MedicalNeed
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TRENTON - Gov. Chris Christie said he'll fight to prevent his administration's proposed medical marijuana regulations from going up in smoke, despite pressure from state lawmakers to make changes. The governor said he fears watering down the rules would essentially create "a de facto legalization of marijuana" in New Jersey.
Changes here could lead to duplicating flawed medical marijuana systems in place in California and Colorado, Christie said during a press conference Tuesday. There are currently a total of 13 states that allow medical pot.
"We're not going to have a head shop in every town and quack doctors writing prescriptions for people with headaches to get marijuana," Christie said. "That's not going to happen on my watch."
In elections earlier this month, South Dakota voters rejected for the second time a measure to legalize marijuana for medical use, but a similar referendum was approved by a narrow margin in Arizona.
Oregon voters shot down expanding their state's program to create a network of licensed nonprofit dispensaries.
California was the first state to legalize medical marijuana in 1996.
New Jersey rolled out its yet-to-start program with legislation nearly a year ago and former Gov. Jon Corzine signed the bill into law, a day before Christie took office in January.
Christie, a former U.S. attorney, said he has seen first-hand the dangers of drug abuse.
"I'm not doing it," Christie said of easing restrictions. "I've seen too much in my previous career of what can happen when drugs become that prevalent."
Christie said he has no problem with allowing for the "compassionate relief of pain for those patients who can find relief through no other legal means."
"I'm for them getting it from doctors who've been treating them all along, not from doctors parachuted into the situation with a profit-making motive like we've seen happen in California and Colorado," he said.
On Monday, the state Assembly voted 48-22 to require a rewrite of the policy that will be followed when New Jersey starts its program, expected to happen in 2011.
The bill's sponsor, Assemblyman Reed Gusciora, D-Mercer, said the Christie administration didn't follow the intent of the new law by limiting the number of illnesses that would qualify for the treatment and by capping the strength of the marijuana.
Gusciora said, "We need to make it clear that the regulations are a little too strict. We need the regulations streamlined so we can put compassionate back into the title of the law."
The law is known as the New Jersey Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act. The Christie administration wants to license two marijuana growers and four distribution centers. But the law called for an initial six nonprofit grower-sellers to open, in sites throughout the state.
"It's going to be difficult for someone in Warren County to have to go to Elizabeth, or someone from Penns Grove who will be expected to go to Atlantic City,' Gusciora said.
State Senate leaders are planning a vote on the matter possibly as soon as Dec. 9. Senate leaders canceled their vote Monday because of the absences of Sen. Loretta Weinberg, D-Bergen, and Sen. Jennifer Beck, R-Monmouth, both of whom are being counted on to push for a rewrite.
If the Senate also approves the resolution, the administration would have 30 days to amend or withdraw its rules. Either house of the Legislature can hold a public hearing on the invalidation of the proposed rules if the administration fails to act.
NewsHawk: MedicalNeed: 420 MAGAZINE
Source: thedailyjournal.com
Author: BOB JORDAN
Contact: thedailyjournal.com | Vineland Contact Us | The Daily Journal
Copyright:2010 The Daily Journal
Website:Christie: Medical pot rules are a must | thedailyjournal.com | The Daily Journal
Changes here could lead to duplicating flawed medical marijuana systems in place in California and Colorado, Christie said during a press conference Tuesday. There are currently a total of 13 states that allow medical pot.
"We're not going to have a head shop in every town and quack doctors writing prescriptions for people with headaches to get marijuana," Christie said. "That's not going to happen on my watch."
In elections earlier this month, South Dakota voters rejected for the second time a measure to legalize marijuana for medical use, but a similar referendum was approved by a narrow margin in Arizona.
Oregon voters shot down expanding their state's program to create a network of licensed nonprofit dispensaries.
California was the first state to legalize medical marijuana in 1996.
New Jersey rolled out its yet-to-start program with legislation nearly a year ago and former Gov. Jon Corzine signed the bill into law, a day before Christie took office in January.
Christie, a former U.S. attorney, said he has seen first-hand the dangers of drug abuse.
"I'm not doing it," Christie said of easing restrictions. "I've seen too much in my previous career of what can happen when drugs become that prevalent."
Christie said he has no problem with allowing for the "compassionate relief of pain for those patients who can find relief through no other legal means."
"I'm for them getting it from doctors who've been treating them all along, not from doctors parachuted into the situation with a profit-making motive like we've seen happen in California and Colorado," he said.
On Monday, the state Assembly voted 48-22 to require a rewrite of the policy that will be followed when New Jersey starts its program, expected to happen in 2011.
The bill's sponsor, Assemblyman Reed Gusciora, D-Mercer, said the Christie administration didn't follow the intent of the new law by limiting the number of illnesses that would qualify for the treatment and by capping the strength of the marijuana.
Gusciora said, "We need to make it clear that the regulations are a little too strict. We need the regulations streamlined so we can put compassionate back into the title of the law."
The law is known as the New Jersey Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act. The Christie administration wants to license two marijuana growers and four distribution centers. But the law called for an initial six nonprofit grower-sellers to open, in sites throughout the state.
"It's going to be difficult for someone in Warren County to have to go to Elizabeth, or someone from Penns Grove who will be expected to go to Atlantic City,' Gusciora said.
State Senate leaders are planning a vote on the matter possibly as soon as Dec. 9. Senate leaders canceled their vote Monday because of the absences of Sen. Loretta Weinberg, D-Bergen, and Sen. Jennifer Beck, R-Monmouth, both of whom are being counted on to push for a rewrite.
If the Senate also approves the resolution, the administration would have 30 days to amend or withdraw its rules. Either house of the Legislature can hold a public hearing on the invalidation of the proposed rules if the administration fails to act.
NewsHawk: MedicalNeed: 420 MAGAZINE
Source: thedailyjournal.com
Author: BOB JORDAN
Contact: thedailyjournal.com | Vineland Contact Us | The Daily Journal
Copyright:2010 The Daily Journal
Website:Christie: Medical pot rules are a must | thedailyjournal.com | The Daily Journal
