Pubdate: Tue, 31 Aug 2010 Source: Daily Targum (Rutgers, NJ Edu) Copyright: 2010 Daily Targum Contact: http://www.dailytargum.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/715 WEED OUT BAD DECISIONS The University refuses to comment extensively on the matter and the story has somewhat laid low for the past 30 days, but the rejection to grow medical marijuana on University grounds was a mistake. The plans of being the state's sole marijuana grower went up in smoke after University officials turned down this financially beneficial and innovative move. As a research university, we are supposed to be groundbreaking, and this would have been the ideal opportunity - therefore the refusal to be the first university in the country to grow medical marijuana seems to be unfounded. According to the Associated Press, private businesses grow the drug in the 13 other states that permit medical marijuana. Being on the cusp of researching this newly legalized drug would have provided more than financial advantages. After all, we have the resources and Gov. Chris Christie supported the cause - the only hurdle was the Universities frightened attitude toward losing federal funding. "They absolutely came to us. I wouldn't have even thought about it," Christie said, adding that he was disappointed when he heard university leaders say the plan was "unworkable." The governor also labeled the University officials' handling of the situation as "disjointed." University officials said that their decline of the request is because marijuana's status as an illicit drug would lay on the line federal funding to the institution. "There is no way for Rutgers to be involved in this initiative without violating the federal Controlled Substances Act, which we will not do," the University said in a statement. "If there is a change in federal law, a change in the classification of marijuana ... Rutgers would be willing to re-examine a possible role for the university." A bill signed by former Gov. Jon S. Corzine, on his last day in office, legalized medical marijuana. Why then should we be concerned with the legality of growing it in a state university? Christie, a former federal prosecutor, expressed the need for tighter control of production and distribution because of fears of abuse and illegal marketability for the drug. So when the idea of having the University grow the plant and supply it to the state's teaching hospitals, the lawmakers who supported the legislation backed a move to push the implementation date to January 2011. So in the end, it remains a mystery why we turned down this opening. Perhaps the University has a problem weeding out the bad ideas and collaborating with the state on a profitable and pioneering move. - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D