During a recent government meeting, Captain Joseph Deacon voiced his concerns regarding proposed ordinance 24042, which aims to prohibit smoking or vaping cannabis in public spaces, imposing fines ranging from $250 to $1,000 for violations. Notably, the ordinance includes an amendment that allows medical cannabis patients to smoke in public areas where cigarette smoking is permitted, provided they can present their cannabis regulatory commission ID card.

Deacon highlighted a significant decline in the number of registered medical cannabis patients in New Jersey, dropping from 130,000 in 2012 to approximately 80,000 following the legalization of cannabis in 2021. He attributed this decrease to high costs associated with maintaining participation in the medical cannabis program, which has led many patients to seek alternatives from dispensaries without the need for an ID.

The captain raised concerns about the implications of the ordinance for low-income residents, particularly in Trenton, where the poverty rate stands at 28%. He argued that many individuals may be unable to use their medical cannabis indoors due to housing restrictions or homelessness, leaving them with limited options. Deacon warned that the ordinance could disproportionately affect impoverished, predominantly minority communities, potentially leading to criminal justice involvement for those unable to pay fines.

In his closing remarks, Deacon pointed out that evidence suggests secondhand tobacco smoke poses a greater health risk than secondhand cannabis smoke, urging reconsideration of the ordinance's implications for public health and social equity.