Yes, New Jersey, your governor has smoked weed.
Gov. Phil Murphy ducked the questions on whether he had or would smoke in the future twice in two days, including at a public event Thursday in Edison. Then, two hours later he made the big reveal on Twitter:
“Here’s the deal: I’ve tried marijuana literally once or twice many years ago, and I don’t have any desire to partake again,” Murphy wrote.
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On Wednesday, Murphy, a Democrat, who wants to legalize recreational marijuana, was vague when a reporter asked if had or intended to “consume the product.”
“I said to somebody: If this were the legalization of Scotch or Irish whiskey, I would not need any advice,” Murphy replied. “I’d know exactly what to do. I’ve never been a marijuana guy — this is for social justice.”
When pressed if that was a yes or a no, Murphy didn’t answer as he left the news conference.
On Thursday, Murphy smiled when The Record’s Charlie Stile asked him to clarify whether he plans to smoke pot if it becomes legal.
“Ah, Jesus, Charlie,” Murphy replied. “We’ll deal with that some other time.”
Murphy then walked away from the lectern to sign an executive order regarding labor.
“Some other time” came a few hours later.
Murphy’s vague response on Wednesday prompted others to jump in on Twitter, including the mayor of New Jersey’s second largest city, Steve Fulop of Jersey City.
“I don’t understand why politicians are always so cagey on this,” Fulop tweeted.
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Aside from calling it a matter of social justice for those locked up on marijuana charges, Murphy sees legalizing pot as a way to generate tax revenue.
In fact, his first state budget proposal expects $60 million in tax dollars from legal pot.
In Murphy’s admission he’s tried marijuana, he repeated his assertion that legalization was about social justice.
Credit: nj.com
