New Jersey Legislature approves medical marijuana
New Jersey is set become the 14th state in the nation to allow medical marijuana, under a bill approved today by legislators that has the support of Gov. Corzine.
Corzine is expected to sign the bill within the next several days, during his last week as governor. The law would go into effect six months after it is enacted.
The approval of the bill marks a milestone for advocates who have worked for years to legalize the medical use of marijuana in New Jersey.
Last February, the state Senate approved a medical-marijuana bill with bipartisan support. But after critics raised concerns that that bill could allow marijuana to become too readily available, sponsors of the bill tightened up the restrictions.
The Assembly voted in favor of the bill 48-14, while the Senate voted 25-13.
"I don't think we should make criminals out of our very sick and terminally ill," said Assemblyman Reed Gusciora (D., Mercer), a prime sponsor of the bill. "It does not make sense for many of New Jersey's residents to suffer when there is a viable way to ease their pain."
Gusciora (D., Mercer) said New Jersey's would be the strictest medical marijuana law in the nation.
Under the bill, people with "debilitating medical conditions," including severe or chronic pain, severe nausea or vomiting, cancer or terminal illness, would be eligible to take medical marijuana, which would be available through for-profit and nonprofit alternative treatment centers throughout the state. Patients would be limited to two ounces of marijuana every 30 days.
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