The vice president of the New Jersey Education Association has endorsed the legalization of marijuana.
Sean Spiller, who is also the deputy mayor of Montclair, says that people of color disproportionally wind up with criminal records for possessing small amounts of weed.
“Legalizing, taxing and regulating marijuana is a win for social justice, a win for public safety and a win for taxpayers,” said Spiller. “Most importantly, it’s the right thing to do.”
Spiller called current laws “ineffective, ill-conceived and ultimately more harmful than the drug that they ban.”
Next week, Montclair councilwoman Renee Baskerville will host a town hall meeting to discuss the effect of legalizing recreational marijuana.
Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver and State Sens. Ronald Rice (D-Newark) and Nia Gill (D-Montclair) will be among the participants at the forum.
“I look forward to working with stakeholders in Montclair and throughout government to ensure a responsible path forward,” said Spiller.