Coming down to the wire, both chambers of the New Jersey Legislature are scheduled to vote Monday on legalizing medical marijuana.
The Assembly on Thursday amended its bill to reflect months of negotiations over its version and that of the Senate. An Assembly committee last June tightened the Senate version approved last February, removing such provisions as allowing patients to grow marijuana at home.
Monday marks the final voting day of the 2008-09 session, before the 214th Legislature begins its work Jan. 12. A vote by the full Assembly is scheduled to be followed by a concurrence vote in the Senate, staff from the primary Assembly and Senate sponsors' offices said today.
"The goal of the legislation is really to make sure that patients had adequate access, that the program wasn't going to be abused and that we were doing the responsible thing for not only the patients but also the citizens of the state," said Mike DeLoreto, chief of staff for Assembly Deputy Majority Leader Reed Gusciora, D-Mercer.
Timothy Prol, legislative aide to Sen. Nicholas P. Scutari, D-Union/Somerset/Middlesex, said he is optimistic the bill will pass.
"We're looking to help those patients who need this medication, and this bill will provide that," Prol said.
Gov. Jon Corzine has said he would sign the bill. Gov.-elect Chris Christie, who takes office Jan. 19, has also said he supports the measure, provided sufficient safeguards are in place.
The version up for a vote Monday increases the amount of marijuana patients can possess to two ounces per month, up from one ounce in the previous Assembly version. Out is the original Senate provision to allow patients to grow six marijuana plants.
It also tightens background checks on employees of six nonprofit dispensaries, to be spread across New Jersey with two each in the northern, central and southern regions, DeLoreto said. The state Department of Health and Senior Services would be empowered to license additional for-profit and nonprofit dispensaries.
The bill charges the department with reporting to the Legislature every two years on how accessible patients are finding the drug.
Doctors would be required to report their marijuana prescriptions to the state Division of Consumer Affairs the same as they do for other drugs considered controlled dangerous substances.
Under the version up for a vote, medical marijuana would be available to patients suffering from seizure disorders, glaucoma, wasting disorders, HIV and AIDS, cancer, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, inflammatory bowel syndrome including Crohn's disease, and any terminal illness where the patient is given less than a year to live.
The bill would empower the Department of Health and Senior Services to approve more conditions for which marijuana could be prescribed.
NewsHawk: Ganjarden: 420 MAGAZINE ® - Medical Marijuana Publication & Social Networking
Source: leHighValleyLive.com
Author: Kurt Bresswein
Contact: leHighValleyLive.com
Copyright: 2010 PennLive LLC
Website: Medical marijuana up for final vote Monday in New Jersey
The Assembly on Thursday amended its bill to reflect months of negotiations over its version and that of the Senate. An Assembly committee last June tightened the Senate version approved last February, removing such provisions as allowing patients to grow marijuana at home.
Monday marks the final voting day of the 2008-09 session, before the 214th Legislature begins its work Jan. 12. A vote by the full Assembly is scheduled to be followed by a concurrence vote in the Senate, staff from the primary Assembly and Senate sponsors' offices said today.
"The goal of the legislation is really to make sure that patients had adequate access, that the program wasn't going to be abused and that we were doing the responsible thing for not only the patients but also the citizens of the state," said Mike DeLoreto, chief of staff for Assembly Deputy Majority Leader Reed Gusciora, D-Mercer.
Timothy Prol, legislative aide to Sen. Nicholas P. Scutari, D-Union/Somerset/Middlesex, said he is optimistic the bill will pass.
"We're looking to help those patients who need this medication, and this bill will provide that," Prol said.
Gov. Jon Corzine has said he would sign the bill. Gov.-elect Chris Christie, who takes office Jan. 19, has also said he supports the measure, provided sufficient safeguards are in place.
The version up for a vote Monday increases the amount of marijuana patients can possess to two ounces per month, up from one ounce in the previous Assembly version. Out is the original Senate provision to allow patients to grow six marijuana plants.
It also tightens background checks on employees of six nonprofit dispensaries, to be spread across New Jersey with two each in the northern, central and southern regions, DeLoreto said. The state Department of Health and Senior Services would be empowered to license additional for-profit and nonprofit dispensaries.
The bill charges the department with reporting to the Legislature every two years on how accessible patients are finding the drug.
Doctors would be required to report their marijuana prescriptions to the state Division of Consumer Affairs the same as they do for other drugs considered controlled dangerous substances.
Under the version up for a vote, medical marijuana would be available to patients suffering from seizure disorders, glaucoma, wasting disorders, HIV and AIDS, cancer, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, inflammatory bowel syndrome including Crohn's disease, and any terminal illness where the patient is given less than a year to live.
The bill would empower the Department of Health and Senior Services to approve more conditions for which marijuana could be prescribed.
NewsHawk: Ganjarden: 420 MAGAZINE ® - Medical Marijuana Publication & Social Networking
Source: leHighValleyLive.com
Author: Kurt Bresswein
Contact: leHighValleyLive.com
Copyright: 2010 PennLive LLC
Website: Medical marijuana up for final vote Monday in New Jersey
