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MEDICAL POT-LAW RESTRICTIONS WILL RUIN BENEFITS WITHOUT CHANGES

The state Senate on Monday postponed a scheduled vote on a measure that would force Gov.  Chris Christie to ease some of the restrictions his administration has placed on implementation of the state's medical marijuana law.  A vote still is expected in early December, but Christie on Monday reiterated his own refusal to amend the restrictions, saying they're necessary to prevent the kinds of abuses of the law seen elsewhere that would result in "de facto legalization of marijuana."

That stated goal of avoiding the problems seen in some other states - most notably California and Colorado - is a reasonable one.  But many supporters of the law maintain that the restrictions are too severe and would effectively prevent successful application of the law, which is designed to give certain chronically ill and terminal patients access to pain-relieving pot.

Among the restrictions would be to limit the number of licensed marijuana growers to two and distribution centers to four - below the amount envisioned under the law - making it very difficult for patients in certain regions of the state to receive the marijuana.  The rules also reduce the number of illnesses that would qualify and caps the strength of the marijuana.

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