The Trentonian, 06 May 2013 – In a first-of-its-kind initiative, Gov. Christie is pushing to provide mandatory substance-abuse treatment to nonviolent offenders as an alternative to prison. It’s an effort he speaks of with great passion. "Saving lives – this is what this is about to me," he has said. "Everyone of God’s creatures can be redeemed."

The Trentonian, 06 May 2013 – Eighteen states, including New Jersey, plus Washington, D.C., have legalized marijuana for medical use. Two states, Washington and Colorado, have legalized it for recreational use – although "weed" remains illegal under federal law. Meanwhile, across the land, advocates such as New Jersey’s "Weedman" advocate for coast-to-coast legalization. Advocates say marijuana’s not addictive and studies generally have concluded it’s not a "gateway drug" to harder stuff like heroin.