For Marvin Vanhise, the legalized use of recreational marijuana that has been proposed by Gov. Phil Murphy is a non-starter.
“I didn’t like marijuana when I served in Vietnam in 1968, when I served as a judge in Municipal Court for 12 years, and I don’t like it now,” Vanhise told the Lawrence Township Council at its March 19 meeting.
The Lawrence Township resident made it clear that he is not opposed to the medical use of marijuana, but he does not want to legalize it for recreational purposes. He also objected to de-criminalizing the possession of marijuana.
Vanhise won’t have to worry about legalizing marijuana for now, because a package of bills to legalize it has been put on hold. The bills were pulled from a vote in the New Jersey State Senate March 25 for lack of enough votes to pass it.
Vanhise, who was the Municipal Court judge in Lawrence, Robbinsville and Bordentown townships and Hightstown Borough, said he is “vehemently opposed to the violation of federal statutes.”
Despite efforts to legalize its use in New Jersey and its legalization in other states, marijuana is still classified as a Schedule I drug by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. It is illegal to possess or use under federal law.
“I don’t believe it is good for people to have marijuana where young children can be subjected to it – infants and young children,” Vanhise said. “I abhor the notion that it can used for recreational purposes.”
“I would hate to see this town adopt with open arms the sale of what I consider to be a significant detriment to the citizens of this state,” Vanhise said, urging Lawrence Township officials not to permit the sale of marijuana in the township – if it becomes legal.
When Vanhise pointed to the three dozen or so towns that have already outlawed its sale and use in anticipation of its legalization, Municipal Attorney David Roskos said that any attempts to prohibit the sale of marijuana through ordinances to date would be “null and void.”
The proposed legislation that legalizes recreational marijuana would vacate – or make void – any municipal ordinance or resolution that has been passed which banned the sale of marijuana.
Lawrence Township officials, meanwhile, are taking a wait-and-see approach regarding the legalization of marijuana.
