Medical marijuana clears a hurdle, but loses a shoe

I’d like to call this vote on the state’s medical marijuana bill a victory for compassion, but I’m afraid that the restrictions added to it may just make it too restrictive to have the desired effect:

Responding to criticism that the original bill was too lax with the distribution and oversight of the drug’s distribution, Committee Chairman Herb Conaway (D-Burlington) said only licensed “alternative treatment centers” would be allowed to grow, process and dispense the drug to people whose treating physicians recommend they need the drug to ease pain, mobility and nausea. The original bill, passed in the Senate, would have allowed people to grow their own limited supply of marijuana.

The bill permits only the patients themselves to physically obtain the drug, or if they cannot, a courier will deliver it to them, according to the amended bill.

“This bill will be the most restrictive in the nation,” said Sen. Joseph Scutari (D-Union), who added that even he thinks the new bill may be too narrow and restrictive.

Let’s see if it gets out of the Assembly and what happens when the two houses attempt to bridge what are some rather significant differences.

Author: hankkalet

Hank Kalet is a poet and freelance journalist. He is the economic needs reporter for NJ Spotlight, teaches journalism at Rutgers University and writing at Middlesex County College and Brookdale Community College. He writes a semi-monthly column for the Progressive Populist. He is a lifelong fan of the New York Mets and New York Knicks, drinks too much coffee and attends as many Bruce Springsteen concerts as his meager finances will allow. He lives in South Brunswick with his wife Annie. View all posts by hankkalet