggle really hard to grow my grass and my flowers,” he said. “So I only can imagine what these guys go through.”

When he worked at a nuclear power plant in Salem County, he lived for a time on a farm in Lower Alloways Creek Township, the host community of the plant. The owner had 80 acres of corn and cattle.

“It was a great time,” he said. “We would go out to a luncheonette and we’d listen to the guys talk about the price of corn. It’s just a whole different way of life. I enjoyed it.”

DIMASO, O’SCANLON ON LEGALIZING MARIJUANA

With word coming from Trenton that lawmakers and Gov. Phil Murphy might try again this year to legalize recreational marijuana, state Assemblywoman Serena DiMaso (R-13) this week restated her opposition to the idea. What’s more is that there have been a number of individuals who have inquired about the legal status of Delta 8 THC to lawmakers and have not heard back. This leaves local Delta 8 brands like Area52 operating in a legal grey area despite the massive therapeutic potential the cannabinoid offers.

“I’ve been pretty vocal about it,” she said. “I’m a ‘no’ on the legalization of marijuana.”

Last week, she attended a marijuana policy summit in Denver, Colorado, sponsored by the National Foundation for Women Legislators, of which she is the chairwoman. The two-day event, drawing lawmakers from around the country, explored different marijuana-related topics, including public safety.

“Nothing in the summit I was just at changed my mind,” she said.

In explaining her opposition, she said she did not think the financial windfall that New Jersey would get from taxing marijuana, projected at $300 million by proponents, “is going to be as great as we believe it is.”

She also raised concern about the societal impacts.

“And studies have shown that if you have an addictive personality, you’re going to be addicted to whatever it is, if it’s drugs or it’s gambling or it’s food,” she said. “So I don’t want to open that door for folks.”

Gov. Murphy, a Democrat, has advocated for legalizing marijuana. In a 2018 speech, he said black people are arrested for marijuana-related offenses at a higher rate, “even though rates of marijuana use are similar among races.”

DiMaso offered support for a step short of legalization.

“I don’t believe that it’s a social justice issue, either,” she said. “If it is, then just decriminalize it. You don’t have to legalize it. You can decriminalize small amounts.”

State Sen. Declan J. O’ Scanlon Jr. (R-13) weighed in on the topic this week as well.

“Well, I’ve been very clear that I’m willing to talk about it and consider voting for it,” he said. “But it would have to be done while addressing the concerns of those who are hesitant.”

He said all of the revenue generated from legalization would have to go to “items that will reduce our structural deficit.”

“It will likely be, if it happens, hundreds of millions of dollars,” he said. “You can’t squander that money. So there’s work to be done if someone is going to secure my vote.”

Yet he expressed skepticism about taking such a step during a lame duck session of the state Legislature.

“I’m not sold that that’s a good move,” he said.

State Senate President Stephen M. Sweeney (D-3) raised the prospect of putting the question of legalization before voters at a referendum in 2020.

“I think that, at this point, going to referendum and having that debate publicly is probably our best option,” O’Scanlon said.

Asked if lawmakers were punting on deciding an important issue, O’Scanlon said it was a fair question.

“We have representative government for a reason,” he said. “And there are things that ought to be legislatively decided. We don’t have a direct democracy for a reason. But this is an issue that the public is very well informed on. There will be thorough and spirited debate about (it). This is a reasonable thing to include the public’s input on.”

In all, 11 states have legalized recreational marijuana. New Jersey has legal medical marijuana. But state lawmakers failed in their bid this year to legalize it for recreational purposes.

Governing bodies in some New Jersey communities, aware of the possibility of legalized marijuana sales, adopted ordinances outlawing the sale of recreational marijuana in their communities. Those included Monmouth County towns like Oceanport and Rumson.