Pubdate: Fri, 18 Jun 2010
Source: Star-Ledger (Newark, NJ)
Page: Front Page
Copyright: 2010 Newark Morning Ledger Co
Contact:  http://www.nj.com/starledger/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/424
Author: Susan K. Livio
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal)

LEGAL POT MAY TAKE ROOT AT RUTGERS

Christie Wants N.J. to Have Centralized Production, Distribution for 
Medical Marijuana

As Gov. Chris Christie's administration sees it, Rutgers University's 
agricultural center should grow the pot and hospitals dispense it 
under the state's new medical marijuana program, according to three 
sources briefed on the proposal.

If legislators agree with the administration and amend a law that 
passed in January, New Jersey would be the first among the 14 medical 
marijuana states to run a centralized production and distribution 
system. The proposed changes represent an even more restrictive 
program - beyond one that was already the most conservative in the 
country - and eliminate the option of entrepreneurial growers and 
dispensaries getting some of the state's marijuana business.

Letting the program operate through one grower and hospitals would 
minimize some of Christie's concern about the program posing a 
security and safety threat, according to the sources, who requested 
anonymity because they were not authorized to disclose the details.

Critics have said the governor is needlessly dragging his feet in a 
state that has at least 5,000 citizens who need the drug to alleviate 
pain and suffering.

Roseanne Scotti, executive director of the Drug Policy Alliance of 
New Jersey, said she had heard "rumors" about the state wanting to 
involve Rutgers and hospitals. She said she wished the administration 
would stick to the bill that took years to pass.

"Why go back to drawing board, especially when seriously ill people 
are waiting?" she asked. Scotti also said the changes would limit 
economic growth from the medical marijuana industry.

"A lot of very responsible and respectable people have begun to step 
forward," she said. "I thought the Christie administration is 
supposedly business-friendly."

Sen. Nicholas Scutari (D-Union), one of the law's prime sponsors, 
yesterday said state health officials approached him about changing 
the law, but he declined to be specific. He described the changes 
sought by Health and Senior Services Commissioner Poonam Alaigh as 
"interesting" but requiring more thought.

Scutari said he understands Christie "wants to make sure this is 
strictly controlled - once the cat is out of the bag, it's hard to 
stuff it back in. But I don't want to see this become too restrictive 
. We are not giving out poison."

He also plans to introduce a bill Monday granting the Health 
Department an additional 90 days - from October to January - to write 
the rules and roll out the program. The administration had sought up 
to a year's delay.

Health Department spokeswoman Donna Leusner declined to confirm 
details about the proposed program.

"The department is still looking at many complex issues that will 
allow for design of the safest and most effective program for those 
patients who qualify," Leusner said.

Assemblyman Reed Gusciora (D-Mercer), the other key sponsor, said he 
was "supportive, if this is where they want to go."

He said he especially liked how Rutgers would be given "a great 
opportunity academic-wise ... to be the cutting edge of developing 
new strains of marijuana that deal with illness."

Bob Goodman, executive director of the New Jersey Agricultural 
Experiment Station at Rutgers, declined to comment. In March, Goodman 
confirmed the state had contacted the station to explore forming a 
partnership over the medical marijuana program.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom