Stay Informed

Sign up for news & alerts

Already signed up?
Login here
What Can I Do?


Get Help
Need alcohol or drug help for yourself or someone else? GET HELP
Continuing Education
Free online courses for addiction counselors LEARN ONLINE
Resources
Resources
Find useful publications, online documents & more.


DrugScreening.org


 
Medical Marijuana Debated in New Jersey Legislature
June 4, 2008

Share Share Email
Email
Print
Print
SubscribeSubscribe
News Summary

A legislative debate over medical marijuana in New Jersey this week focused as much on how patients would get the drug as whether they should be allowed to use marijuana medically, the Associated Press reported May 29.

"We need a reliable source for people to go to," said Assemblywoman Joan Quigley during the debate on the Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act. "I don't want to send them down behind the local high school to look for weed."

Marijuana is illegal under federal law, so pharmacies cannot dispense the drug. Under the New Jersey legislation, patients with cancer, AIDS, multiple sclerosis, or other medical conditions could register with the state as medical marijuana users, but leaves open the question of supply. One model could be Oregon, which licenses grow operations.

David Evans of the Drug-Free Schools Coalition warned lawmakers that the medical-marijuana bill could lead to broader legalization of the drug. "Open your minds a little here and look to see if there is some other agenda that may be using innocent, honest people to further a political agenda," he said.

But Republican Assemblyman Michael Patrick Carroll said decisions about medication should be left to doctors. "If you can go to your doctor and get a derivative of the poppy to treat pain, why can't you get a derivative of the cannabis plant to treat your symptoms," Carroll said. "If a doctor using his or her best medical judgment thinks marijuana is the best thing for the patient, he or she should be allowed to recommend it."

COMMENTS ON THIS ARTICLE:

Posted by rooty3 on 06 Dec 08 08:52 PM EST
Its always about money the drug companys pushing statins on every one over 40. The tobacco companies pushing cancer sticks. the liquor companies pushing auto fatalities. But because there is profit in it their lobbiest get it laws through. The bailouts are raping future generation and were worrying about helping ill people with medications that they percive as something that helps. Ask veteran with ptsd what helps their symptoms prozac?. But we should keep it illegal so the distribution should be left to street gangs and drug dealers and keep filling our prisons with Ill people "PLEASE"

Posted by brian from south jersey on 05 Aug 08 08:01 PM EDT
i dont understand why people against others smoking MJ care so much. It really has nothing to do with you. If people want to smoke weed that should be their right. you have no right to interfere in other peoples lives. You are in no harm what so ever by others smoking marijuana. It doesnt even affect driving at all

Posted by GLee from North Jersey on 26 Jul 08 12:28 AM EDT
Many women suffer from painful menstrual cycles their ENTIRE life, which eventually turn into painful Endometriosis which require multiple surgeries...Weed provides tremendous relief. People being treated with CHEMO for cancer lose their appetite, when what they need is to feed and nourish their bodies. Ive been ill to the point of no appetite.The prescribed painkillers from my doctors gave me nausea. Doctors have often suggested xanax for the stress resulting in headaches the next day. MJ = no nausea, less stress, an appetite..a relaxed physical and mental state encourages the body to heal. If you abuse alcohol it will harm you. If you abuse MJ it will harm you. If you "use" certain substances in moderation and with caution, they can HELP YOU. Oregon is smart.

Posted by Jim, a patient on 21 Jul 08 09:47 PM EDT
I can only hope that all of you evil people who would deny genuine patients access contract some painful, disabling medical condition for your ignorance. Truth is, drugs to treat conditions such as extreme nausea, neuropathic pain etc. are either prohibitively expensive, ineffective or both. MMJ is cheap and very effective. MMJ as a path towards all-out legalization is a dangerous fallacy, no self respecting doc is going to put his years of hard, expensive work in medical school on the line by risking his license for something from which he has NOTHING to gain.

Posted by Dawn in California on 06 Jun 08 04:11 PM EDT
John is correct ~ great work! Thank you for your efforts to educate JT readers on the true picture of marijuana disguised as medicine following 11 years of legalization in California. Brian, Besides violations of the Controlled Substances Act, employees or sub contractors under the supervision of any state who would knowingly and intentionally violate federal statutes, as they would be expected to do in the New Mexico proposal might be exposed to prosecution under additional federal statutes that prohibit state or federal workers from using the "color of the law" to abridge the rights of others, including the right to be protected from harm by the government. Dawn

Posted by John from Oceanside on 06 Jun 08 11:12 AM EDT
Sorry, for some reason the last post came up as a Brian posting. I don't know how that happend. But it was me, John from Oceanside.

Posted by Brian on 06 Jun 08 11:06 AM EDT
Dear Brian well you don't live in California where it is about thugs and drug dealers, and doctors who give out suggestions as long as you have $200.00 cash only, and a madeup ailment ( I can get a recomendation for being a Drug Addict in recovery and marijuana would ease the stress of staying clean ). It's not about medicine it is about cash, and getting high. I believe that you might really care about sick people but until you distance yourself from all the people who just want to get high I won't stop telling the truth about Medical Marijuana Hoax.

Posted by Brian Smith on 06 Jun 08 03:24 AM EDT
I want to end my session tonight by saying to john from oceanside that this law isn't about drug dealing thugs or rich kids looking for a high, it is about patients that need help. Many of these patients are upstanding citizens that deserve more than to be scrutinized and categorized as criminals.

Posted by Brian Smith on 06 Jun 08 03:16 AM EDT
A useful alternitive to existing, side effect prone percriptions is available. Marijuana use by medical patients should be up to a medical doctors consent. Very few opponents to medical marijuana are objectively educated on the matter, and I emplore them to make an unbiased effort to understand not just the medicinal properties of medical marijuana, but also the deeply seeded agenda of lobbists and bureaucrates (tobacco/#1 killer) in the federal government. For years many medical reports have given information via scientific research that should be investigated deeper. I would like to see a doctor given the final say whether or not I could use medical marijuana as an alternative to current post treatment medications that impair my ablity to live life, by causing internal bleeding and constant convulsions. When I say a doctor, don't confuse a real doctor with the attorney general that is under manipulation. I just want to be off of the pharmicuticals "hit list" and on a natural alternative. It should be my right to allow an educated person i.e. a medical doctor, to make his/her own decision as to what is in my best interest for treatment options.

Posted by John from Oceanside on 05 Jun 08 04:52 PM EDT
Dale the state is ok'ing the individual to smoke marijuana for all kings of made up ailments, like we see in California. So they are responsible for who they let smoke weed. Second if a individual has a recomendation to smoke two joint a day they will never be sober enough too drive, and since the state issues the drivers license they are responsible who is driving on the road.

Posted by Dale on 05 Jun 08 02:20 PM EDT
John, that logic makes as much sense as saying surgical patients should have their driving licenses revoked when being prescribed Percocet, or that the state is somehow liable for allowing physicians to prescribe narcotic analgesics (or for selling alcohol at state stores, for that matter). It's illegal to drive impaired by many substances, some of them legal and some of them not.

Posted by John fron Oceanside on 05 Jun 08 12:23 PM EDT
I glad New Mexico Is settig themselves up as the deep pockets for lawsuits. The first time a stoned medical marijuana driver kills and innocent citizen. They can pay the the huge settlement because when the medical marijuana user got their ok to smoke weed, the state should have revoked their drivers license. Good luck, because we all know weed smokers are pillars of socity and always take responsibility for their actions.

Posted by Bernie Ellis on 05 Jun 08 09:11 AM EDT
The better model for providing access to patients is developing in New Mexico now. The state will license one or more production facilities under state supervision to make cannabis available immediately to eligible patients. (I provided input early on to NM's plan.) For more info, email me at tracevu@bellsouth.net.

Your Turn! Post a public comment (read guidelines):

Name:

Comment:
(limit 200
words)
Enter this word
(help):		 Change

GUIDELINES: 
To keep this feature useful for all, please:

  1. Keep it clean, courteous, and on-topic. Comments are meant for thoughtful discussion of the article published above.

  2. Do not post promotional links to organizations, products or services, or personal requests for assistance (get help).

  3. Proof your comments carefully, use good spelling and punctuation, and don't use ALL CAPS. Comments are published immediately and cannot be edited.

Deceptive, slanderous and commercially-motivated posts are prohibited. We reserve the right to remove comments not conforming to these guidelines. (Report a comment).

Have questions or feedback? Contact us.