Senate passes medical marijuana bill
Last update: June 20, 2009
On February 23, the New Jersey Senate voted 22-16 to pass S119, also known as the New Jersey Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act. The Assembly health committee voted 8-1 to pass an amended version of the bill on June 4. It must now pass the full Assembly before it goes to Gov. Jon Corzine (D), who has said that he will sign the bill if it makes it to his desk. This bill will allow patients with serious debilitating illnesses to use marijuana with their doctors' recommendations. It will also create regulated compassion centers at which patients and caregivers can obtain their medical marijuana.
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.
Get involved
For more information about the status of marijuana policy reform in New Jersey, please contact MPP at state@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 state@mpp.org to see how you can be of special help.
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