Governor Phil Murphy signed an Executive Order today that aims to increase access to New Jersey’s medical marijuana program.
“For eight years, medical marijuana has been difficult to access in New Jersey. Today, we’re turning the page. A fairer New Jersey means expanding access to medical marijuana for patients in need,” Governor Murphy stated. “Medical marijuana is used to treat chronic and debilitating pain, epilepsy, glaucoma, PTSD, ALS, side effects of cancer treatment, side effects of HIV/AIDS, Tourette syndrome, Crohn’s disease, multiple sclerosis, and other painful illnesses. We will not deny people compassionate care any longer.”
Assemblyman Reed Gusciora (D-Mercer/Hunterdon) has been one of the lead sponsors of New Jersey’s medical marijuana law, and issued the following statement Tuesday in response to the Executive Order:
“Eight years ago, in the waning hours of his term, Governor Corzine approved the Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act. Unfortunately, implementation of the law was left to Governor Christie, who worked with his Attorney General to construct regulations that were unnecessarily burdensome and restrictive, and prevented both doctors and patients from becoming registered and accessing this valuable medication.
“I’m thrilled that Governor Murphy will seek to reverse this trend in the early hours of his administration – by directing his Department of Health to look at ways to expand access, he is taking an important step towards fixing a program that has not met the needs of the people it is intended to serve. I look forward to working with him in the coming months and years to fully reform the medical marijuana program, so that every patient can fully rely on our State to provide them with the services and medicine they need.”
Details will be in an upcoming article. Information about New Jersey’s current medical marijuana program can be found at this link.
