All eyes are on the New Jersey Governor's race, as it could likely decide whether New Jersey will become the 9th state to legalize cannabis for recreational use. Democrat Phil Murphy, is running against Republican, Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno.

Phil Murphy not only supports a legal recreational cannabis market, but he plans to sign a bill to allow it within the first 100 days of being in office. Murphy sites economic and social issues as his reasoning for legalizing cannabis. In the final debate between the two, Murphy said that “the fact of the matter” is that New Jersey has “the widest white/non-white gap of persons incarcerated in America...the biggest contributing factor is our low-end drug crimes.'' On his website he says he wants to, "legalize marijuana so police can focus resources on violent crime.”

On the other side of the coin, you have Guadagno. You may remember her for making the news when she took over as Governor for Chris Christie. Like Christie, she does not favor legalizing recreational cannabis and once called legalization “beyond stupidity” and accused marijuana advocates of wanting to “poison our kids.” 

During debates, Murphy has looked sharp with great arguments for cannabis legalization. Guadagno seems to be lost at times and uses unbacked claims that cannabis legalization would make the opioid crisis worse in New Jersey. Studies released this month showed that opioid deaths have dropped in Colorado since legalizing recreational cannabis sales. 

To read more about this race, visit https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/303886.

Bryce Sampson

A caffeine dependent life form.