Pubdate: Wed, 17 Oct 2012
Source: Courier-Post (Cherry Hill, NJ)
Copyright: 2012 Courier-Post
Contact:  http://www.courierpostonline.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/826

STOP THE STALLING ON MEDICAL MARIJUANA

WHERE WE STAND: Nearly three years past the law's passage, all six
dispensaries should be approved.

The good news for suffering patients in New Jersey is that medical
marijuana might -- and we emphasize might -- actually become available
by the end of the year. That's the hope, at least, after the state at
long last recently issued its first permit to a designated medical
marijuana dispensary, allowing an organization in Montclair, Essex
County, to begin selling the drug.

But for the more than 300 patients now pursuing registration with the
state Health Department to be eligible for the medical marijuana, we'd
suggest holding off on any sighs of relief. Greenleaf Compassion
Center isn't ready to begin operations just yet, and Gov. Chris
Christie could still have a trick or two up his sleeve to continue
blocking implementation of the program.

New Jersey lawmakers legalized marijuana for limited medical use in
January 2010. The program was supposed to begin that summer, but the
state never came close to meeting that goal. The truth is, it never
tried.

Christie and his administration have thrown up roadblock after
roadblock to delay -- and perhaps even try to prevent-- the marijuana
from becoming available to patients suffering debilitating, chronic
pain from conditions such as AIDS, cancer, muscular dystrophy and epilepsy.

Christie has said that he did not want New Jersey's program to be
easily abused and exploited as has happened in some other states, most
notably in California. That has always been a fair concern considering
what the experience has been in states that opened the doors wide.

But Christie clearly has cared little about seeing the process
through, even as we're now talking about just six dispensaries
statewide and very strict limitations on who can be prescribed marijuana.

Particularly telling about the administration's apathy were comments
that the state had to be very careful not to run afoul of federal
prohibitions on marijuana use, even though the feds have already said
they would not override state laws that limit use for medical purposes.

It's sad that it has taken this long just to get one small dispensary
opened in one corner of the state, where only a handful of New
Jerseyans who need marijuana to treat their daily nausea, aches,
blurred vision and other pains will be able to access it. When will
those in South Jersey who use marijuana to treat legitimate, often
terminal, illnesses have access to this program? There's still no answer.

We urge Christie to stop the games and let qualified patients ease
some of their pain without having to break the law by illegally buying
marijuana from a drug dealer or secretly growing it in their homes. Is
that really too much to ask?
- ---
MAP posted-by: Matt