New Jersey's MMJ Program Moves Forward (Finally)

[Tripp Inmiasov]

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

I stand by my previous post. Christie could have just said "piss off" and not allowed it. Instead, he put some thought into it and allowed it to move forward.

I'm not saying what he has done is perfect. What I am saying, is that lately I have seen more pro-cannabis conservatives standing up for medical and recreational cannabis use.

Where is the communist block nowadays?

You guys should try removing your "hammer and sickle" sunglasses and look at the world without such bias.

I'm neither left nor right. I just make observations. If my comments trigger your political psychosis, try inhaling a few times and put things into perspective.

 

[MadBuddhaAbuser]

And let's not forget that it was a Republican who declared war on drugs...

I stand by my previous post. Christie could have just said "piss off" and not allowed it. Instead, he put some thought into it and allowed it to move forward.

Actually, no. It was a bill SIGNED INTO LAW by previous governor John Corzine. It should have been enacted immediately from that point following the original intent of the law.

I'm not saying what he has done is perfect. What I am saying, is that lately I have seen more pro-cannabis conservatives standing up for medical and recreational cannabis use.

Where is the communist block nowadays?

You guys should try removing your "hammer and sickle" sunglasses and look at the world without such bias.

I'm neither left nor right. I just make observations. If my comments trigger your political psychosis, try inhaling a few times and put things into perspective.

as for the rest of the post..................WTF?

 

[Guest 18340]

I stand by my previous post. Christie could have just said "piss off" and not allowed it. Instead, he put some thought into it and allowed it to move forward.

I'm not saying what he has done is perfect. What I am saying, is that lately I have seen more pro-cannabis conservatives standing up for medical and recreational cannabis use.

Where is the communist block nowadays?

You guys should try removing your "hammer and sickle" sunglasses and look at the world without such bias.

I'm neither left nor right. I just make observations. If my comments trigger your political psychosis, try inhaling a few times and put things into perspective.

 

[brotherindica]

Troll?

Troll?

I stand by my previous post. Christie could have just said "piss off" and not allowed it. Instead, he put some thought into it and allowed it to move forward.

I'm not saying what he has done is perfect. What I am saying, is that lately I have seen more pro-cannabis conservatives standing up for medical and recreational cannabis use.

Where is the communist block nowadays?

You guys should try removing your "hammer and sickle" sunglasses and look at the world without such bias.

I'm neither left nor right. I just make observations. If my comments trigger your political psychosis, try inhaling a few times and put things into perspective.

That's just the thing, Christie tried, numerous times, to say 'piss off'. You really don't understand the entire history of this law. Started way, WAY before 2010....


GO look up CMMNJ and Cheryl Miller.....maybe you'll start to realize how much effort has been put forth for years and how Christie has recently hampered those efforts.


Again, funny you mention communist block. Why do you believe we're all left wing here?

You denounce everyone for making a stand against a politician who until this week has fought tooth and nail to eliminate the medical law. Then every ATC granted permission to grow/dispense has been proven to have 1 or more members with direct personal or professional ties to Gov Christie. To you this is the 'communist block' going after an innocent Governor??


Political psychosis.............hang on..........if you only knew me in real life 'homie.


You sir aren't left or right, you're just nuts. I'd like to try what you're smoking, but afraid it might not be cannabis. As for putting things in perspective and relaxing.....reading your post gave me a good enough laugh. Thanks.


BTW, acting out with no evidence to support your claims, and being a new member and all, you come across as a troll.

Actually, no. It was a bill SIGNED INTO LAW by previous governor John Corzine. It should have been enacted immediately from that point following the original intent of the law.



as for the rest of the post..................WTF?

. We gotta stop feeding the trolls.

 

[Tripp Inmiasov]

Here you go "Bro". Corzine signed it into law his last day of office after he lost the election. Go figure.

http://www.njspotlight.com/stories/11/0720/0010/

Gov. Chris Christie has come back from his two-week vacation with a change of heart -- at least in one respect. The governor announced yesterday afternoon that he will no longer stand in the way of New Jersey's medical marijuana law.

His decision to allow the program to move forward was welcomed by the law’s legislative sponsors, outside advocates and patients.

Christie said he made up his mind after studying various documents, including a recent federal memo that said it would not be an "efficient use" of federal funds to prosecute cancer patients.

Christie also reviewed the New Jersey program's rules and regulations, which many believe are the nation’s most restrictive, as well as a transcript of a 2008 interview with then-candidate Obama who said, as president, he would not use the Justice Department to counteract state laws on medical marijuana.

The governor has said for months that, as a former U.S. Attorney, he was concerned that federal officials might arrest and prosecute patients, growers and even state officials who were involved in the medical marijuana program. But after further consideration, he changed his views.

"I don’t believe the U.S. Attorney’s Office in New Jersey will expend what are significantly lessening resources…. going after dispensaries in New Jersey, or the Department of Health [which oversees the program], or other state workers who are implementing this program," the governor said, stressing that this assessment was based on his own experience -- not any conversation with the current U.S. Attorney, Len Fishman.

“It’s a risk that I’m taking as governor,” he continued, “but it’s a risk worth taking to alleviate the pain people are suffering from in this state.”

A Public Relations Nightmare

One of the law’s key sponsors, Assemblyman Reed Gusciora (D-Mercer), suggested that the governor might have also come to recognize that denying care to cancer patients could become a "public relations nightmare." The Assemblyman and others have suggested that Christie was delaying the implementation to appeal to his conservative Republican base. Gusciora scoffed at the notion that federal officials would raid New Jersey’s dispensaries, suggesting "the Mets have a better chance of winning the World Series."

“The whole purpose of the program was for truly ill people to get relief,” Gusciora said, underscoring how the law was carefully designed to prevent widespread abuse seen in other states, like California.

But Christie, at his news conference, insisted his goal has always been to provide "compassionate care, not to "play politics." Others, like Roseanne Scotti, New Jersey State Director of the Drug Policy Alliance, noted that it is an issue that crosses party lines.

"It is not usually a partisan issue," agreed Patrick Murray, Director of the Monmouth University Polling Institute, adding that most polls show fairly widespread support for tightly administered programs. "It was interesting that Christie was dragging his heels because there wasn’t any public outcry against the law."

Moving Ahead

Regardless of the motivation, the governor’s decision breaks a months-long legal log-jam and allows the program to move forward. Operators of the six dispensary sites, which are spread throughout Northern, Central and Southern Jersey, have kept their operations largely on hold since they were named by the state in March.

Christie said Tuesday he has ordered the Department of Health to reach out to each of the sites and find out exactly when they can be ready and open for business. He said that once state officials have that information they can set a schedule to allow distribution to begin, but given the fact that these dispensaries are eager to start doing business, several observers said sales should begin fairly soon.

New Jersey’s law, signed by former Gov. Jon S. Corzine on his last day in office, legalizes possession and use of marijuana by patients with a limited number of diseases, if they have a prescription from a doctor registered with the state program. It also protects from state prosecution the operators of six state-licensed sites that will grow and sell the drugs. But marijuana remains an illegal drug in the eyes of the federal government – and therefore subject to federal prosecution -- even as 16 states, including New Jersey, have adopted laws allowing for its use in certain medical situations.

"We are absolutely thrilled that the governor has decided to move forward with the program," said Scotti. Elise Segal, a patient with multiple sclerosis, agreed in a statement released by the group, adding, "I have nothing but feelings of gratitude toward [the governor] and his administration."

 

[Tripp Inmiasov]

Here's another one "Bro"...

http://www.njspotlight.com/stories/11/0720/0010/

Gov. Christie OKs NJ medical marijuana program


The Garden State is about to include some weeds.

On Tuesday, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie said medical marijuana can be dispensed to patients with specific conditions, a decision that comes almost a year after the state officially legalized the drug for medicinal purposes.

“This is one of those decisions that’s not an easy one for me as governor,” said Christie, according to CBS. “I had to balance the benefit that will go to citizens in pain versus some potential risks to the folks that were authorizing as dispensaries and to state employees.”

Christie had delayed moving forward with any sanctioned programs before seeking assurances that the state, its employees and citizens would not face penalties for breaking federal laws.

A memo last month from the Justice Department said that as long as the sponsored programs were kept small, the state was unlikely to face the scorn of armed federal agents or court room appearances. The letter, however, offered no guarantee. Nor do recent events.

A 2009 memo by former Deputy Attorney General David Ogden said prosecutors should “not focus federal resources” on “individuals whose actions are in clear and unambiguous compliance with existing state laws providing for the medical use of marijuana.” Since then, however, the Obama has gone against the memo’s advice, by both reinterpreting the original letter’s intent and increasing the number of federal medical marijuana raids, according to Reason magazine.
Despite the federal record, marijuana advocates celebrated Christie’s decision.

“We are absolutely thrilled that the governor has decided to move forward with the program,” said Roseanne Scotti, New Jersey State Director of Drug Policy Alliance, which has been spearheading state efforts. “[W]e hope that officials in other states who are contemplating options for their programs will follow New Jersey’s lead.”

 

[brotherindica]

Here you go "Bro". Corzine signed it into law his last day of office after he lost the election. Go figure.

http://www.njspotlight.com/stories/11/0720/0010/

Yes, he did. He also stated, over a year before that he would sign a medical bill. The problem, since 2005, was with House & Senate Committees. The bill spent years here and took numerous votes in 2009. IF YOU'D PAID ATTENTION SINCE THE BEGINNING, YOU'D KNOW THIS.


"The New Jersey State Senate approved the New Jersey Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act" (S119) on February 23, 2009 by a vote of 22 – 16 in the State House Senate Chambers in Trenton, NJ. The senate vote was a significant step in the legislative process to protect patients who use marijuana on the recommendation of a physician. The bill would next go to the New Jersey Assembly, the lower house, for votes in the health committee and entire assembly. Governor Jon Corzine has said on several occasions that he supports medical marijuana and that he will sign the bill when it gets to his desk."

http://cmmnj.blogspot.com/2010/01/coalition-for-medical-marijuananew.html


It was signed his last day because that was the only chance he had to sign it. This wasn't his fault in the least......nice try.

Here's another one "Bro"...

http://www.njspotlight.com/stories/11/0720/0010/

Is Obama your real problem? Yup, he pulled a 180 and is trying to fuck medical users. Utter asshole move, but how should that affect Christie's decisions?

Medical marijuana has been federally illegal for years, when did this become big news? NEWS FLASH: the feds can bust you regardless of state law, BIG SHOCKER. Christie held up the implementation of this law for over 6 months with his 'recent plea' to the feds for clarification. Really don't know what answer he was expecting from them.

And no, I'm not an Obama fan. Goes beyond medical cannabis, but that's not here or there. He's trying to make way for big pharm to make a killing via various cannabinoid medications (Sativex, etc).


So 'Trip', please tell me how my political psychosis continues....

 

[turbolaser4528]

better than nothing?

Big Pharma must be having a shit fit behind the scenes, they're fuckin' aching to get their hands in the cannabis cookie jar! So many medications could be made and sold from MJ, its in THEIR best interest to keep MMJ illegal so they can profit off it.

Fight for your right! It's true, NJ and the rest of the world will get their legal MJ within the next few decades (hopefully), unless gov3rnments want to see unrest like in syria, libya, egypt, tunisia, etc..

lost my train of thought, whatever!! Most politicians are crooks IMO

 

[Tripp Inmiasov]

Yes, he did. He also stated, over a year before that he would sign a medical bill. The problem, since 2005, was with House & Senate Committees. The bill spent years here and took numerous votes in 2009. IF YOU'D PAID ATTENTION SINCE THE BEGINNING, YOU'D KNOW THIS.


"The New Jersey State Senate approved the New Jersey Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act" (S119) on February 23, 2009 by a vote of 22 – 16 in the State House Senate Chambers in Trenton, NJ. The senate vote was a significant step in the legislative process to protect patients who use marijuana on the recommendation of a physician. The bill would next go to the New Jersey Assembly, the lower house, for votes in the health committee and entire assembly. Governor Jon Corzine has said on several occasions that he supports medical marijuana and that he will sign the bill when it gets to his desk."

http://cmmnj.blogspot.com/2010/01/coalition-for-medical-marijuananew.html


It was signed his last day because that was the only chance he had to sign it. This wasn't his fault in the least......nice try.

There is more to the timing of that bill than I care to discuss.

Let's just say I know more than I let on.

And, truth be known, there is much to be said about an artful dance where moves tell the whole story without a word being whispered.

Is Obama your real problem? Yup, he pulled a 180 and is trying to fuck medical users. Utter asshole move, but how should that affect Christie's decisions?

Medical marijuana has been federally illegal for years, when did this become big news? NEWS FLASH: the feds can bust you regardless of state law, BIG SHOCKER. Christie held up the implementation of this law for over 6 months with his 'recent plea' to the feds for clarification. Really don't know what answer he was expecting from them.

And no, I'm not an Obama fan. Goes beyond medical cannabis, but that's not here or there. He's trying to make way for big pharm to make a killing via various cannabinoid medications (Sativex, etc).


So 'Trip', please tell me how my political psychosis continues...

Is Hoebama my real issue? No, but he's part of it.

I don't really care for any bought and paid for politician. I can't think of more that 2 or 3 I would consider honest and fair.

I think what Christie did was part "fair and honest" and part "backed into a corner", but at the very least, he did something positive.

Is he perfect? I doubt it.

And your political psychosis? I'm sure you will get over it eventually.

 

[Guest 18340]

Hoebama? Seems you're the one with the political psychosis. Know more than you're letting onto? LMAO!!!!!! Hey everybody, we have a political insider here! LOL. You work for the Christie admin or something
Get over it already. Christie did NOTHING out of the goodness of his heart. He had no choice. The threat of a lawsuit has a funny way of motivating a motherfucker...

 

[MadBuddhaAbuser]

Here's another one "Bro"...

http://www.njspotlight.com/stories/11/0720/0010/

you linked to the same news story twice "bro", but I'll let that slide.

instead, I will cite the story YOU linked us (one from the same day as the OP, so as to not give any background to this story)

Gov. Chris Christie has come back from his two-week vacation with a change of heart -- at least in one respect. The governor announced yesterday afternoon that he will no longer stand in the way of New Jersey's medical marijuana law.


His decision to allow the program to move forward was welcomed by the law’s legislative sponsors, outside advocates and patients.

Christie said he made up his mind after studying various documents, including a recent federal memo that said it would not be an "efficient use" of federal funds to prosecute cancer patients.

“It’s a risk that I’m taking as governor,” he continued, “but it’s a risk worth taking to alleviate the pain people are suffering from in this state.”
A Public Relations Nightmare

One of the law’s key sponsors, Assemblyman Reed Gusciora (D-Mercer), suggested that the governor might have also come to recognize that denying care to cancer patients could become a "public relations nightmare." The Assemblyman and others have suggested that Christie was delaying the implementation to appeal to his conservative Republican base. Gusciora scoffed at the notion that federal officials would raid New Jersey’s dispensaries, suggesting "the Mets have a better chance of winning the World Series."

“The whole purpose of the program was for truly ill people to get relief,” Gusciora said, underscoring how the law was carefully designed to prevent widespread abuse seen in other states, like California.

But Christie, at his news conference, insisted his goal has always been to provide "compassionate care, not to "play politics." Others, like Roseanne Scotti, New Jersey State Director of the Drug Policy Alliance, noted that it is an issue that crosses party lines.

"It is not usually a partisan issue," agreed Patrick Murray, Director of the Monmouth University Polling Institute, adding that most polls show fairly widespread support for tightly administered programs. "It was interesting that Christie was dragging his heels because there wasn’t any public outcry against the law."

Christie is no champion of patients rights, if anything he makes the situation worse.

 

[MadBuddhaAbuser]

Get over it already. Christie did NOTHING out of the goodness of his heart. He had no choice. The threat of a lawsuit has a funny way of motivating a motherfucker...

amen.

 

[brotherindica]

There is more to the timing of that bill than I care to discuss.

Let's just say I know more than I let on.

And, truth be known, there is much to be said about an artful dance where moves tell the whole story without a word being whispered.


Is Hoebama my real issue? No, but he's part of it.

I don't really care for any bought and paid for politician. I can't think of more that 2 or 3 I would consider honest and fair.

I think what Christie did was part "fair and honest" and part "backed into a corner", but at the very least, he did something positive.

Is he perfect? I doubt it.

And your political psychosis? I'm sure you will get over it eventually.

The bolded statement is the only thing you've said I agree with, your entire time here.


........know more than you let on....please, do tell. Enlighten we heathens with your wisdom.


He was fair and honest during this process??..........F a i r and H o n e s t??? Since you seem to 'be in the know', maybe you can elaborate this one. How come out of 20+ applications for ATC's in NJ, all 6 approved have ties to Gov Christie? 3 were linked only days after publication of ATC operators/boards. Last news I've found the remaining applicants weren't given a reason why they were denied (originally told they would be) and have been completely ignored by the state.

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/

Not to mention the unusual resignation of the initial health commissioner, Poonam Alaigh, immediately after altered bill regulations were introduced. Then the newly introduced health commissioner's husband just happened to be a former state employee for Gov Christie.

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."

Starting to feel better about my political psychosis, thanks.
Eagerly waiting to hear your response.

Hoebama? Seems you're the one with the political psychosis. Know more than you're letting onto? LMAO!!!!!! Hey everybody, we have a political insider here! LOL. You work for the Christie admin or something
Get over it already. Christie did NOTHING out of the goodness of his heart. He had no choice. The threat of a lawsuit has a funny way of motivating a motherfucker...

Right on the money Evl! Thank god someone comprehends this situation.

 

[MadBuddhaAbuser]

[B]Fuck their 10% THC cap, fuck their 2 oz limit, fuck their prices, fuck their system........fuck them!
[/B]
[/QUOTE]

word!

[QUOTE="brotherindica, post: 4577200, member: 132107"]
Starting to feel better about my political psychosis, thanks. :biglaugh:
Eagerly waiting to hear your response. :D
[/QUOTE]

"Just Because You’re Paranoid Doesn’t Mean They Aren’t Out to Get You"

 

[brotherindica]

word!



"Just Because You’re Paranoid Doesn’t Mean They Aren’t Out to Get You"

"You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to MadBuddhaAbuser again"


MBA, my brotha'. Hitting the nail on the head as usual and keeping it real. Thanks for spreading the truth.

 

[big mike]

There is more to the timing of that bill than I care to discuss.

Let's just say I know more than I let on.

why not let out what you know? If you do actually know anything at all, which i honestly doubt....

 

[MadBuddhaAbuser]

why not let out what you know? If you do actually know anything at all, which i honestly doubt....

I second that. I'm sure we'd all love to hear this "insider info"