“I support legalization,” Murphy said in response to a question at a town hall event in Rutherford.

Murphy’s position puts him at odds with Governor Christie, who says marijuana is a “gateway drug” and a danger to society. Murphy said that after studying the issue, he concluded that legalization was the best option. But the decision was tough, he said, since he is the father of four teenagers.

Advocates for marijuana legalization say the sky hasn’t fallen in states such as Colorado and Oregon, where recreational marijuana use has been legal for years. New Jersey currently permits the use of marijuana for some medical purposes, and last month, Christie signed legislation allowing it as a treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder. [Read more at North Jersey]