Today, New Jersey became the 14th state in the nation to legalize marijuana for medical reasons.
The measure, passed on the final day of the legislative session, would allow patients diagnosed with severe illnesses like cancer, AIDS, muscular dystrophy and multiple sclerosis to have access to marijuana distributed through state-monitored dispensaries.
Gov. Jon S. Corzine has said he would sign it into law before leaving office next Tuesday. Gov.-elect Christopher J. Christie, speaking at a press conference on Monday before the vote, reiterated his support for legalizing the medical use of marijuana as long as the final bill contained safeguards to ensure that it did not end up encouraging the recreational use of the drug.
The law would be the toughest and most restrictive in the country. It only permits doctors to prescribe it for a list of "serious chronic illnesses. Patients cannot grown their own and they cannot use it in public. It will be tracked like Oxycontin, morphine and other opiates.
“I truly believe this will become a model for other states because it balances the compassionate use of medical marijuana while limiting the number of ailments that a physician can prescribe it for,” said Mr. Gusciora, who sponsored the bill.
But back to politics as usual.
Gov.-elect Christie said he wanted to make sure that New Jersey did not follow the path of other states that have legalized the medical use of marijuana. “I think we see all what’s happened in California,” Mr. Christie said. “It’s gotten completely out of control.”
YAHOOOOOOOO!!!!! No, I don't smoke but I have family who will be happy tonight, (not just that kinda happy!) A few family members have fibromyalgia and say pot is the best thing for their pain. I'm happy for them that this passed!
ReplyDeleteProbably it's going to start out pretty tight, don't you think, but will loosen up over time.
ReplyDeleteYour incoming gov doesn't sound that on top of things, though.
About the anomaly of New Jersey: Called a “swing” state, the upper half is urban and suburban and politically mixed, the lower third is below the Mason-Dixon line making it, in part, a southern state. I was born and raised on the cusp of the Mason-Dixon line and know both cultures … attending the only Northern Ivy school considered “respectable” by southern standards. Thus, NJ has a distinct split personality.
ReplyDeleteThe legalization of marijuana reflects this "swing" mentality, i.e., the medical cover without California permissiveness. I doubt the liberal elements will tolerate an Oxycontin/morphine/opiate approach for too long. Eventually, NJ will look more like California.
A positive step, if a small one. Christie's determination to make sure that nobody thinks they can use it for fun is, I supposed to be expected.
ReplyDeleteMarijuana should be treated like alcohol -- legalized and regulated. Legalization would have all kinds of obvious bad consequences, but they pale beside the known bad consequences of continued prohibition.
Those little baby steps are important. Beats the heck out of walking backwards like we do here in the great state of Ten-uh-see.
ReplyDeleteAt least with its legalization, you can be reasonably assured that it isn't laced with something pretty dangerous.
The prohibition of alcohol in the 1920s, spawned a crime spree that is still in business today, all the prohibition amendment did was turn most adult Americans into law-breakers.
ReplyDeleteThe same could be said for the marijuana laws today, only the gangs that fight for their turf, are more vicious, more violent and richer than their 1920s counterparts.
The established American crime families, owe their wealth and power to prohibition.
The importation of marijuana should be illegal, but the laws that prevent the cultivation of a crop for personal use, should be swept away.
The "medicalization" of pot in NJ is truly the first step to California style acceptance. The war on drugs is a complete disaster. Billions of dollars have been spent in pursuit of this silliness. All it accomplished was to drive drugs deeper underground. It has had no effect on usage, on the contrary, usage has increased and not decreased over the years. We need to bring marijuana into the open. We need to tax and regulate it just like booze....Good post!
ReplyDeleteLeslie: I have fibromyalgia and believe me, if marijuana helped ME, I’d be smoking it, whether it were legal or not. I’m in pain 24/7, so, I empathize with ANYONE in chronic pain and if there’s something that can help them, like marijuana, which is natural, by the way, I’m all for it, especially if it can be regulated like alcohol.
ReplyDeleteWell, jest go back into them thar hills of Ten-uh-see to pic up a lil' white lightnin'. Actually, I've heard tell it's smoother and tastier than the over-processed stuff you buy in the likkuh store.
ReplyDeleteI agree with both of you. Obviously, the "just say no" didn't work, which anyone who smoked funny cigerettes could have predicted.
And, who knows, maybe some of those righties might chill out with a few tokes.
Pam: Sorry, your comment came in while I was responding to Holte and MadMike. It's natural all right. I used to know someone who grew it. ; ) But In all seriousness, it is a huge help for people suffering with any kind of chronic pain.
ReplyDeleteThe laws won't be liberalized because of any humanitarian considerations on the part of elected officials but strictly for tax revenue.
Once "liberalized" for medical purposes it will be interesting to see how much/fast cases of certain chronic illnesses rise.
I think this is a good thing, unless your new Repuglican governor over-regulates it.
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ReplyDeleteI wnantd to rite a chohrant respnse but I'm sooooooo hghhih rrght nwo.
ReplyDeleteUltimately, we need a federal law that standardizes the rules nationwide. I also think it's a mistake not to let those allowed to use it for medicinal purposes to grow pot in small amounts for their own use.
ReplyDeleteWhatever happens, I just keep wondering how much more money we would've had, going back decades, to go after people peddling more-dangerous and truly addictive drugs, if so many Americans didn't harbor irrational notions about marijuana. More money to help people hooked on addictive, dangerous drugs, as well.
Joe - you were deleted because this post is not about Reid.
ReplyDeleteTC: I don't live in PA but TN is just as bad, except we have a lot of people calling themselves Dems when they are in fact Republicans (or Dixiecrats).
MyCue: At first I thought you were making fun of the way the Tea Bugs murder the King's English.
SW: Absolutely. People are so short-sighted that they can't see the cause and effect beyond their noses. But I do think this is a beginning, and like everything else, it will take time to grow - so to speak.
All I can say is - Well, it's about durned time!
ReplyDeletewhy are you changing your name???
ReplyDeleteNo real reason. Shorter and maybe to hide the real me?
ReplyDeletetnlib, since you have been named "Honorary Cephalopod" may I suggest this name: Southern Blue.
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