cannabisnews.com: Moved by Patients, Committee Clears Med Marijuana





Moved by Patients, Committee Clears Med Marijuana
Posted by CN Staff on December 16, 2008 at 06:37:05 PT
By Susan K. Livio, Star-Ledger 
Source: Star-Ledger 
New Jersey -- Moved by pleas from chronically ill patients, a state Senate commit tee approved legislation yesterday that would regulate the sale and use of medical marijuana for people who can show they need the drug to ease their suffering. Over the objections of family rights groups and attorneys who warned the bill sends a conflicting message to youth about illegal drug use, the majority of members from the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee said they felt compelled to approve the bill.
Sen. Bill Baroni (R-Mercer) said he was swayed by the testimony of Charles Kwiatkowski, a 37-year-old Hazlet resident who said the pain and muscle spasms from multiple sclerosis prevents him from playing with his children, ages 3, 8 and 9. "There is too much pain, too much hurt, and too much suffering, and we can do something about it," Baroni said. Kwiatkowski called marijuana "an illegal miracle" that enables him to "walk better, see better, go fishing with my kids. ... It's not right there are 13 states I could live in, in less pain." The New Jersey Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act would benefit patients suffering from a debilitating disease, defined as cancer, glaucoma, HIV and AIDS, or chronic illnesses that cause "wasting syndrome, severe or chronic pain, seizures and severe and persistent muscle spasms." Patients would need a written recommendation from their doctor, and the ultimate signoff from the state Department of Health and Senior Services, which would issue identification cards stating their participation. These patients would be free from criminal prosecution by the state to possess up to six plants and one ounce of usable marijuana, according to the bill.  Snipped   Complete Article: http://drugsense.org/url/7ZoFOLQjNewshawk: Charmed QuarkSource: Star-Ledger (Newark, NJ)Author: Susan K. Livio, Star-Ledger Published: Tuesday, December 16, 2008 Copyright: 2008 Newark Morning Ledger Co.Contact: eletters starledger.comWebsite: http://www.nj.com/starledger/ Related Articles & Web Site:Coalition for Medical Marijuanahttp://www.cmmnj.org/Medical Marijuana Bill Clears Senate Committeehttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread24370.shtmlNew Jersey To Consider Legalizing Marijuanahttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread24369.shtml
Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help




Comment #2 posted by FoM on December 16, 2008 at 18:07:55 PT
Related Article From The Associated Press
Hamilton Senator, Health Committee Approve Medical Marijuana Bill for N.J.http://www.trentonian.com/articles/2008/12/16/news/doc49474e8fb4600166532527.txt
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #1 posted by FoM on December 16, 2008 at 15:33:30 PT
Press Release From The Drug Policy Alliance
Medical Marijuana Closer to Reality in New JerseyDecember 16, 2008 URL: http://www.drugpolicy.org/news/121608newjerseymmj.cfm
[ Post Comment ]


Post Comment