New Jersey Assembly introduces bipartisan medical marijuana companion bill

Published: December 27, 2005

On December 2, 2005, Assemblymen Reed Gusciora (D-Trenton) and Michael Patrick Carroll (R-Morris Township) introduced A.B. 4501, the "New Jersey Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act," to protect patients with serious diseases such as cancer, AIDS, and MS from arrest and jail for using medical marijuana when recommended by a doctor. A.B. 4501 is a bipartisan companion to S.B. 2200, which was introduced in January by Senator Nicholas Scutari (D-Middlesex, Somerset, and Union).

Take a moment to tell your legislators you support A.B. 4501 and S.B. 2200. Our automated system will allow you to easily send pre-written letters to your legislators, or you can compose the letters yourself.

Even though the 2005 session is winding down for the year, a new session begins January 10, and both chambers are likely to again introduce medical marijuana bills. We can build momentum for 2006 by reminding legislators that medical marijuana remains a priority during this period of transition.

Medical marijuana is supported by a diverse group of citizens and organizations, including the influential New Jersey State Nurses Association. And the introduction of A.B. 4501 in the Assembly culminates a year of hard work by many, including the Coalition for Medical Marijuana - New Jersey (CMMNJ). The work of CMMNJ and other activists was crucial to the introduction of both bills.

To help put medical marijuana on the radar in your community, send your local paper a letter-to-the-editor encouraging legislative support for medical marijuana in the coming session. It takes just a few moments, and you can draw from our pre-written talking points. We'll even find the papers for you, allowing you to quickly and easily keep medical marijuana in the public eye.

Thank you for supporting the Marijuana Policy Project. Please pass this message along to friends and family throughout the state, so that others can stand up for the rights of the seriously ill in New Jersey.