Pubdate: Sat, 17 Aug 2013 Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution (GA) Copyright: 2013 Associated Press Contact: http://www.ajc.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/28 CHRISTIE EASES MARIJUANA ACCESS (AP) - New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie agreed Friday to give chronically ill children easier access to medical marijuana, but he was unwilling to go as far as state lawmakers wanted. The Republican governor conditionally vetoed a bill on the topic, saying in the document, "Parents, and not government regulators, are best suited to decide how to care for their children." He said he agreed with provisions that would allow production of ingestible forms of pot at state-approved dispensaries and to allow dispensaries to grow more than three strains of the drug. But he struck a part of the bill that would have dropped a requirement that a psychiatrist and pediatrician sign off before children are allowed medical marijuana. He said he wanted to keep in some safeguards for young patients. The bill now goes back to the Legislature. If lawmakers make the changes Christie requested, it will become law. It was not immediately clear when lawmakers may take it up, but the state Senate does have a voting session scheduled for Monday. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom