Medical Marijuana Advocates Hope Proposed Changes Will Improve New Jersey Program
By David Madden
TRENTON, NJ (CBS) -- New Jersey health officials announced this week that over 3,600 people have availed themselves of medical marijuana over the last two years. Advocates for the program insist far more people would join them if state rules weren't so cumbersome.
New Jersey legalized six marijuana dispensaries five years ago. Three are in business today, with a fourth set to open later this year.
Few doctors are willing to prescribe it and the price is high compared to the illegal stuff on the street. That explains the low response level, according to Ken Wolski with New Jersey's Coalition for Medical Marijuana.
"There are hundreds of thousands of people in the state of New Jersey who could benefit from marijuana and who thought they would be provided safe and legal access to medical marijuana when this bill was passed into law."
State Health Commissioner Mary O'Dowd has announced plans to consider additional medical conditions that would allow for cannabis treatment.
But Wolski says the rules to do that are so complex, he doesn't expect meaningful change as long as Chris Christie is governor.
