On the Senate Judiciary Committee tonight, Republican Senators Gerald Cardinale and Mike Doherty reacted with horror to 11th hour amendments to S-3205, otherwise known as the expungement bill within the group of marijuana legalization bills.

Their comments occurred on the way to the committee signing off on the adult legalization of marijuana, without their consent.

“If I were a cop and I saw our legislature doing this, I would be somewhat demoralized,” Cardinale said.

“Murphy marijuana millionaires,” the Bergen Republican noted.

“I cannot be a party to this travesty,” he added, specifically referring to the legalization of recreational marijuana.

Doherty likewise scorned the late changes.

“I don’t think the people of New Jersey are aware of this,” said the movement conservative.

“Our society will be extinct in the next few decades,” the Warren-based senator added later. “There’s a lot of evil here, I’m just going to go ahead and say it.”

Both senators voted no on the three marijuana legalization-related bills.

The Committee this evening also voted in favor of S-10, which would revise requirements to authorize and access medical cannabis; establish requirements for institutional caregivers; revise permit requirements for alternative treatment centers; and establish additional legal protections for patients and caregivers.

The votes on both bills (with the exception of Corrado, who voted yes on medical and abstained on expungement) went like this:

Doherty: No

Corrado: abstained

Cardinale: No

Bateman: abstained

Cunningham: Yes

Smith: Yes

Diegnan: Yes

Singleton: Yes

Pou: Yes

Gopal: Yes

Scutari: Yes

Cardinale disapproved of empowering Governor Phil Murphy.

“We still don’t know who appointed Al,” said the Bergen Republican. “There seems to be no control in the governor’s office. And to give him additional control is a big mistake.”

The committee finally considered and passed S-2703, otherwise known as the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory and Expungement Aid Modernization Act, which legalizes personal use cannabis for adults, creates the Cannabis Regulatory Commission to regulate personal use and medical cannabis; and provides expungement relief for certain past marijuana offenses.

Bateman opposed legalization.

“I can’t vote for this,” he said.

Cunningham abstained.

Smith voted yes to release but could not guarantee a floor vote in favor

“It will be one of the toughest votes cast in my legislative career,” said the Middlesex senator. “I have some issues with it, quite frankly.”

Diegnan and Singleton voted yes.

Gopal also voted yes.