Odds may be Stack’d against NJ marijuana legalization

Will the blunt words of a powerful Hudson County Democrat spark doom for Murphy’s campaign promise of marijuana legalization in the Garden State?

“I’m not really in favor of [marijuana legalization],” said Union City Mayor & state Senator Brian Stack. “The reason I am not in favor of legalization is I don’t know what kind of a message that sends to the children.”

Stack discussed the topic of marijuana reform on the weekly Talk on the Hudson with Fernando Uribe.

From his perspective as mayor, Stack added “when you look at the quality of life improvements we made in Union City, which is closing down bad liquor establishments, not allowing people to drink on the corner and urinate on the corner. And then, I think about the prospect of legalization of marijuana, and right now, unless I can be convinced otherwise, I’m not really in favor of it.”

With Governor Phil Murphy hours away from swearing-in, Stack’s opposition to legalized marijuana poses a serious political dilemma.

For those unaware, given his voter turnout operation in Union City, Stack is one of the most powerful politicians in New Jersey. He was the Democrat that flexed political muscle and passed the Christie agenda, then endorsed the 2013 reelection of the “greatest governor New Jersey’s ever had.”

State Senator/Mayor Stack may never lose reelection, his opposition will likely paint him as out of touch with an electorate supportive of legalization. Will Murphy use marijuana as part of a power play against entrenched machines in the New Jersey Senate?

Only time will tell, but if Murphy doesn’t pass marijuana his credibility with millennials may go up in smoke.