Pubdate: Tue, 12 Jan 2010 Source: Asbury Park Press (NJ) Copyright: 2010 Asbury Park Press Contact: http://www.app.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/26 Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?253 (Cannabis - Medicinal - U.S.) MEDICAL MARIJUANA BILL APPROVED TRENTON -- A plan to allow marijuana to be prescribed in New Jersey for medicinal purposes is on the verge of becoming law, following votes in both houses of the Legislature on the last day of its two-year session Monday. The Assembly voted 48-14 in favor of the bill and the Senate voted for the bill 25-13. "We have learned from other states' mistakes. We have put so many safeguards and so many difficulties to get it, that you can rest assured and sleep well that this will not do anything but help sick people," Sen. Nicholas Scutari, D-Union, said. Assemblyman Reed Gusciora, D-Mercer, said the bill would set up "the strictest medical marijuana law in the nation" with more oversight than other states and a requirement that the state issue a report on the law's implementation in 2012. "Criminal laws are still going to apply to even patients who use medical marijuana if they choose to drive," Gusciora said. "This is not a get-out-of-the-jail free card. This is for patients who truly need it, and only the most chronic and debilitating diseases will be eligible." Gov. Jon S. Corzine has said he would sign the bill. The bill qualifies patients with severe or chronic pain, HIV/AIDS, cancer, muscular dystrophy, inflammatory bowel disease such as Crohn's disease, and terminal illness if a physician determines a patient has less than a year to live. Other amendments to the bill made last week delete a requirement that only the patient's primary-care physician can prescribe marijuana, require a patient's primary caregiver undergo a state and federal background check at their cost, permit a patient to be dispensed two ounces of marijuana a month and allow for the establishment of for-profit treatment centers.