N.J. Assembly committee votes to expand medical marijuana program again | NJ.com
A New Jersey Assembly Committee has voted to expand the state’s medical marijuana program once again by allowing patients to obtain medical marijuana from another state and bring it home. However, Governor Chris Christie has made it clear that he would not approve any such legislation.
The bill received a brief hearing on Thursday before it was passed by the Assembly Health Committee by a vote of 7-4. The bill would allow patients to possess medical marijuana that was legally obtained through another state’s reciprocity program. The marijuana purchased would still have to adhere to NJ’s state parameters and would have to fall under the patient’s doctor’s recommended dosage.
The idea for the bill came from Meghan and Brian Wilson of Scotch Plains, New Jersey who had hoped to help their daughter who suffers from epilepsy by purchasing a rare strain of marijuana that is produced in edible form by a Colorado grower that has shown to reduce the severity and frequency of seizures in other children, but does not produce a “high” feeling. The Wilsons are currently without a solution for their daughter, as the three medical marijuana dispensaries in New Jersey do not produce edibles yet.
Assemblywoman Linda Stender introduced the bill to help patients like the Wilsons. “Our medical marijuana program is not functioning the way it should be and approved participants have not been able to get the medicine they need,” said Stender. “In no way will this bill expand any of the requirements for participation.”
“Instead,” she added. “It will allow people who have been approved into the program within the existing limitations to access the strains that they need in the event of a lack of availability within our own program.”
Last week, Governor Christie said he is “not open to” the change because he believes that expanding the medical marijuana system will lead to recreational marijuana in the state. “Every time you sign one expansion, then the advocates will come back and ask for another one,” the governor said during a press conference from his statehouse office last week. “Here’s what the advocates want: they want legalization of marijuana in New Jersey. It will not happen on my watch, ever. I am done expanding the medical marijuana program under any circumstances. So we’re done.”
The bill will now head to full Assembly