New Jersey marijuana groups launch campaigns to reach voters

In November, New Jersey voters will get to decide whether or not marijuana should be legal for recreational use. Axel Owen is the campaign manager for NJ CAN 2020, a coalition made up of advocacy groups and members of the cannabis industry who are campaigning for legalized marijuana for people 21 and over.

“To basically give them the opportunity to buy it in a controlled facility that is regulated and safe from seed for sale. That we actually know what exactly you’re getting, the potency, that there’s no contamination,” Owen said.

But under COVID-19 restrictions, going door to door isn’t an option.

“Because of COVID and the concerns, especially with people self-isolating, we made the decision real early to go to a much more digital aspect of our campaign. We’re going to be doing a lot of digital ads, we’re doing to be doing a lot of things on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to engage people at their homes,” Owen said.

Amol Sinha is executive director of the ACLU in New Jersey, which is part of the campaign’s coalition. He says legalizing cannabis could help solve racial justice issues. [Read more at NJTV News]