CODEY OPPOSES NEW SENATE BILL TO LEGALIZE MEDICAL MARIJUANA

A state senator has introduced a bill that would make New Jersey the
11th state to allow doctors to prescribe medical marijuana to their
sickest patients.

The bill, however, is not supported by acting Gov. Richard Codey, who
is also president of the state Senate.

The measure, introduced by Sen. Nicholas P. Scutari (D-Union),
represents the first legislative effort for medical marijuana in
nearly a quarter of a century in New Jersey.

"New Jersey needs to join the effort to protect seriously ill people
from criminal penalties for making their lives livable," Scutari said.

People who support legalizing marijuana say it eases pain and restores
the appetite of patients with cancer, multiple sclerosis, Crohn's
disease, glaucoma and HIV. Opponents have questioned the validity of
research into the subject, and say it sends a mixed message about
illegal drug use.

New Jersey enacted a law in 1981 that would have allowed the state to
participate in a national study evaluating the medical benefits of
marijuana, approved in the Carter administration. When Ronald Reagan
took office that year, however, support for the federal study
evaporated. The study required the federal government to provide the
drug to the participating states.

Scutari's bill (S2200) would authorize the state Department of Health
and Senior Services to issue registration cards to those whose doctors
certify they need the drug. "This legislation contains safeguards to
ensure that doctors can authorize medical marijuana only to those who
are suffering from debilitating conditions," he said.

Scutari said he has seen "the detrimental effects of recreational
marijuana" in his work as municipal prosecutor in Linden. He sponsored
the bill, he said, because "I want to see seriously ill people given
every option for treatment and pain relief."

Under the bill, registered patients or their caretakers may possess up
to six plants or one ounce of marijuana without fear of prosecution.
Patients would be prohibited from driving while under the influence,
or to use it while in a school or park, or in corrections or
recreational facilities.

Codey, however, "is opposed to the use of medical marijuana,"
spokeswoman Kelley Heck said.

Sen. Joseph Vitale (D-Middlesex), whose Health, Human Services and
Senior Citizens Committee would be the first to hold a hearing on the
bill, said he would be open to discussing the topic.

"It's not an issue that I have thought about or, least of all, thought
through," said Vitale, who yesterday was unaware of the bill's
introduction. "But most issues deserve at least a discussion, whether
popular unpopular, controversial or not."

John Tomicki, executive director of the League of American Families,
questioned the quality of studies that favor the use of medicinal marijuana.

"We are delighted to be in agreement with Governor Codey, at least on
this one," Tomicki said.

Lawmakers in Montana and Vermont last year joined Alaska, California,
Colorado, Hawaii, Maine Nevada, Oregon, and Washington in legalizing
marijuana for medical use, according to the Marijuana Policy Project,
a national reform group. Local laws allowing the practice also passed
in Detroit, Ann Arbor, Mich., and Columbia, Missouri.