Pubdate: Fri, 24 Jan 2014
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer, The (PA)
Copyright: 2014 Philadelphia Newspapers Inc
Contact:  http://www.philly.com/inquirer/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/340
Author: Jan Hefler

STANDING UP FOR A CAUSE

Grandfather Protests for Medical Marijuana and His Family.

Frigid temperatures, a looming snowstorm, and a set of jitters did 
not stop the grandfather of a 2-year-old medical-marijuana cardholder 
from showing up at Gov. Christie's swearing-in this week.

Gene Gatens, a carpenter from Brick, Ocean County, was among a small 
crowd of 30 protesters to stake out a spot Tuesday near the War 
Memorial. He hoisted a homemade plywood sign that read, "Don't Force 
Families to Move for Medicine."

It was Gatens' first experience as a demonstrator and ended up 
eye-opening and bittersweet. "I did it for the sake of my 
granddaughter," he said.

A year ago, doctors approved Vivian Wilson of Scotch Plains to use 
marijuana to control her life threatening seizures. But the type she 
needs is still unavailable in New Jersey.

Last month, lawmakers proposed a bill to allow her and others to buy 
it elsewhere, but Christie issued a stern warning when he learned of 
it. "I'm done," he said, threatening to veto the bill and any others 
that might make it easier for patients to obtain the drug. He also 
said he thought that medical-marijuana advocates just want complete 
legalization of the drug.

Meghan and Brian Wilson, Vivian's parents, have long battled Christie 
and are convinced he won't change his mind. They are preparing to 
move with their two daughters to Colorado next month. There, a 
special strain that has helped epileptic children and that does not 
get patients high is being sold as a butter.

"Gov. Christie's words echo in our heads all the time: 'We're done. 
We're done.' Gov. Christie hates the medical-marijuana program," 
Gatens said, explaining why he believed he had to take a stand. He 
said that all he wanted was for his granddaughter to get her 
medicine, not full legalization.

Christie has said he supports giving the drug to the severely ill but 
wants strict restrictions to keep those who are not eligible from getting it.

Gatens, 56, said he was bracing for the day when the Wilsons move, 
taking "his whole world" with them. His ex-wife, Ginger, was with 
Meghan this week, buying drapes and setting up an apartment that the 
Wilsons will rent, and he thought he also had to "do something."

He visits the Wilsons once a week, but supports their decision to move.

"He doesn't want us to leave and he's not going to go down without a 
fight," said Meghan Wilson, who learned about her father's protest 
plans the night before. "Every little bit of activism helps."

When Tuesday came, Gatens was excited. "I thought maybe there was a 
chance someone would see that sign and ask, what does that sign mean? 
And I could explain it to them and they would say, 'Damn it, you have 
a great point and I'll talk to the governor about this,' " he said.

"I'm a dreamer," Gatens said as emotion crept into his voice.

The drive home took more than four hours - including an hour to get 
out of a parking garage. The early exodus from state government 
offices and the heavy snowfall had created gridlock, tripling the 
normal travel time.

A few days earlier, Gatens had called Jim Miller, cofounder of the 
Coalition for Medical Marijuana NJ, who had helped the Wilsons lobby for bills.

"I never did this. ... I didn't want to be in violation of any 
rules," Gatens said, asking how to protest.

For more than two decades, Miller has been demonstrating at the 
Statehouse and other places. After some research, he had learned 
cannabis could help multiple sclerosis patients like his wife, 
Cheryl, who had found no relief from conventional medications. When 
she tried it, it helped, he said, and the two decided to make medical 
marijuana their cause.

Miller had brought her, in a wheelchair, to various protests at the 
statehouse. She died 11 years ago.

At the Christie swearing-in, the only other protesters were those who 
carried anti-fracking signs, Miller said. The two men stayed two 
hours, displaying their signs as lawmakers filed into the Statehouse.

When Gatens got home, he felt uplifted, saying he thought he had 
achieved something, though he wasn't exactly sure what.

But when he turned on his computer, his spirits sank. A news alert 
said Christie had vetoed a bill that would have protected marijuana 
patients from being rejected for an organ transplant. "It's 
disheartening," Gatens said.

Then photographs showing Miller and Gatens with their signs popped up 
on Facebook. "It was good to raise awareness," he said. "And to 
spread the gospel. ... I may be doing it again in the future."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom