A New Jersey Senate health panel will hold a hearing in June on a bill that would legalize medical use of marijuana in the state, the Associated Press reported May 9.

Sen. Nicholas Scutari (D-Union), a longtime supporter of medical marijuana, introduced the bill; this is the first time a hearing has been called on the measure. "It's really an effort to provide some sort of relief for people and some compassion," said Sen. Joseph Vitale (D-Middlesex), the health-committee chairman who called the hearing.

If approved, the bill would make New Jersey the 12th state to legalize medical marijuana. Gov. John Corzine said he would sign the bill if it is passed by the legislature, but a spokesman for state anti-drug police groups called the measure an attempt to legalize all marijuana use.