garden state
Compassionate Christie No More?
The bumps in the road for New Jersey’s medical marijuana program have been well documented. The program was initially approved by exiting Governor Corzine on his last day in office four years ago. Current Governor Chris Christie was never a fan of medical marijuana and tried every strategy at his disposal to delay the start of the program.
In the last year however, it seemed Governor Christie was softening his stance and attempting to get himself in line with the views of the rest of the country. He vowed to stay out of the way of the laws and New Jersey finally had a dispensary open in Montclair about a year ago. Although there are very strict parameters set to qualify for medical marijuana, the Garden State appeared to be on the right track. Over the summer, New Jersey residents Meghan and Brian Wilson brought a new medical marijuana discussion to the state. Their daughter suffers from Dravet Syndrome, a rare but extreme form of epilepsy. As many parents are finding out across the country, marijuana is emerging as one of the most reliable treatments for the condition as traditional medications provide many side effects and do not eliminate the seizures effectively.
A few months back, Governor Christie approved some legislative changes to the medical marijuana program after a public confrontation in a diner where the Wilson’s begged the governor to help their daughter survive. These changes now permit the Wilson’s daughter to receive treatment with cannabis. Unfortunately the strains and necessary information the Wilson’s need are not currently available in New Jersey. They are now pushing the New Jersey legislature to pass a new bill that would allow them to get the necessary medication they need out of state. This has angered Christie, who has reverted back to his more rigid anti medical marijuana stance. In regards to the new bill Governor Christie resorted to what sounded like bully tactics. In what seems to be an oversimplification, the Governor said “See this is what happens. Every time you sign one expansion, then the advocates will come back and ask for another one. 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 Wilson’s may see it a bit differently as their daughter’s quality of life is on the line. They do not see themselves as an engine to push legalization. Brian Wilson responded to Governor by saying “There’s no outpouring of people signing up for this program’ because who wants to spend $200 on sign-up fees plus the countless doctors fees, not covered by insurance, to participate in a program that cannot serve the current client base?” Medical marijuana may be a difficult political issue for the conservative Christie as he already has a problem with the Republican base for being too liberal. Unfortunately, on his way to a White House bid the Governor may be alienating everyone as few people are against medical marijuana these days.
New Jersey Dispensary Finally Serves Patients Medical Marijuana
After what has felt like a soap opera, New Jersey patients have finally now been able to legally access medical marijuana. The former Governor, Jim Corzine signed off on legislation permitting medical marijuana during his final days in office. However, Governor Christie and other lawmakers have delayed the program with as many bureaucratic and administrative delays as they could muster. After that, local townships refused to grant zoning permits.
Although officially legal, medical marijuana would remain in a stalemate until Montclair finally decided to consider the needs of patients and granted Greenleaf Compassion Center its zoning permit. On Thursday, after years of frustration and delays, Greenleaf’s doors finally opened to patients. At first supplies will be limited and patients will only have the option to purchase in half ounce increments. Greenleaf president Joseph Stevens expects supply to be a non issue soon and recently said “everything’s been going great”at the center.
New Jersey has some of the strictest rules in the nation for patients to receive a medical marijuana prescription. So far there are only 300 patients registered. However, the program will grow and more patients will be granted relief as time goes on and more conditions are recognized in the program. Additionally, there may soon be six dispensaries in the Garden Staten as five other collectives have received approval. New Jersey is one of the most populous states in the nation. We believe and hope they will show other states in the northeast and east coast how to run medical marijuana dispensaries. We all know who New Jersey’s big brother and it may only be a matter of time now before the Big Apple approves medical marijuana.
Medical Marijuana Industry News Nov. 18, 2011
New Jersey Moves Closer Than Ever Toward First Medical Marijuana Facility
New Jersey could be seeing an end to the ongoing battle to open the doors to its first marijuana dispensary. Medical marijuana has been legal for some time now and 6 applicants were granted approval by the Garden State. There was a drawn out political battle to even get to this point but new challenges arose. Local municipalities have been reluctant to grant the zoning approval for dispensaries. However, now it appears that fight may too be seeing its final round. The Montclair Zoning Board has approved an application from Greenleaf Compassion Center. The state health department has the final say as Greenleaf Compassion Center will have to sit on pins and needles waiting. Another delay or hold up would come as no surprise when taking into account how the legal process for medical marijuana in New Jersey has played out.
Colorado Looking To Slash Price on Marijuana License
While the trend in the medical marijuana industry is raising taxes and fees, Colorado may be taking the opposite course. Reports indicate that the cost of a yearly medical marijuana license may be reduced from $90 to $35. This would be yet another reduction as licenses cost $140 when the state first initiated its program. Colorado’s Board of Health feels that even with the lower license fees they will still be able to cover administrative costs associate with running the medical marijuana program.