Pubdate: Thu, 22 Aug 2013
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer, The (PA)
Copyright: 2013 Philadelphia Newspapers Inc
Contact:  http://www.philly.com/inquirer/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/340
Author: Jan Hefler

WHY CAN'T SICK OLDER PATIENTS HAVE MARIJUANA BROWNIES TOO?

BURLCO BUZZ - New Jersey Assemblyman Reed Gusciora, one of the prime 
sponsors of the state's three-year-old medical marijuana law, is 
puzzled by Gov. Christie's veto of a bill that would remove hurdles 
that keep seriously ill children from using cannabis. The veto was 
conditional, meaning Christie is demanding changes before he will 
sign the bill.

The bill was passed after Brian and Meghan Wilson told lawmakers 
their 2-year-old girl needs cannabis because it has the potential to 
stop her frequent, life-threatening seizures. The Scotch Plains 
couple urged amendments to the law, which they said was flawed.

A big problem was the ban against edible marijuana. Their daughter, 
Vivian, cannot smoke and requires a solution that may be added to 
butter, they said. The bill would have lifted the restriction for all 
registered marijuana patients but Christie wants edible marijuana to 
be available only to minors.

"What about a 70-year-old woman who has emphysema?" Gusciora (D., 
Mercer) said in an interview. "What is the harm if elderly patients 
take it in a brownie?"

Christie says he wants to make sure marijuana is restricted to only 
severely ill patients and wants to take safeguards so it is not 
abused by people "with a migraine." He favors strict regulations, he 
says, so "potheads" don't get their hands on the drug.

Christie is considered a 2016 Republican presidential contender and 
will need to address the concerns of those who oppose any 
legalization of marijuana.

"He wants to show he's conservative, but this defies logic," Gusciora says.

On Monday, the state Senate voted, 34-1, in favor of all of 
Christie's changes. The ball is now in the Assembly's court. No date 
has been set for the vote in the lower house.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom