Madison NORML

Source: Star Ledger: click here

Medical marijuana wins approval from Senate committee

Posted by mdowling December 15, 2008 13:15PM

A Senate committee today approved a bill that would regulate the sale and use of medical marijuana for seriously, chronically-ill patients.

Over the objections of family rights groups and attorneys who warned the bill sends a conflicting message to kids, lawmakers said they were moved to support the bill by the compelling personal testimony.

Photo Caption: TONY KURDZUK/THE STAR-LEDGER Walking with the assistance of canes from the effects of their multiple sclerosis, Nancy Fedder of Hillsborough (left) and Elise Segal of Wenonah get up after giving testimony in support of the Compassionate Use of Medical Marijuana Act before the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee at the State House today. Both women testified that marijuana works better to relieve their pain than any of the prescription drugs they have taken.

Sen. Bill Baroni (R-Mercer) cited the testimony of one man who said the pain from multiple sclerosis prevents him from playing with his kids, ages 3, 8 and 9.

"There is too much pain, too much hurt, and too much suffering, and we can do something about it," Baroni said.

The bill would allow patients with a written recommendation by their doctor to possess six plants and one ounce of usable marijuana and be free of the threat of state prosecution. The bill also calls upon the state health department to regulate who grows the plant and who is permitted to smoke it.

"When all other avenues of currently-approved pain relief have been exhausted, we need to give doctors the freedom to prescribe medical marijuana to give their patients a measure of comfort and dignity in the face of their debilitating diseases," said Sen. Nicholas Scutari (D-Union), one of the bill's prime sponsors.

The 6 to 1 vote with two abstentions in the Senate Health Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee means the bill moves to the full Senate for a vote when Senate President Richard Codey (D-Essex) decides to post it.

The Assembly has yet to act on the bill (S119).