Sales of recreational marijuana are set to begin on Thursday in New Jersey, much to the delight of Gov. Phil Murphy.

During a news conference on Monday, the governor was asked how he’s feeling about marijuana becoming legal in the Garden State and he replied, “I think relieved is the best way to describe how I feel about this. At long last.”

When Murphy was asked if he will be smoking pot on Thursday, he indicated he will not.

No marijuana for Murphy

“It’s never been an animating thing for me. If we were legalizing scotch I would show up with a shopping cart. This is not been my thing,” he said.

“I’m trying to figure out how to properly acknowledge the day on Thursday, and that’s still sort of in process.”

Murphy
AP
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Murphy said he initially supported the move to allow recreational cannabis years ago for social justice reasons, noting the War on Drugs had a huge negative impact on communities of color.

“We’re not inventing marijuana, it’s there," he said. "The question is who’s controlling the industry, who’s going to control the quality, health, safety."

The governor pointed out the Cannabis Regulatory Commission has granted licenses to major players in the legal cannabis industry to sell marijuana in the Garden State but “I think it’s an even bigger deal that the Commission put out 100 provisional licenses to mom-pop, minority, women, veteran-owned that are too small to be in the big category.”

Public safety

When asked about the new marijuana rules and regulations, Acting Attorney General Matt Platkin said it’s important to remember “public safety continues to be at the forefront here."

"We’ve re-launched campaigns through our Highway Traffic Safety division to address driving under the influence, we’re going to continue to work with law enforcement," Platkin said.

The governor noted while law enforcement officials, like everybody else, will be permitted for the time being to use recreational weed when they are not on duty, “there’s no allowing anybody to show up impaired, whether you’re drinking, whether you’ve smoked weed, whatever the reason — anybody who shows up impaired will be dealt with aggressively.”

Murphy also said he would be open to the idea of prohibiting law enforcement officers from using recreational marijuana if the legislature passed such a law.

Platkin noted you can’t possess or use unregulated marijuana at the workplace and you can’t use unregulated marijuana at all.

He said on-the-job testing will have to include a physical exam by a Workplace Impairment Recognition Expert, a WIRE, but for the time being, that will be impossible.

As reported by New Jersey 101.5 last week, the Cannabis Regulatory Commission has not yet adopted regulations to certify WIREs, so there aren’t any in existence yet.

David Matthau is a reporter for New Jersey 101.5. You can reach him at david.matthau@townsquaremedia.com

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NJ beach tags guide for summer 2022

We're coming up on another summer at the Jersey Shore! Before you get lost in the excitement of sunny days on the sand, we're running down how much seasonal/weekly/daily beach tags will cost you, and the pre-season deals you can still take advantage of!

These are the best hiking spots in New Jersey

A trip to New Jersey doesn't have to be all about the beach. Our state has some incredible trails, waterfalls, and lakes to enjoy.

From the Pine Barrens to the Appalachian Trail to the hidden gems of New Jersey, you have plenty of options for a great hike. Hiking is such a great way to spend time outdoors and enjoy nature, plus it's a great workout.

Before you go out on the trails and explore some of our listeners' suggestions, I have some tips on hiking etiquette from the American Hiking Society.

If you are going downhill and run into an uphill hiker, step to the side and give the uphill hiker space. A hiker going uphill has the right of way unless they stop to catch their breath.

Always stay on the trail, you may see side paths, unless they are marked as an official trail, steer clear of them. By going off-trail you may cause damage to the ecosystems around the trail, the plants, and wildlife that live there.

You also do not want to disturb the wildlife you encounter, just keep your distance from the wildlife and continue hiking.

Bicyclists should yield to hikers and horses. Hikers should also yield to horses, but I’m not sure how many horses you will encounter on the trails in New Jersey.
If you are thinking of bringing your dog on your hike, they should be leashed, and make sure to clean up all pet waste.

Lastly, be mindful of the weather, if the trail is too muddy, it's probably best to save your hike for another day.

I asked our listeners for their suggestions of the best hiking spots in New Jersey, check out their suggestions:

NJ county fairs make a comeback: Check out the schedule for 2022

UPDATED 4/10: A current list of county fairs happening across the Garden State for 2022. From rides, food, animals, and hot air balloons, each county fair has something unique to offer.

(Fairs are listed in geographical order from South NJ to North NJ)

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