According to the results of the Brach Eichler Cannabis Poll 65% of New Jersey voters are likely to vote yes on the referendum question of marijuana legalization on their mail-in ballot.
Gov. Phil Murphy has been a supporter of marijuana legalization, but he could not gather enough support in the state legislature to get a law passed in 2019.
“The facts are on our side,” Murphy said of the legalization of marijuana. “The fact is that current marijuana laws stifle both social justice and economic development.”
Farleigh Dickinson Unversity poll showed 61% of voters were in favor of marijuana legalization. That poll also showed 68% of New Jersey favored the Governor´s plan to issue pardons for minor marijuana crimes.
However, New Jersey Republicans issued a release opposing united against this process of legalization.
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In September, the New Jersey Republican County Chairmen’s Association voted unanimously to adopt a resolution expressing its opposition to Ballot Question One. It urged New Jersey voters to vote No on the question on the November General Election ballot.
“We are strongly opposed to legalizing pot for personal use,” said Jose Arango, elected chairman of the association. Arango is also the long-time chairman the Hudson County Republican Party and a former member of the NJ General Assembly. That resolution was signed by all 21 Republican chairmen.
On the other hand, Joseph Rullo, a Republican candidate for Governor in 2017 said Republicans should be more open to the process of marijuana legalization in the state. Rullo has been an anomaly in the party, being an open supporter of legalized marijuana.
Marijuana legalization as an opportunity
Rullo claimed the Republican Party lost the opportunity to reach younger generations and moderates who favoured the legalization.
“The Republican Party lost an opportunity to grow its base and expand its reach. Polls show over 60% of residents want this and in a time when your party numbers are shrinking in a predominantly blue state. It could have helped the party reach the younger generations and the moderates of the state who support this referendum.” he said.
New Jersey voters have already cast 1.79 million mail-in voting ballots, nearly half of how many residents voted in the 2019 election.
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