TRENTON — Three months ago, Gov. Chris Christie slammed Colorado's "quality of life" after the state legalized marijuana.
This week, he'll get a first-hand view of it.
Christie is about to embark on a two-day trip to the state as part of his ongoing, whirlwind tour of the U.S. in his role as chairman of the Republican Governors Association.
He's slated to campaign for GOP gubernatorial nominee Bob Beauprez on Wednesday in Denver, appearing with the former congressman at an RGA fundraiser in the afternoon and a retail stop at night.
On Thursday, Christie will head to Aspen to participate in RGA events in the early afternoon and a public conversation with fellow Republican governors Rick Scott of Florida, Sam Brownback of Kansas, Nikki Haley of South Carolina and Scott Walker of Wisconsin at the Aspen Institute later in the evening.
In April, Christie was asked on his monthly radio show about the idea of legalizing the recreational use of marijuana in New Jersey — something he said will never happen on his watch.
"Go to Colorado and see if you want to live there," the potential 2016 presidential candidate said. "See if you want to live in a major city in Colorado, where there are head shops popping up on every corner, and people flying into your airport just to get high. To me, it's not the quality of life we want to have here in the state of New Jersey."
Colorado residents voted to legalize marijuana in 2012, though the first stores allowed to sell the drug didn't open until this year. It it is still illegal to smoke in public.
Democrats in the state took offense to Christie's comments.
"Colorado offers the greatest quality of life in the nation," U.S. Sen. Michael Bennett said. "In fact, our quality of life is one reason more innovative companies are moving into the state. If Gov. Christie does find the time to visit, I'm sure he'll find our Western hospitality on display."
But earlier this month, Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper — a Democrat running for a second term against Beauprez — said his beef with Christie was over.
"Gov. Christie obviously loves New Jersey and is always defending and trying to enhance New Jersey’s image in every way he can,” Hickenlooper said at the National Governors Association conference in Nashville. "And I can accept that."
A Quinnipiac University poll released last week showed Hickenlooper in a dead heat with Beauprez.
Christie, meanwhile, has visited nearly two dozen states since November, when he became chairman of the RGA, a group that raises funds for GOP gubernatorial candidates across the country. He has helped the group raise a record $60 million in that time — and also raised his profile as he considers whether to run for the White House.
After the Colorado trip, Christie will visit Chicago on Friday to campaign for Bruce Rauner, the Republican nominee for governor in Illinois.