Truth Seeker
New Member
Patients, families, and advocates gathered Friday to highlight what they say is New Jersey's failure to meaningfully implement the state's medical marijuana program. They say the current system is restrictive and expensive.
About two dozen people - many of whom spoke about troubles with the medical marijuana law - met to push lawmakers toward reforming regulations.
Many complained about there being only one fully functional dispensary in Montclair, which for some is a five-hour road trip. A second dispensary in Egg Harbor Township received a permit Thursday to start growing the crop. It is not expected to open until September. The state's medical marijuana law was signed in 2010.
The mother of a 2-year-old Scotch Plains girl with severe epilepsy gave emotional testimony describing her daughter's condition. Meghan Wilson said her daughter, Vivian, would greatly benefit from a higher strain of the drug in a liquid form that is not available.
Vivian's story inspired a bill that passed in the state Senate that would ease restrictions on children having access to medical marijuana. Wilson said pharmaceuticals are not working. She said she believes access to appropriate medical marijuana would improve Vivian's conditions "and, best of all, allow her to be a kid."
In response to Vivian's case, the state Department of Health offered the family a list of physicians, including psychiatrists, registered with the program.
Diane Fornbacher of Collingswood said she would greatly benefit from medical marijuana for post-traumatic stress disorder, but said the state does not qualify it as a debilitating medical condition required to become a registered user.
"It is not a medical marijuana program," Fornbacher said. "I don't know what it is, aside from a failure."
News Hawk- Truth Seeker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Source: philly.com
Author: Associated Press
Contact: Feedback - philly.com
Website: Patients take issue with medical marijuana program
About two dozen people - many of whom spoke about troubles with the medical marijuana law - met to push lawmakers toward reforming regulations.
Many complained about there being only one fully functional dispensary in Montclair, which for some is a five-hour road trip. A second dispensary in Egg Harbor Township received a permit Thursday to start growing the crop. It is not expected to open until September. The state's medical marijuana law was signed in 2010.
The mother of a 2-year-old Scotch Plains girl with severe epilepsy gave emotional testimony describing her daughter's condition. Meghan Wilson said her daughter, Vivian, would greatly benefit from a higher strain of the drug in a liquid form that is not available.
Vivian's story inspired a bill that passed in the state Senate that would ease restrictions on children having access to medical marijuana. Wilson said pharmaceuticals are not working. She said she believes access to appropriate medical marijuana would improve Vivian's conditions "and, best of all, allow her to be a kid."
In response to Vivian's case, the state Department of Health offered the family a list of physicians, including psychiatrists, registered with the program.
Diane Fornbacher of Collingswood said she would greatly benefit from medical marijuana for post-traumatic stress disorder, but said the state does not qualify it as a debilitating medical condition required to become a registered user.
"It is not a medical marijuana program," Fornbacher said. "I don't know what it is, aside from a failure."
News Hawk- Truth Seeker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Source: philly.com
Author: Associated Press
Contact: Feedback - philly.com
Website: Patients take issue with medical marijuana program
