Newark got the water crisis and public safety right, but it appears it’s fumbling the bag on the legalization of marijuana. Reporting from NJ.com indicates the process has become a complete mess, with the usual suspects of inept city government and a vampiric private sector rearing their ugly heads. Even more tragic is suburbia’s conservative NIMBYism should be a boon for New Jersey’s cities. Cannabis-themed dispensaries and cafés would go a long way in providing people with jobs, attracting consumers from other towns, and filling in much of our vacant retail space. This isn’t just a chance for Newark to expand the tax base, but it’s also a social justice issue. A viable legal and regulated marijuana sector can help put a dent in black markets that fuel violent crime and a mass incarceration based criminal justice system. A city so starved for investment shouldn’t be so difficult to invest in.

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