New Jersey health committee approves medical marijuana bill

On December 15, the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee voted 6-1 (with 2 abstentions) in favor of S119, the New Jersey Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act. This is a great win for New Jersey's seriously ill patients.

The bill will now go to the full Senate for debate and a floor vote. There is also a companion bill in the Assembly Health and Senior Services Committee, A804. 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. We already have several prewritten letters available to get you started, but please take a couple of moments to personalize your letter.

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 & Lymphoma Society's Southern and Northern New Jersey chapters, and many other organizations.

There is no reason for New Jersey's legislators to stall any longer. Polls show that medical marijuana is not a controversial issue. Gov. Jon Corzine (D) has even said that he would sign the bill into law if it got to his desk. Please urge your state legislators to support S119 and A804. With your help, New Jersey can become the 14th state to end its cruel policy of arresting and prosecuting medical marijuana patients.

Thank you for supporting the Marijuana Policy Project and our allies. Please pass this message along to your friends and family in New Jersey so that others can stand up for the state's most vulnerable residents.