by Chris Goldstein 7-26-2010

Under increased scrutiny Governor Chris Christie’s medical marijuana plan has fallen apart. Proposals to make Rutgers University the sole cultivation source and have cannabis distributed at hospitals were a tantalizing prospect for everyone involved. But expert legal analyses have now matched the concerns pointed [...]]]> New Jersey medical marijuana law goes back to basics

by Chris Goldstein 7-26-2010

Under increased scrutiny Governor Chris Christie’s medical marijuana plan has fallen apart. Proposals to make Rutgers University the sole cultivation source and have cannabis distributed at hospitals were a tantalizing prospect for everyone involved. But expert legal analyses have now matched the concerns pointed out by local medical marijuana advocates when the Governor first floated the concept weeks ago.

Now it appears that the law will go back to its original design, a move seen as a positive step for patient access.

READ FULL ARTICLE

NJ residents may contact legislators here

Read the full text of NJ’s medical marijuana law http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2008/Bills/PL09/307_.HTM

Text story: NY/NJ “Medical” Pot Dealer Describes Highs and Lows of Underground Sales

Please take a moment to send an email here http://capwiz.com/norml2/issues/alert/?alertid=15171111

Link to a blog summary of the topic is below-

NJ: Legislature [...]]]> Supporters of medical marijuana in New Jersey – National NORML has set up a service to email all NJ legislators and the Governor asking them to put The Compassionate Use Act into practice.

Please take a moment to send an email here
http://capwiz.com/norml2/issues/alert/?alertid=15171111

Link to a blog summary of the topic is below-

NJ: Legislature may keep medical marijuana law intact

by Chris Goldstein 6/19/2010

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and DHSS Commissioner Dr. Poonam Alaigh have all kinds of ideas about medical marijuana. Proposed amendments, looking to be passed as last-minute legislation next week, would completely re-invent New Jersey’s medical cannabis program to their design.

Governor [...]]]> Governor’s big medical marijuana concept is unworkable

by Chris Goldstein 6/19/2010

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and DHSS Commissioner Dr. Poonam Alaigh have all kinds of ideas about medical marijuana. Proposed amendments, looking to be passed as last-minute legislation next week, would completely re-invent New Jersey’s medical cannabis program to their design.

Governor Christie’s administration has kept a closed-door on recent discussions to alter The Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act. The bill took five years to pass and resulted in the nation’s strictest language for legal therapeutic cannabis use.

Potential patients, advocates and the public have been left out of plans to make changes to the hard-won law. The result is a set of proposals that would effectively doom the program to fail, before it goes into effect.

Once again ill patients could be left with only the underground market for access to cannabis for therapeutic use.

READ FULL ARTICLE

Read the full text of NJ’s medical marijuana law http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2008/Bills/PL09/307_.HTM

Medical Marijuana Press Conference in Jersey City on 6/17 City officials work on guidelines; patients, professionals seek timely regulations

On Thursday, June 17, 2010 at 1 PM, New Jersey medical marijuana advocacy groups will hold a press conference in front of City Hall in Jersey City.

Local cannabis policy experts are working closely with Jersey [...]]]> MEDIA ADVISORY
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
6/15/2010

Medical Marijuana Press Conference in Jersey City on 6/17
City officials work on guidelines; patients, professionals seek timely regulations

On Thursday, June 17, 2010 at 1 PM, New Jersey medical marijuana advocacy groups will hold a press conference in front of City Hall in Jersey City.

Local cannabis policy experts are working closely with Jersey City officials to create municipal guidelines for the placement of an Alternative Treatment Center. The second largest city in New Jersey is seeking to welcome local, non-profit medical marijuana providers once they can be licensed for operation.

“Guidelines in Jersey City and other towns will assure a local infrastructure is ready for regulated cannabis facilities to serve patients as quickly as possible,” said CMMNJ/NORMLNJ advocate Chris Goldstein

Last month a request was made by Governor Christie for a six to twelve month extension on the issuance of the medical marijuana program regulations. The extension would require additional legislation.

The New Jersey Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act was signed into law January, 11 2010. As passed, the Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) was to issue draft regulations in July. Patients are anticipating access to a running program by the fall.

CMMNJ and NORML-NJ do not see any need for a delay.

Ken Wolski, a Registered Nurse and Executive Director of CMMNJ said, “Patients are suffering as they continue to wait for the program.”

Anne M. Davis, Executive Director of NORML-NJ said, “This is a law and there are no exceptions. There are patients with chronic or even terminal illnesses that cannot get an extension on life.”

The 6/17/10 press conference will feature brief statements along with a Q&A.

Speakers will include potential medical marijuana patients, medical professionals and supporters of the new law who will address the proposed delay in implementing the state’s therapeutic cannabis program.

Media may contact:
Ken Wolski: ohamkrw@aol.com (609) 394-2137
Anne Davis: law@annemdavis.com (732) 477-4700
Chris Goldstein: media@cmmnj.org

WHAT: Medical marijuana press conference
WHERE: Jersey City, NJ – In front of City Hall – 280 Grove Street, Jersey City, NJ 07302
WHEN: June 17, 2010 at 1:00 PM
WHY: Timely implementation of New Jersey’s medical marijuana law, local ATC guidelines

New Jersey officials are scrambling to extend their deadline for implementing the medical marijuana law. The Governor’s Counsel and the Department of Health and Senior Services Commissioner have been meeting with legislators recently to discuss the length of the delay, [...]]]> New Jersey may amend medical marijuana law; advocates call for no delay

New Jersey officials are scrambling to extend their deadline for implementing the medical marijuana law. The Governor’s Counsel and the Department of Health and Senior Services Commissioner have been meeting with legislators recently to discuss the length of the delay, which could put off the first legal access by registered patients into 2011.

READ FULL ARTICLE

NJ: Out-of-state groups look at medical marijuana

New Jersey’s local advocates are still fighting for timely medical marijuana program regulations. But a group in Colorado, Greenway University, claims it can help prospective Alternative Treatment Centers in NJ with compliance. Greenway will be pocketing $300 [...]]]> NORML-NJ Board member Chris Goldstein wrote this blog for Examiner.com

NJ: Out-of-state groups look at medical marijuana

New Jersey’s local advocates are still fighting for timely medical marijuana program regulations. But a group in Colorado, Greenway University, claims it can help prospective Alternative Treatment Centers in NJ with compliance. Greenway will be pocketing $300 per person for a fly-in seminar they are conducting this month. No medical marijuana experts from New Jersey were invited to present.

Greenway is part of a growing trend that has out-of-state groups looking to maximize on the information gap from NJ’s Department of Health and Senior Services. Because DHSS officials have issued no draft regulations and have also remained tight-lipped about the program, those in the canna-businesses of other states see an opportunity.

Greenway offers an exclusive point-of-sale system for medical marijuana dispensaries. So their upcoming seminar may be less about local NJ compliance and more of an infomercial for their business services line-up, including cultivation techniques.

Yet, without even draft regulations for any aspect of NJ’s medical cannabis program, no one can craft the best models for compliance. That is precisely the reason why local non-profit advocacy groups are pushing for DHSS to follow the medical cannabis law to bring the program on-line this year with knowledgeable residents.

NJ: Gov Christie supports medical marijuana law, ill residents wait

President Obama: A plea for Peace at home

NJ: Potential medical marijuana patients would suffer from delay

NJ: Christie wants extra year for medical marijuana

NJ: Medical marijuana law offers new centralized approach

Breaking NJ: Court orders bail for man jailed over medical marijuana

NJ Senators ask Gov Christie for medical marijuana pardon

NJ MS patient: 5 year sentence for growing marijuana

NORML-NJ www.normlnj.org

Medical Marijuana press conference in Trenton on 6/4 Patients, professionals seek timely regulations

On Friday June 4, 2010 at 1PM local medical marijuana advocacy groups will hold a press conference at the State House in Trenton. Potential medical marijuana patients, doctors, nurses and supporters of the new law will address recent [...]]]> FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – June 1, 2010

NORML-NJ
www.normlnj.org

Medical Marijuana press conference in Trenton on 6/4
Patients, professionals seek timely regulations

On Friday June 4, 2010 at 1PM local medical marijuana advocacy groups will hold a press conference at the State House in Trenton. Potential medical marijuana patients, doctors, nurses and supporters of the new law will address recent news of a proposed delay for implementing the program.

The New Jersey Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act was voted and signed in law in January 2010. As passed, the Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) was to issue draft regulations in July and patients were anticipating access to a running program by the fall.

Last week a request was made for an additional 6 months to 1 year before the draft medical marijuana program regulations are issued. The extension would require legislation.

CMMNJ and NORML-NJ do not see any need for a delay.

Ken Wolski a registered nurse and Executive Director of The Coalition for Medical Marijuana New Jersey (CMMNJ) said, “If the DHSS cannot write these regulations in 6 months, there is no guarantee they will be able to write them in 18 months. Patients are suffering as they continue to wait for the program.”

Anne M. Davis, Executive Director of NORML-NJ said, “This is a law and there are no exceptions.  There are patients with chronic or even terminal illnesses that cannot get an extension on life.”

The 6/4/10 press conference will feature brief statements along with a Q&A. A full list of participants will be released on Thursday June 3, 2010.

CMMNJ and NORML-NJ are addressing two main points:
-    Timely implementation of the medical marijuana law
-    A request that those in the Christie Administration meet with New Jersey’s local medical cannabis experts and advocates to discuss the law.

Media may contact:
Ken Wolski ohamkrw@aol.com 609 394 2137
Anne Davis: law@annemdavis.com 732 477 4700
Chris Goldstein: media@cmmnj.org

WHAT: Medical marijuana press conference
WHERE: Trenton, NJ – State House – State Street entrance steps
WHEN: June 4, 2010 at 1:00PM
WHY: Timely implementation of the medical marijuana law

4/29/2010 by Chris Goldstein – John Wilson was released from the Southern State Correctional Facility in New Jersey today to his grateful family at about 1:45PM. Wilson was sentenced to 5 years in prison on March 19, 2010 for growing seventeen cannabis [...]]]> Breaking: Wilson released, NJ Senators call for medical marijuana clemency

4/29/2010 by Chris Goldstein – John Wilson was released from the Southern State Correctional Facility in New Jersey today to his grateful family at about 1:45PM. Wilson was sentenced to 5 years in prison on March 19, 2010 for growing seventeen cannabis plants to treat MS. An Appellate Court ruled on Monday that he should be granted bail as his case is appealed.

On Tuesday Judge Robert B. Reed, the trial judge in the case, set bail at $15,000. Ken Wolski, Executive director of the Coalition for Medical Marijuana New Jersey (CMMNJ) was in the courtroom.

The prosecutor {NJ Office of the Attorney General], Cassandra Serentino, asked for $75,000 to $150,000 bail. When asked why by the judge, the prosecutor said that was what was listed for such an offense on the bail schedule, but that she would defer to the judge for “whatever you deem appropriate.”

The judge cited the fact that John had no prior criminal record, was gainfully self-employed, had a family who was at the trial every day, and had many responsible members of the community vouch for him “in the cause which he has come to represent.” READ KEN’s BLOG POST IN FULL

New Jersey passed a medical marijuana law in January, although the program will not be fully implemented until this fall. Multiple Sclerosis or MS is one of the qualifying conditions under the new law.

State Senators Raymond Lesniak and Nicholas Scutari issued a press release yesterday renewing their call for Governor Chris Christie to grant Wilson a pardon.

“The court recognized the cruelty of incarcerating an MS sufferer under these circumstances. We think Governor Christie should likewise recognize this injustice and pardon Mr. Wilson from the most serious charges,” said Senator Lesniak. “We believe that such an egregious injustice demands prompt action. Through the power of clemency invested in this State’s Chief Executive, Governor Christie can overturn an unjust and overly cruel sentence for a man simply seeking a small measure of relief from chronic pain and illness.”
“We remain hopeful that Governor Christie will see the light and order a more appropriate sentence for John Ray Wilson through a gubernatorial pardon,” said Senator Scutari. “Given our State’s budgetary woes, it does not make sense to incarcerate a non-violent offender for the personal use of medical marijuana, especially when the Legislature and the previous Governor have since legalized the medical use of the drug. Governor Christie should recognize the will of the Legislature, and of the public, and step in to overturn a prison sentence for a very sick man who felt he had nowhere else to turn for relief from his symptoms.” READ THE FULL PRESS RELEASE

Before being incarcerated Wilson was living with his elderly grandmother, helping to care for her and his wheelchair-bound younger brother.

We spoke with Wilson’s mother and father today. The family is planning a barbecue for the homecoming.

“We’re just happy that he’s out,” said his mom.