Governor's proposal would make state first to run a centralized production and distribution system
Governor Chris Christie's administration wants to see marijuana grown at Rutgers University agricultural center and dispensed through hospitals under New Jersey's new medical treatment program.
New Jersey became one of fourteen states authorizing medical marijuana under a law that passed in January. If the amendment is passed, it would become the first state to operate a centralized production and distribution system.
Roseanne Scotti, executive director of the Drug Policy Alliance of New Jersey, in a report on NorthJersey.com that the proposed changes would limit economic growth from the medical marijuana industry. "Why go back to the drawing board, especially when seriously ill people are waiting?" she asked.
Prime law sponsor Senator Nicholas Scutari (D-Union) said state health officials approached him about changes in the law. He understands that Christie "wants to make sure this is strictly controlled-but he doesn't want to see this as becoming too restrictive."
Scutari also plans to introduce a bill Monday which will grant the Health Department ninety more days- from October to January- to write the rules and make the program operational. Christie's administration had sought up to a year's delay.
Assemblyman Reed Gusciora (D-Mercer), another key sponsor, said he liked how adopting this law would give Rutgers "a great opportunity academic-wise... to be the cutting edge of developing new strains of marijuana that deal with illness."
Bob Goodman, executive director of the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station at Rutgers confirmed that the state had contacted him back in March about forming a partnership in the medical marijuana program.
NewsHawk: Ganjarden: 420 MAGAZINE
Source: NewJerseyNewsRoom.com
Author: BOB HOLT
Contact: NewJerseyNewsRoom.com
Copyright: 2010 newjerseynewsroom.com
Website: N.J. medical marijuana delayed while Christie works on controlling drug trade
* Thanks to MedicalNeed for submitting this article
Governor Chris Christie's administration wants to see marijuana grown at Rutgers University agricultural center and dispensed through hospitals under New Jersey's new medical treatment program.
New Jersey became one of fourteen states authorizing medical marijuana under a law that passed in January. If the amendment is passed, it would become the first state to operate a centralized production and distribution system.
Roseanne Scotti, executive director of the Drug Policy Alliance of New Jersey, in a report on NorthJersey.com that the proposed changes would limit economic growth from the medical marijuana industry. "Why go back to the drawing board, especially when seriously ill people are waiting?" she asked.
Prime law sponsor Senator Nicholas Scutari (D-Union) said state health officials approached him about changes in the law. He understands that Christie "wants to make sure this is strictly controlled-but he doesn't want to see this as becoming too restrictive."
Scutari also plans to introduce a bill Monday which will grant the Health Department ninety more days- from October to January- to write the rules and make the program operational. Christie's administration had sought up to a year's delay.
Assemblyman Reed Gusciora (D-Mercer), another key sponsor, said he liked how adopting this law would give Rutgers "a great opportunity academic-wise... to be the cutting edge of developing new strains of marijuana that deal with illness."
Bob Goodman, executive director of the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station at Rutgers confirmed that the state had contacted him back in March about forming a partnership in the medical marijuana program.
NewsHawk: Ganjarden: 420 MAGAZINE
Source: NewJerseyNewsRoom.com
Author: BOB HOLT
Contact: NewJerseyNewsRoom.com
Copyright: 2010 newjerseynewsroom.com
Website: N.J. medical marijuana delayed while Christie works on controlling drug trade
* Thanks to MedicalNeed for submitting this article
