IMPLEMENT MEDICINAL MARIJUANA PROGRAM WITHOUT FURTHER DELAY

Earlier this year, the state legislature approved a bill that allowed
the use of medicinal marijuana in New Jersey. The measure, signed
into law by former Gov. Jon Corzine, was originally supposed to take
effect this summer, giving relief to those suffering from chronic
pain that defies traditional drugs. But the Christie administration
has dragged its feet in implementing the law. That's a shame.

With the passage of the Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana, New
Jersey joined the growing number of states that allow the regulated
use of marijuana. The law called for the creation of six private but
heavily regulated alternative treatment centers that would dispense
marijuana to patients under a doctor's care.

The law was supposed to go into effect this year, but now the state
Department of Health and Senior Services is scheduled to begin the
process of drawing up the requisite regulations in October and start
the dispensation of marijuana in January 2011.

But those who have advocated the use of medicinal marijuana have
doubts that schedule will be met. The Christie administration has
floated a proposal to have Rutgers University grow all the marijuana
and then have it distributed through teaching hospitals.

Rutgers has a well-deserved international reputation for its
innovative agricultural programs. And the university can use the
revenue to help with its budget pressures. But Rutgers' involvement
presents several issues that could delay the implementation of the
law, including the issue of possibly the loss of funds from the
federal government, which still prohibits the use of medicinal marijuana.

Thirteen states have medical marijuana programs where private
nonprofit or for-profit businesses assume the risk of federal
liability. While there are problems in some of those states, New
Jersey should follow the successful models, instead of reverting to
the traditional bureaucratic practice of wanting to draw a straight
line and ending up with a pretzel.

For an administration that has trumpeted its efforts to reduce state
bureaucracy and develop partnerships with the private sector, the
Christie administration's slow approach to implementing the law is
disappointing. Any more delays in implementing the program will be a
hardship to those who suffer from chronic pain and need the relief
that marijuana offers.

The focus of the law are the words in its title, "compassionate use."
Any further delay would not be compassionate.