Pubdate: Thu, 18 Dec 2008 Source: Times, The (Trenton, NJ) Copyright: 2008 The Times Contact: http://www.nj.com/times/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/458 Cited: New Jersey State Nurses Association http://www.njsna.org/ Cited: New Jersey Academy of Family Physicians http://www.njafp.org/ Referenced: Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2008/Bills/S0500/119_I1.HTM Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Marijuana - Medicinal) A SAFE PRESCRIPTION FOR MARIJUANA USE Marijuana in the medicine cabinet? That could become a legal reality in New Jersey, where a Senate panel this week voted 6-1 in support of the Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act, which now moves to the full Senate for consideration. If the bill should become law, New Jersey would join 13 other states that allow the medical use of marijuana to ease the pain and symptoms associated with such debilitat ing illnesses as multiple sclerosis, cancer, AIDS and glaucoma. Unfortunately, the stereotypical image of a pothead has obscured the proven medical benefits of marijuana. A 1999 study by the Institute of Medicine found that "nausea, appe tite loss, pain and anxiety ... all can be mitigated by marijuana." A growing number of respected medical groups have come out in favor of medical use of marijuana. They include the New Jersey State Nurses Association, the New Jersey Academy of Family Physicians and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's southern and northern New Jersey chapters. On a personal level, the testimony of individuals afflicted with serious illnesses has brought into focus the medical benefits of marijuana. Gerry McGrath, a registered nurse who lives in Robbinsville, testified how marijuana made the last days of her son Sean's life more bearable before he died of cancer in 2004. But critics of allowing marijuana for medical reasons point to a number of concerns such as claims that cannabis is addictive, that it leads to use of harder drugs, that it impairs driving ability and that it sends the wrong message to children. And some allege that medical marijuana is just a front for drug legalization. They are all valid concerns. But the Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act does not legalize or allow the casual use of the substance. Instead, it treats it like a pharmaceutical drug, much like other pain medications that must be prescribed by a bona fide doctor. The legislation also restricts the amount of marijuana a patient may possess and sets up a registration system of those allowed to use the drug for medical reasons. Despite the action by the Senate panel this week, New Jersey is still a long way from adopting the Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act that was first introduced in 2005. The Assembly has yet to move its version out of committee, but the bill, sponsored by Assemblyman Reed Gusciora, D-Princeton Borough, received a generally positive hearing last May. We encourage our legislators to move the bill forward and for Gov. Jon Corzine to sign it. There are people in pain who are counting on it. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake