Assembly health committee hears testimony on medical marijuana bill
Last update: June 5, 2008
The 2008 legislative session has started in New Jersey. Two medical marijuana bills have been introduced, A804 and S119. These bills will allow patients with serious debilitating illnesses to use marijuana with their doctors' recommendations.
Assembly committee hearing
On Thursday, May 22, the Assembly Health and Senior Services Committee held an informational meeting on A804. The hearing went well and generated positive news coverage. This was the first committee hearing on medical marijuana legislation in New Jersey in almost two years and was an important step toward making New Jersey the 13th state to stop arresting seriously ill patients who use medical marijuana to treat their debilitating conditions.
Widespread support
The Drug Policy Alliance New Jersey is leading the lobbying effort to pass this important legislation. They have garnered the support of the New Jersey State Nurses Association, the New Jersey Academy of Family Physicians, the New Jersey Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, the New Jersey League for Nursing, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's southern and northern New Jersey chapters, and many other organizations. With this impressive level of support, MPP is hopeful that seriously ill New Jersey residents will soon get the protection they deserve.
There is no reason for New Jersey's legislators to stall any longer. Polls and common knowledge both show that medical marijuana is not a controversial issue. Gov. Jon Corzine (D) has even said he would sign the bill into law if it got to his desk.
With that in mind, please take a few moments to contact your legislators and let them know it's time to change the way New Jersey treats seriously ill medical marijuana patients. You can click here to send a letter to your Assembly member and state senator. We already have several prewritten letters available to get you started.
Get involved
For more information about the status of marijuana policy reform in New Jersey, please contact MPP legislative analyst Zane Hurst at (202) 462-5747, ext. 119, or at Zane@mpp.org.
If you are a medical professional, a patient who might benefit from medical marijuana, or if you know somebody who might benefit from medical marijuana, we would like to hear from you. Additionally, if you are a law enforcement official or a clergy member, please e-mail Zane@mpp.org to see how you can be of special help.
Stay connected
Thank you for supporting MPP. To stay updated on the status of marijuana policy reform in New Jersey, be sure to subscribe to MPP's free legislative alert service.
