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Supplement to New Jersey's Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act Passes Assembly Nearly Unanimously - A765

Per Meagan Glaser, Policy Manager at Drug Policy Alliance New Jersey:

"A765 was passed by the Assembly [May 20, 2013] by a vote of 67 - 2.

"This important bill supplements the 'New Jersey Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act' to provide that a registered qualifying patient’s authorized use of medical marijuana is to be considered equivalent to using any other prescribed medication and not the use of an illicit substance that would otherwise disqualify a qualifying patient from needed medical care, including organ transplantation.

"A765/S1220 is awaiting a vote by the full [state] senate."

***

On the same day, Gov. Chris Christie said he is "not inclined to allow" children to participate in New Jersey's Medicinal Marijuana program.

Per the Star Ledger:

"'I'm very concerned, if we go down this slope of allowing minors to use this, where does it ends [sic]?' the governor said.

"Christie was responding to a question concerning a Star-Ledger report Sunday about Vivian Wilson, a 2-year-old child with a severe and rare form of epilepsy called Dravet Syndrome. She received a medical marijuana identification card from the state Health Department in February, but her parents, Brian and Meghan Wilson of Scotch Plains, have been unable to find a psychiatrist to support her enrollment in the program. The law requires the approval of a pediatrician, a psychiatrist and the child's prescribing physician before the family may purchase the drug on a child's behalf.

"The Wilsons are asking lawmakers to make an exception for their daughter and other seriously ill children who cannot be helped with traditional medication.

"'I have the health commissioner looking at that particular situation and making recommendations to me,' Christie said during a press conference in Lavallette. 'But I will tell you -- I've said this all along and I'll say it again -- I want New Jersey to be a compassionate state. And for people who this is your only option to get pain relief, for those who are terminally ill, (and) are chronically ill, we've authorized it,' the governor said.

"'But I am not going to allow New Jersey to become a California or a Colorado where someone can fake a headache and get a bag of pot on every corner. So I'm very concerned, if we go down this slope of allowing minors to use this, where it end[s],'" Christie added. 'So I'll have the health commissioner look at it, report back to me, but I don't want to mislead people either, I'm not inclined to allow them to have it.'"

Full article after the jump...