BREAKING NEWS: New Jersey Lawmakers Vote to Delay Medical Marijuana Laws Implementation

BREAKING NEWS: New Jersey Lawmakers Vote to Delay Medical Marijuana Laws Implementation

The delay was requested by Republican Gov. Chris Christie. As initially signed into law, the measure was slated to take effect in July.Lawmakers in the Assembly and Senate voted on Monday, June 28, in favor of legislation to delay the implementation of the New Jersey Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act.

As amended, the measure will not go into effect until October 2010. The program is not expected to be up and running until early 2011.

According to the Associated Press, “The delay allows health officials to write regulations. It also may give politicians time to consider a different model for the program.”

Gov. Christie has previously called on legislators to amend thelaw — which, as written, is already the most restrictive in the nation — so that patients would only be eligible to obtainmedical cannabis in state hospitals. The Governor has also proposed limiting the cultivation of marijuana so that it could only take place at Rutgers University. NORML opposes these amendments, which if enacted, would make New Jersey’s law totally unworkable for patients.

Please contact your lawmakers and urge them to oppose Gov. Christie’s proposed amendments to New Jersey’s medical marijuana law. For your convenience, a pre-written letter will be e-mailed to your members of the assembly and senate when you enter your contact information below.

Thank you for supporting NORML’s marijuana law reform efforts in New Jersey. For more information please visit NORML NJ or the Coalition for Medical Marijuana New Jersey.