Pubdate: Sat, 05 May 2012
Source: Daily Journal, The (Vineland, NJ)
Copyright: 2012 Daily Journal
Contact:  http://www.thedailyjournal.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2250
Author: Stephanie Loder

VINELAND NOT HIGH ON POT PROJECT

VINELAND -- City officials say they turned down a recent proposal by a
local resident who wanted to grow medical marijuana.

Mayor Robert Romano and Sandy Forosisky, the city's director of
redevelopment, said the consensus was a firm "no."

"I wasn't in favor of it," Romano said. "No matter where we would put
it, there would be a big security issue. I don't know what would be
beneficial about it."

Forosisky agreed. "We had no interest," she said.

"We had gotten a phone call and we were asked whether Vineland would
be interested in growing medical marijuana,'' Forosisky said. "We said
Vineland did not want to be one of the first towns growing medical
marijuana in the state."

Romano and Forosisky said the request was made about two to three
weeks ago. They declined to name the individual who contacted the city.

The person who contacted the city was identified only as a private
individual who owned a large, empty storage facility that wasn't being
used.

Romano said the city would not change its stance on growing marijuana
in the future.

"It's really a controversial issue," said Romano, a retired police
lieutenant.

Forosisky agreed growing medical marijuana was not a business well
suited for Vineland. "That is not the business we want for the city,"
she said.

Former Gov. Jon Corzine, a Democrat, signed a law allowing medical
marijuana as one of his last acts before leaving office in January
2010.

Gov. Chris Christie, a Republican, last year announced the state would
move ahead with the program.

The state last month gave approval for the first facility in New
Jersey, a company in Montclair, to begin growing medical marijuana.
The facility still needs a second permit to begin selling the drug to
patients with qualifying medical conditions.

Federal law does not yet recognize the use of medically prescribed
marijuana, while New Jersey law does. The Garden State's medical
marijuana program is among the most restricted and highly regulated,
officials said.

Patients being treated for cancer, multiple sclerosis, muscular
dystrophy, seizure disorders and Crohn's disease qualify for medical
marijuana use. A recommendation can be issued only by a doctor who has
registered with the state's physician database.
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