TRENTON — The state health department released a set of revised rules today governing New Jersey’s medical marijuana program, despite the Legislature’s intent to repeal them. The state Department of Health and Human Services also released a how-to guide for entrepreneurs who want to bid on the licensing rights to run the six alternative treatment centers selling the drug....
A jar of marijuana is seen on a vendor table at the Cannabis Crown 2010 expo April 18, 2010 in Aspen, Colorado.TRENTON — The state health department released a set of revised rules today governing New Jersey’s medical marijuana program, despite the Legislature’s intent to repeal them.
The state Department of Health and Human Services also released a how-to guide for entrepreneurs who want to bid on the licensing rights to run the six alternative treatment centers selling the drug. Licenses cost $20,000, but $18,000 is refunded if the bidder loses.
The new rules reflect an agreement Gov. Chris Christie reached with the law’s Assembly sponsor, Reed Gusciora (D-Mercer), that allow for six dispensaries to operate, instead of the four the administration initially sought.
"My hope is that these regs can be expanded upon. For the time being, these regs will allow patients to seek the necessary treatment and relief,’’ Gusciora said.
The latest iteration of the controversial program’s rules comes a day after Sen. Nicholas Scutari announced there would a Jan. 20 hearing to repeal rules the department announced in October that he and patients say make access to the drug all but impossible.
"They are finally taking some action because we have called the hearing,’’ Scutari said.
Despite the acrimony, Scutari said he held out hope for a compromise. He wants the state to remove its proposed limit on the potency of the drug, and to drop the requirement that doctors must get addiction training and consent they will wean patients off the drug as soon as possible. As the rules stand now, "every corner you turn there is another obstacle every step of the way,’’ he said.
The American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey also joined the contingent opposing the health department’s proposed medical pot rules. The ACLU took issue with the state preventing dispensaries from advertising their products or sharing prices over the telephone.
"This is a severe limitation on the commercial speech rights of the dispensaries, and acts as a near complete ban on the constitutional rights of patients ... to obtain such information and to thereby compare pricing," according to a letter ACLU-NJ’s Legal Director Ed Barocas wrote to the health department today.
Previous coverage:
• N.J. Sen. Scutari schedules hearing to void proposed medical marijuana rules
• N.J. medical marijuana rules proposed by Gov. Christie are deemed too strict by Legislature
• N.J. Senate rejects Gov. Christie's proposed rules for medical marijuana program
• N.J. lawmakers to decide whether to go against Gov. Christie on medical marijuana rules
• N.J. Senate Democrats hope to force Gov. Christie to loosen rules on medical marijuana
• Complete coverage of the New Jersey medical marijuana legislation
