A member of the Kansas House of Representatives said over the weekend that the character and genetics of black people make them more susceptible to marijuana use.



Rep. Steve Alford, Republican of Ulysses, Kansas, later apologized after criticism, according to The Topeka Capital-Journal in Kansas. Alford has served in the Kansas House since 2011.



Alford made the racially charged comments during a town hall meeting on Saturday while arguing against marijuana legalization.



Alford said black people were "users" and responded worst to marijuana because of their "character makeup" and genetics. The Garden City Telegram in Kansas was the first to report on Alford's comments.





Alford also attributed the U.S. decision to ban marijuana in the 1930s to drug abuse by black Americans, the Telegram said.



"I was wrong, I regret my comments andworkers and others statewide feeling a deepening impact from the shutdown of nine federal departments and several smaller agencies, which stretched into its 18th day on Tuesday. Barring a resolution of the impasse between President Donald Trump and congressional Democrats over funding for a border wall with Mexico, roughly 5,000 federal employees in New Jersey — and 800,000 nationwide — will miss their first full paychecks starting around Friday.

And if the shutdown continues into February, which would make it by far the longest in history, residents enrolled in several state-administered programs that rely on federal funding, such as nutrition assistance, cash assistance for families with children and child care subsidies, could see critical benefits dry up.

What's affected, What's not:What the government shutdown means for New Jersey agencies

NJ news:Katie