Pubdate: Fri, 22 Jul 2011
Source: Times, The (Trenton, NJ)
Copyright: 2011 The Times
Contact:  http://www.nj.com/times/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/458
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal)

N.J. GOV. CHRISTIE MAKES COMPASSIONATE MOVE TO IMPLEMENT MEDICAL 
MARIJUANA PROGRAM

After nearly two years of delays, Gov. Chris Christie this week 
announced some good news for those who have been waiting patiently 
for relief from chronic pain. The governor gave the go-ahead for the 
state's medical marijuana program to proceed.

He has asked the health department to "move forward as expeditiously 
as possible" in implementing the program, which growers believe could 
be in operation by the end of the year.

That operation will not be as extensive as previously envisioned, and 
it involves an arsenal of safeguards -- measures critics say make New 
Jersey's medical marijuana law the most stringent in the nation. They 
also believe it will be the most ineffectual in soothing the 
suffering of those whose pain has not responded to traditional treatment.

Were it not the carefully controlled and calibrated program that it 
is, however, it might still be in limbo, where it could have remained 
indefinitely.

Gov. Christie's hesitation over implementing the law centers on the 
fact that the federal government prohibits sale and possession of the 
drug. While 16 states have enacted more enlightened legislation, 
federal agents could, theoretically, raid those operations at any time.

In the absence of a definitive declaration from the Obama 
administration on the conundrum, the governor said he believes "the 
need to provide compassionate pain relief to these citizens of our 
state outweighs the risk that we are taking in moving forward with 
the program as it is set up."

He's right. With dwindling resources, the U.S. Justice Department is 
far more likely to monitor outlets in Colorado, for instance. Some of 
those sites offer potent pot with razzle-dazzly names and "a doctor 
on site" -- making it clear they're catering to a clientele with 
questionable medical needs.

New Jersey's program, with just six utilitarian dispensaries in 
tightly controlled locations, will be nothing of the sort. The 
Compassionate Use Marijuana Act requires organizations tapped by the 
state to make three products: a topical lotion, a lozenge and an 
"organic product," which is heated and inhaled as water vapor.

After it begins, there will be opportunity for review and perhaps 
tweaking of the regulations and the allowable strength of the 
marijuana. However, as sponsor Assemblyman Reed Gusciora, 
D-Princeton, has said, it's more important to get the program up and 
running -- and get the prescriptions to those in pain -- than 
endlessly argue over the details.

On hearing the news, a woman in Gloucester who suffers from multiple 
sclerosis said she has nothing but gratitude for the governor. It's 
gratitude we share.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom