Gov. Chris Christie gave the green light to New Jersey's medical marijuana program on Tuesday, saying he believes the state's narrow initiative would not run afoul of federal prosecutors. New Jersey's six approved dispensaries could be open by the end of the year, serving patients who have certain debilitating medical conditions such as multiple sclerosis or terminal cancer, or those whose conditions are not responding to other treatments. Last month, Mr. Christie said he wouldn't move forward with the program until he received assurance that those carrying out the law wouldn't be prosecuted. Critics said he was deliberately trying to delay or kill the program for political reasons. [continues 426 words]
A Challenge To Gov. Christie's Approach New Jersey Senate Democrats are pushing ahead with a challenge to the Christie administration's rules for the state's new medical marijuana program, despite a supposedly bipartisan compromise the governor announced earlier this month. Democrats are unhappy with regulations to implement the program, saying it falls short of a law already described as the most restrictive in the country. The rules would limit the potency of marijuana, among other specifications contrary to the law signed in January just before Mr. Christie took office. [continues 347 words]
