Pubdate: Tue, 10 Sep 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
Page: B4

N.J. MEDICAL POT CHANGES ADVANCE

The Assembly Approved Allowing Edible Forms for Children, Sent Measure
to Christie.

TRENTON - A 2-year old Scotch Plains girl and other sick children who
qualify for medical marijuana moved closer to getting treatment when
the New Jersey Assembly overwhelmingly approved changes in the
regulations Monday.

Vivian Wilson, a toddler who suffers from a rare and severe form of
epilepsy, was issued a card to obtain the drug in February but faced a
number of roadblocks, including a ban on edible cannabis.

Moved by her story, lawmakers overwhelmingly passed a bill in June to
reverse the ban and make other changes, but were asked to revisit the
issue after Gov. Christie attached recommendations to a veto last month.

A few weeks later, the Senate approved the recommendations, and the
Assembly followed suit Monday with a 70-1 vote, with four
abstentions.

The revised bill returns to the governor's desk for his
signature.

"We are happy that this is finally being signed into law," Vivian's
parents, Brian and Meghan Wilson, said in a statement. "Our next focus
will be working with [ state Health Commissioner] Mary E. O'Dowd and
Department of Health to ensure that this law is properly regulated
according to the true intent of the law so that Vivian and all of the
other patients in New Jersey can finally start getting the type of
medicine they need in the form they need."

So far, Vivian has been unable to obtain cannabis, partly because of
the problems with the law and partly because only one dispensary is
open and it cannot meet the demand.

Assemblywoman Linda Stender (D., Middlesex), a prime sponsor of the
bill, also issued a statement: "For Vivian and many children like her,
marijuana may be the only treatment that can provide life-changing
relief. As a state, we should not stand in the way of that."

The legislators initially passed a bill allowing edible marijuana to
be sold to all registered marijuana patients, but Christie recommended
that this variety be restricted to children.

Assemblyman Reed Gusciora (D., Mercer), another sponsor, said he would
have preferred that elderly patients and others who cannot smoke also
be eligible for edible marijuana, which includes tablets and syrup.

During a campaign stop at a diner last month, Christie got into a
heated exchange with Brian Wilson, who questioned why Christie had not
signed the bill for two months and who said, "Please don't let my
daughter die." His daughter has frequent seizures that could shorten
her life, and cannabis has helped epileptic children in other states.

Christie's reply was that the bill raised "complicated
issues."

"It's simple for you, it's not simple for me," he said. "I'm going to
do what's best for the people of the state, all of the people of the
state."

Christie, a Republican, has said repeatedly that he wants strict
regulations to prevent people from getting access to pot if they are
not sick.

Wilson blamed politics and said Christie was concerned about his
conservative base as he considers a run in the 2016 presidential primaries.

Another change in the revised bill permits dispensaries to cultivate
more than three strains of marijuana.

The Wilsons have said the three-strain limit makes it difficult for
dispensaries to provide a cannabis strain tailored to a small
percentage of the patients. Children with the rare epilepsy, Meghan
Wilson said, require a strain that is high in an anti-seizure chemical
and low in the ingredient that gives the user a high.

Christie let that amendment stand but opposed another that would
require children to get only one doctor to approve their use of
cannabis. Currently, children must have a psychiatrist and a
pediatrician sign off on the drug, and if neither of them is
registered, they need to enlist a third doctor.

Assemblyman Declan O'Scanlon ( R., Monmouth), a supporter of medical
marijuana, said, "Requiring a psychiatrist is a pointless hurdle."

He noted t hat he worked with the Wilsons to help them find a
psychiatrist so Vivian would qualify to take cannabis, and said it was
a difficult process.

Overall, he called the bill "real progress," but said the psychiatrist
requirement was unfortunate because "there is a dearth of
psychiatrists willing to participate."
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MAP posted-by: Matt