New Jersey's MMJ Program Moves Forward (Finally)

[Tony Aroma]

I'd recommend watching the press conference video at the link below. This guy sounds really sincere, contrary to what the press has been saying. Not that he IS really sincere, but that's how he sounds. (Actually he reminds me a lot of Jeff Garlin.) One question I would like to have heard asked is will the state step up and defend any dispensary raided by the feds?

BREAKING: NJ Gov. Christie – Medical Marijuana Press Conference

7/19/2011 - Governor Chris Christie called a surprise press conference today to address the stalled medical marijuana law. Taking full responsibility, he has decided to allow six Alternative Treatment Centers to move ahead.

“I have been struggling – as has my administration - to try and find a way to accomplish what I wanted to accomplish…which is to provide compassionate treatment to people who are suffering in a way that will not expose them, the operators of our dispensaries or employees of the State of New Jersey to criminal liability.”
Governor Christie is a former US Attorney and spent a significant amount of time discussing the intersections and conflicts between state and federal laws.

But, in the end, Christie confirmed that the law was moving ahead, “I have instructed the Commissioner of Health to move forward as expeditiously as possible to implement the [program].”

The full press conference video is below.

http://www.freedomisgreen.com/breaking-nj-gov-christie-marijuana-press-conference/

 

[SpasticGramps]

I heard this coming into work today. Congrats NJ. Thank you Chris Christie and fuck the Federal Government.

 

[Maj.Cottonmouth]

Right on, best of luck NJ!

 

[Guest 18340]

Still can't grow your own though...Until then, this 'Jersey boy ain't going home.
But definitely a step in the right direction

 

[igrowone]

been following this long drawn out affair
is Christie doing some change of face?
the one predictable thing about a scuzzy politician is they will change if you push them hard and in the right place, i.e. the money place
still, not going to argue with some results, this may prod NY forward
but the NJ situation was pulling teeth all the way

 

[turbolaser4528]

Step in the right direction I agree!

Those 6 dispenso owners are gonna rake in serious $$ although they are supposed to be non-profit.

I bet private interests were "awarded" the licenses, I wonder how they chose who was going to run them??

I don't trust em, prolly setting this up for big pharma to take over, what do you guys think? because NJ has a HUGE pharma industry, many of the major Pharmaceutical companies are headquartered in NJ. jw

 

[MadBuddhaAbuser]

Nobody should be thanking Christie, and better damn sure not think he's sorry. This was passed into law in JANUARY 2010. A year and a half later he finally allows it to go on.

He has done everything he could to strike it down and hold it off, he has made it clear from the get go he is against it. weed doesn't look good on a Republicans resume.

and of course all the treatments centers are run by cronies and granted through nepotism.

The extreme media and press pressure to get this law going is probably the biggest reason he finally caved. He has spent a year and half making the rules more restrictive and railing against it, then give the jobs to all his buddies.

see my thread over here--->https://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=205615

specifically these posts are notable--->

Half of NJ Medical Marijuana Tied to Gov Christie

March 23, 2011 By Chris Goldstein 1 Comment

Medical marijuana growing at a legal dispensary in CA - photo by C. Goldstein

Governor Chris Christie of New Jersey says that he does not agree with the state’s medical marijuana law. But he should feel better knowing that close allies will own three of the first six facilities. New Jersey media sought out the individuals behind the non-profits given a green light to produce medical cannabis. Michael Symons at the Asbury Park Press revealed the deep political ties at half of the approved operators.
David Knowlton who led Christie’s gubernatorial transition team on health care issues chairs one of the non-profits and Webster Todd, the brother of former governor Christine Todd Whitman, is on the Board at another successful applicant.
Here is part of Mr. Todd’s extensive resume:

He served one term in the Assembly more than 40 years ago and was chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board in the late 1970s.
Todd is a trustee for the Compassionate Sciences [Inc.] center. He was in the Assembly from 1968 to 1970 and worked in the White House, State Department and, from 1976 to 1979, the National Transportation Safety Board, where he served as chairman. He founded Princeton Aviation Corp., was president of Frontier Airlines and was senior director of air safety at the Airline Pilots Association.
Todd said he got involved with the medical marijuana effort at the urging of his oldest son, William.
“And I personally happen to believe in compassionate use,” Todd said. read more
​

Symons uncovered another connection at a different non-profit called Compassionate Care Centers of America Foundation Inc.:

The New Brunswick center’s board includes Kevin Barry, an anesthesiologist who was chosen by Christie as chairman of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey board of trustees, as well as a former federal prosecutor who served as a division chief in the U.S. Attorney’s Office. read more
​

This particular non-profit partnered with the Meadowlands Hospital Group on their application.
Since being approved these permit holders have heaped public praise on the overly restrictive regulations being proposed by the NJ Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS). However, the patients they hope to serve have been working with the Legislature to re-craft the very same regulations.
So far the Christie Administration has delayed the medical marijuana program’s implementation by almost a year. Gov. Christie has been unwilling to compromise on the key issues, continually referring to federal law instead of state statute.
Many qualifying patients say that they will remain in the underground market unless the regulations are changed. That would give the governor’s close associates little opportunity to try their medical cannabis cultivation skills.


Link:

http://www.freedomisgreen.com/half-of-nj-medical-marijuana-tied-to-gov-christie/



I'd love to see the quality they produce with those credentials...

Read this the other day. I feel sorry for the citizens of NJ, pretty fucking pathetic of their state gov. NJ, where the governor who bad mouthed medical marijuana/system then gives all the jobs to his cronies......

.

N.J. Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously approves Mary O'Dowd as state health commissioner


"TRENTON — A Rutgers University graduate today won unanimous support from a Senate panel to become state health commissioner after fielding tough questions about Gov. Chris Christie’s decisions to curtail funding on programs serving women and AIDS patients, and the implementation of the medical marijuana law.
Mary O’Dowd, 33, joined the department in 2008 as chief of staff, and will replace Poonam Alaigh as commissioner for the Department of Health and Senior Services if the full Senate approves her nomination. Alaigh resigned April 1 to help take care of her terminally ill mother-in-law.
The Senate Judiciary Committee hearing began with former longtime Assembly Speaker Jack Collins introducing O’Dowd to the committee as someone who is "respectfully direct" and rightfully challenged him when she was a young staffer in the Assembly Republican office more than a decade ago. "This is as good as we get," said Collins, of Salem County.
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Nicholas Scutari (D-Union) pressed O’Dowd to explain how the department selected six medical marijuana cultivators and sellers from a pool of 21. Before the hearing, Scutari called the process "a sham." He previously noted several prominent Republicans were selected.
Though he was surprised O’Dowd could not immediately answer some of his questions, Scutari said he would support her anyway. "You’re very well liked — congratulations on that. But I do want you to come back and answer questions. We’ll want more firm answers."
Sen. Nia Gill (D-Essex) criticized the governor’s decisions, including eliminating $7.5 million in grants shared among family planning clinics. Gill asked whether O’Dowd would work with the legislature to restore the grants this year if money was available.
O’Dowd at first qualified her answer, replying "there are so many worthy programs." Gill cut her off. "I didn’t ask you what is most worthy ... Would you engage in the process with the legislature’’ to consider restoring the cuts?
"I would absolutely work with the Legislature,’’ O’Dowd replied."

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2011/04/nj_senate_judiciary_committee_2.html


Little more info on her husband:

"Kevin O’Dowd, Deputy Chief Counsel to the Governor
Kevin O’Dowd formerly served as the Chief of the Securities and Healthcare Fraud Unit in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey. Over the course of the last 7 years as an Assistant United States Attorney, Mr. O’Dowd has prosecuted various crimes ranging from complex healthcare, securities and financial fraud matters to international child pornography distribution, cyber and narcotics prosecutions.
Prior to joining the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Mr. O’Dowd spent the previous five years serving as both a Deputy Attorney General for the State of New Jersey and an Assistant Counsel in the New Jersey Office of Counsel to the Governor.
Mr. O’Dowd received his B.A. at The Catholic University of America and his J.D. at St. John’s University School of Law.
A New Jersey native, O’Dowd currently resides in the City of New Brunswick."

 

[MadBuddhaAbuser]

sorry to come in all cranky in your thread and all, but this whole situation just aggravates me.

 

[brotherindica]

Nobody should be thanking Christie, and better damn sure not think he's sorry. This was passed into law in JANUARY 2010. A year and a half later he finally allows it to go on.

He has done everything he could to strike it down and hold it off, he has made it clear from the get go he is against it. weed doesn't look good on a Republicans resume.

and of course all the treatments centers are run by cronies and granted through nepotism.

The extreme media and press pressure to get this law going is probably the biggest reason he finally caved. He has spent a year and half making the rules more restrictive and railing against it, then give the jobs to all his buddies.

see my thread over here--->https://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=205615

specifically these posts are notable--->

sorry to come in all cranky in your thread and all, but this whole situation just aggravates me.

Thank you! Chris Christie has been nothing but a giant pain in the ass regarding the NJ medical program. Extending deadlines, changing the fucking law, giving his cronies positions running dispensaries, shall I continue???

And he comes out trying to act sincere and genuine towards patients. I feel like I'm going to vomit after that sad attempt to act like a compassionate individual.


Fuck their 10% THC cap, fuck their 2 oz limit, fuck their prices, fuck their system........fuck them!


I hope one of his loved ones develops a debilitating condition and needs this medicine. Maybe then he'd pull his head out of his ass and act like a sensible adult.

 

[budlover123]

what I wanted to accomplish…which is to provide compassionate treatment to people who are suffering in a way that will not expose them, the operators of our dispensaries or employees of the State of New Jersey to criminal liability.”

I guess hooking his cronies up with dispensaries is a good way to keep the dispensary owners out of trouble, after all, they are good friends with the governor.

 

[Tony Aroma]

and of course all the treatments centers are run by cronies and granted through nepotism.

Maybe he's setting up his "buddies" to take the fall in the event of DEA raids. It would be pretty funny if a bunch of anti-mmj conservatives had to stand trial in federal court as drug traffickers.

On the other hand, maybe he's protecting the dispensaries by telling his former colleagues in the Justice Dept. to lay off NJ because his buddies are running the show.

 

[Tripp Inmiasov]

I don't see how being careful to avoid Obummers Injustice Dept. paints Christie a demon.

The anti-Christie rhetoric is non-stop from the communist block. I truly wish they would fully explain their denunciations instead of simply exposing themselves as obvious tools.

Show me a "progressive liberal" willing to move foreward with cannabis issues and I will balance my comments. It appears to me that when an intelligent conservative politician is willing to advance the cause of medical cannabis, he gets to enjoy the wrath of the naked left.

I believe all would be better informed to read the book and not simply read leftist sound bites.

I give the man a lot of credit to have studied the issues and then act in a reasonable manner to keep organized crime and cash grabbers at bay.

 

[Guest 18340]

I don't see how being careful to avoid Obummers Injustice Dept. paints Christie a demon.

The anti-Christie rhetoric is non-stop from the communist block. I truly wish they would fully explain their denunciations instead of simply exposing themselves as obvious tools.

Show me a "progressive liberal" willing to move foreward with cannabis issues and I will balance my comments. It appears to me that when an intelligent conservative politician is willing to advance the cause of medical cannabis, he gets to enjoy the wrath of the naked left.

I believe all would be better informed to read the book and not simply read leftist sound bites.

I give the man a lot of credit to have studied the issues and then act in a reasonable manner to keep organized crime and cash grabbers at bay.

Wait 'til the feds swoop in and shut down those dispensaries, then you'll see how much credit he deserves.
MadBuddaAbuser is right on the money. Christe was against MMJ from the beginning, and was very vocal about that. His administration is only now moving forward because an advocacy group has threatened a lawsuit.
And please, don't blame Obama. Far as I remember GW Bush was not an advocate of MMJ either. And let's not forget that it was a Republican who declared war on drugs...

 

[BigDawg]

Ron Paul 2012

 

[brotherindica]

I don't see how being careful to avoid Obummers Injustice Dept. paints Christie a demon.

The anti-Christie rhetoric is non-stop from the communist block. I truly wish they would fully explain their denunciations instead of simply exposing themselves as obvious tools.

Show me a "progressive liberal" willing to move foreward with cannabis issues and I will balance my comments. It appears to me that when an intelligent conservative politician is willing to advance the cause of medical cannabis, he gets to enjoy the wrath of the naked left.

I believe all would be better informed to read the book and not simply read leftist sound bites.

I give the man a lot of credit to have studied the issues and then act in a reasonable manner to keep organized crime and cash grabbers at bay.

. You sir, haven't been paying attention to this issue since Governor Corzine left office. YOU HAVE NO IDEA!


And to get the record straight, don't believe myself of anyone else here, would be deemed the 'communist block'.


This last act was another roadblock Gov. Christie has used to delay the program. He doesn't want to advance the causes of medical cannabis in the least. He has tried to delay this program since he came to office.

Have you seen any videos or been to the public comment periods, held in Trenton? The health committee POORLY attempted to defend their 'regulations', which were never in the initial bill. They couldn't quote a single source used from the 'medical facilities which work' or how they developed their idea of having a 10% THC cap, limitation of 2 oz monthly limit, limit of 3 strains (low, medium, strong), no sale of edibles/butter, no concentrates, etc.

NO other medical states, NO OTHER MEDICAL STATES, have these laws. The health department couldn't defend their stance on these regulation upon public questing, please tell me.....how do you??

What seriously sick individual with cancer, MS, AIDS, IBD, etc needs negative regulations such as these???? It is the most restrictive bill in the country, by far, and cracking down on that is going to help people?????


Governor Corzine announced he would move forward with the bill as written, then left office.


Gov Christie isn't getting any undeserved wrath, from anyone. Personally believe he should be getting questioned much harder on this issue. As much as it is a medical cannabis issue, it's an issue regarding his blatant alteration of a law. More people should be outraged with how he handled this situation regardless of your views on medical cannabis.


Really funny you mention reading, since you obviously haven't done any yourself. PLEASE start reading about this issue SINCE THE BEGINNING!

 

[MadBuddhaAbuser]

Maybe he's setting up his "buddies" to take the fall in the event of DEA raids. It would be pretty funny if a bunch of anti-mmj conservatives had to stand trial in federal court as drug traffickers.

On the other hand, maybe he's protecting the dispensaries by telling his former colleagues in the Justice Dept. to lay off NJ because his buddies are running the show.

I'm pretty sure it is a stalling tactic, but im sure after all his buddies got the contracts they realized "oh shit maybe we might get arrested for this"

I don't see how being careful to avoid Obummers Injustice Dept. paints Christie a demon.

The anti-Christie rhetoric is non-stop from the communist block. I truly wish they would fully explain their denunciations instead of simply exposing themselves as obvious tools.

Show me a "progressive liberal" willing to move foreward with cannabis issues and I will balance my comments. It appears to me that when an intelligent conservative politician is willing to advance the cause of medical cannabis, he gets to enjoy the wrath of the naked left.

I believe all would be better informed to read the book and not simply read leftist sound bites.

I give the man a lot of credit to have studied the issues and then act in a reasonable manner to keep organized crime and cash grabbers at bay.

This post is far more divisive political rhetoric than any of the others in this thread. If you have been following this from the beginning, you would know he said he would try to stop this law before he even took office. He has spent years coming up with new rules and has been delaying this as long as possible. The current law is a far cry from the original bill, so much so that the state congress has introduced a bill saying it differs too much from the original intent of the law--->http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2010/Bills/SCR/130_S1.HTM

SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION No. 130



STATE OF NEW JERSEY



DATED: NOVEMBER 8, 2010



The Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee reports favorably Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 130.

This concurrent resolution embodies the finding of the Legislature that the draft proposed rules posted on October 6, 2010 on the Internet website of the Department of Health and Senior Services to implement the “New Jersey Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act,” P.L.2009, c.307 (C.24:6I-1 et al.), as amended by P.L.2010, c.36, are not consistent with the intent of the Legislature as expressed in the language of the act.

These are the rules christie added or changed from the original bill in an attempt to make it more restrictive.

Unfortunately many of these bills end up lost in commitee, but the NJ house and senate are both voting favorably for MJ.

 

[brotherindica]

I don't see how being careful to avoid Obummers Injustice Dept. paints Christie a demon.

The anti-Christie rhetoric is non-stop from the communist block. I truly wish they would fully explain their denunciations instead of simply exposing themselves as obvious tools.

Show me a "progressive liberal" willing to move foreward with cannabis issues and I will balance my comments. It appears to me that when an intelligent conservative politician is willing to advance the cause of medical cannabis, he gets to enjoy the wrath of the naked left.

I believe all would be better informed to read the book and not simply read leftist sound bites.

I give the man a lot of credit to have studied the issues and then act in a reasonable manner to keep organized crime and cash grabbers at bay.

This post is far more divisive political rhetoric than any of the others in this thread. If you have been following this from the beginning, you would know he said he would try to stop this law before he even took office. He has spent years coming up with new rules and has been delaying this as long as possible. The current law is a far cry from the original bill, so much so that the state congress has introduced a bill saying it differs too much from the original intent of the law--->http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2010/Bills/SCR/130_S1.HTM


These are the rules christie added or changed from the original bill in an attempt to make it more restrictive.

Unfortunately many of these bills end up lost in commitee, but the NJ house and senate are both voting favorably for MJ.

Thank you! There's a lesson for ya Trip, READ FIRST!!

 

[MadBuddhaAbuser]

Here are some of the new rules christie had put into the bill. a 10% cap on THC? seriously? He has spent his term laughing in the faces of NJ voters and patients and directly going against the will of the people by trying to look tough on weed.

Whereas, The Legislature found in Senate Concurrent Resolution 130 and Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 151 that certain provisions of the proposed rules issued on October 6, 2010 and published on November 15, 2010 were not consistent with the Legislature’s intent to provide relief to suffering patients in this State; and

Whereas, Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 130 was substituted by Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 151, which was transmitted on December 15, 2011 to the Governor and the Commissioner of Health and Senior Services, and filed with the Secretary of State; and

Whereas, The Department of Health and Senior Services failed to amend or withdraw the proposed regulations within 30 days after the transmission of Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 151 to the Governor and the Commissioner of Health and Senior Services on December 15, 2011, after which the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee held a public hearing on January 20, 2011; and

Whereas, A transcript of the public hearing was laid on the desk of each member of the Senate on January 31, 2011 and on the desk of each member of the Assembly on February 3, 2011; and

Whereas, Proposed N.J.A.C. 8:64-10.6(c)5, issued on October 6, 2010, published on November 15, 2010, and proposed anew on February 22, 2011, arbitrarily limits the cannabinoid profile of the medicinal marijuana to no more than 10%, and such limitations are inconsistent with the Legislature’s intent to provide relief to suffering patients in this State; and

Whereas, Proposed N.J.A.C. 8:64-10.7, issued on October 6, 2010, and published on November 15, 2010, and proposed anew on February 22, 2011, arbitrarily prohibit alternative treatment centers from cultivating more than three strains of medicinal marijuana; and

Whereas, N.J.A.C.8:64-12.1 - 12.4 of the proposed rules issued on October 6, 2010 and published on November 15, 2010, provided for residential delivery services, but N.J.A.C.8:64-10.12 of the proposed new rules published on February 22, 2011 would prohibit residential delivery of medicinal marijuana, and such a prohibition is not consistent with the Legislature’s intent to provide relief to suffering patients; now, therefore,



Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey (the Senate concurring):



1. The Legislature prohibits the adoption of proposed N.J.A.C. 8:64-10.6(c)5, which would limit the cannabinoid profile of the medicinal marijuana to no more than 10%.



2. The Legislature prohibits the adoption of proposed N.J.A.C. 8:64-10.7, which would prohibit alternative treatment centers from cultivating more than three strains of medicinal marijuana.



3. The Legislature prohibits the adoption of the proposed new rule that prohibits residential delivery of medicinal marijuana, published on February 22, 2011 as N.J.A.C. 8:64-10.12.

4. The Clerk of the General Assembly and the Secretary of the Senate shall transmit a duly authenticated copy of this concurrent resolution to the Governor and the Commissioner of Health and Senior Services.

I think this is a great move by the elected representatives of the people to stand up to obvious nonsense from a governor

 

[brotherindica]

I think this is a great move by the elected representatives of the people to stand up to obvious nonsense from a governor

Exactly. Hasn't come quick, but the only reason this law exists is because of the people. 'Gotta fight for your right'.


Kills me to see individuals saying 'good' and praising Christie for 'what he's done'. Some serious Stockholm syndrome going on there.

 

[Guest 18340]

MadBuddaAbuser, K+ for the avatar!