(TRENTON) – NJ-RAMP and SAM Action President Dr. Kevin Sabet, former drug policy advisor to President Obama, issued the following statement in response to New Jersey State Senate President Steve Sweeney’s announcement that legalization of commercial marijuana will not be taken up by his chamber for the remainder of the 2019 session:

“The pot lobby stood against parents, medical professionals, clergy, minority leaders and thousands of concerned residents all to pray at the altar of the marijuana industry investors. Governor Murphy and pro pot legislators burned enormous political capital this year to recklessly ram through legalization of commercial weed, including dangerous, high-potency THC products. Senator Sweeney’s announcement today that commercial pot will not advance during this session is a victory for every person and every community that would have been victimized by this predatory industry.  We applaud all of the New Jersey legislators and local officials who have thus far stood firm on the side of protecting public health and safety, our young people and the minority communities that would have been targeted by Gov. Murphy’s ‘pot-at-all-costs’ policy.

“SAM Action and our affiliate NJ RAMP know full well that Wall Street, Big Tobacco, Pharma and marijuana’s billionaire investors will not rest until they put a pot shop on every Main Street in the Garden State. We will continue to rally our coalition and ensure elected officials don’t put profits ahead of people and public health.”