Governor Steve Christie
Stunning Reversal in New Jersey as Montclair Dispensary is Granted Permission to Grow Marijuana
Activists are preparing for the annual celebration of marijuana tomorrow and throughout the weekend. Several legal developments this week may make for an even more upbeat 420 weekend than normal. Marijuana.net already reported on such stories as President Obama facing pressure from the international community to legalize marijuana. Additionally, Colorado lawmakers demonstrated huge support for Amendment 64, which if passed by residents in November would legalize marijuana under state law.
What is even better news is that one negative story covered earlier this week may have quickly turned into a positive. Marijuana.net highlighted the exhausting delays patients have had to deal with in New Jersey and the corruption associated with a Bergen prosecutor Over two years ago lawmakers approved the legal use of medical marijuana, but state officials have seemingly thrown every bureaucratic obstacle in its way. This may all have changed as Greenleaf Compassion Center of Montclair has been given the green light to start growing medical marijuana immediately.
It is unclear if all red tape will finally be cut and even Green Leaf Compassion Center’s CEO Joe Stevens is approaching the situation cautiously. He said “My opinion hasn’t really changed. It’s great, and it’s a show of good faith on the department’s side, but what it comes down to is the patients. They still don’t have access and they don’t know when they will have access. It’s still meaningless to me, to be growing marijuana for patients who don’t have access.” Stevens is seeking stronger assurances from Governor Steve Christie that the medical marijuana program will not be weighed down with additional delays. The CEO does not want to grow the medicine only to have it sit around and lose its usefulness.
The news shows that persistence can ultimately achieve victory, especially when fighting for compassion and relief. There has been a great deal of pressure put on Governor Christie and New Jersey legislators lately. Joe Stevens issued a harsh letter to the Governor citing what appears to be intentional delays and the fact that his group has spent over $160,000 in trying to open Green Leaf Compassion Center. Others have also come forward and have even filed lawsuits against the New Jersey government. Perhaps wanting to avoid court cases that would not paint a flattering picture of our elected officials and their agenda to prevent the people of New Jersey from finding relief.
Jersey Officials seem more preoccupied with Corruption and Bureaucracy instead of Compassion
Although there has been incremental progress in trying to institute New Jersey’s medical marijuana program, the delays are highlighting the ineptitude of modern government. New Jersey passed legislation permitting medical marijuana use over two years ago in January of 2010. Since that time, patients have witnessed a litany of delays which include opposition from Governor Christie, local zoning resistance for dispensaries, and political squabbling.
A new story in the news cycle may also explain why New Jersey officials have been dragging their feet. It apparently may be more desirable for New Jersey authorities to profit off marijuana as an illegal substance as opposed to regulating it legally. A municipal prosecutor representing the township of North Bergen has been charged with aiding two giant marijuana operations launder their money. Marcanton Macri was freed over the weekend after posting his $50,000 bail. One of the men Marci conspired with was the manager of a local bank. The forty-four year old attorney is officially being charged with financial facilitation and money laundering charges.
While Marcanton Macri may represent the dysfunction of government officials, Rich Caporusso symbolizes the frustration patients are experiencing in New Jersey. Years ago he noticed a sick family member benefiting greatly from medical marijuana use. Now over a decade later, Mr. Caporusso suffers from muscle spasms and Crohn’s Disease. His condition qualifies for medical marijuana use in New Jersey. However such a program is not operational at this time. The former corrections officer is on disability due to injuries he suffered on the job, making his situation even more desperate. He is seeking medical marijuana but says that New Jersey lawmakers have set up “a million roadblocks.” He and his physician have now filed a lawsuit against the state’s Department of Health and have accused them of intentionally delaying the program. The program was set to start on July 1, 2010 after former Governor Corzine approved the legislation. Lawmakers extended the deadline by 3 months, but an additional year and a half delay has angered patients.
Rich Caporusso is an actual person and if lawmakers were to actually interact with the suffering patients they legislate against, they may not take these decisions so lightly. Caporusso suffers and can be arrested seeking relief while Marcanton Marci is out on bail and reaps the benefits of marijuana’s black market. If Rich Caporusso and his physician are successful they may be able to eliminate avenues of corruption for Marci, grant compassionate relief for the sick, and show the legislators of New Jersey that bureaucracy will stop hurting patients and start hurting political careers.