MEDICAL MARIJUANA ON TRACK

Collingswood resident Peter Rosenfeld has tried chiropractors, yoga
and assorted medications to alleviate the spasms and burning pain
caused by an autoimmune disorder of his cervical spine.

"Either they didn't work at all or the side effects were too
incapacitating," said Rosenfeld, 54.

In 1999, he flew to California to try marijuana treatment at a clinic
that bred plants specifically targeted at his symptoms.

It was the only thing that provided consistent relief without making
him so foggy that he couldn't function or work, he said. But it
wasn't legal in New Jersey.

That could potentially change soon.

Patients such as Rosenfeld got one step closer to having legal access
to medical marijuana in New Jersey when legislation passed the state
Senate last week. Gov. Jon S. Corzine already has pledged to sign the
law if it passes.

With those hurdles cleared, advocates of medical marijuana use say
they're hopeful New Jersey will become the 14th state to legalize the
treatment before the end of the year.

However, there still may be one obstacle in the way -- the Assembly.

It has been more than four years since the Compassionate Use Medical
Marijuana Act was introduced to the state Senate.

Under the bill, patients with certain chronic and terminal illnesses
or diseases that cause wasting syndrome, severe nausea or persistent
muscle spasms could petition the state Department of Health and
Senior Services to use marijuana for medical treatment. They would
need a doctor's certification of their condition.

If approved, the patients would be issued ID cards protecting them
from criminal prosecution for possession of up to six plants or one
ounce of marijuana. They or a designated caregiver would be allowed
to grow the plants or else buy the drug from a licensed treatment center.

During Senate hearings, doctors and patients argued that the drug has
been shown to help reduce pain and nausea for patients suffering from
glaucoma, multiple sclerosis, AIDS and other conditions.

Critics countered there wasn't enough proof that marijuana worked any
better than existing federally approved medications. They cited
statements from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and medical
associations such as the National Multiple Sclerosis Society that
haven't sanctioned medical marijuana because of a lack of conclusive research.

Despite those passionate objections, the bill passed out of committee
in mid-December and through the full Senate, 22-16, two months later.

Drug prevention groups worried that illegal marijuana use would rise
if the New Jersey bill ends up becoming law.

Don Starn, director of Prevention Plus of Burlington County, said
marijuana already is abused regularly by children in the area. His
question: Why give them the idea that it's OK by legalizing it for
certain purposes?

"As soon as you make something available, the perception of harm
decreases," he said.

Critics said the law also is ripe for abuse. Without strict
oversight, those with prescriptions easily could share or sell their
marijuana because six plants produce more than one person needs, they said.

"There just is not the science to justify the use of this," said
David Evans, executive director of the Drug Free Schools Coalition,
based in Flemington.

Stephen Goldfine, chief medical officer for Marlton-based Samaratin
Hospice, said doctors will have to be sure they're prescribing
limited supplies and monitoring use. Goldfine estimated that about 10
of the 400 hospice patients in his organization could benefit from
prescription marijuana.

"We want to be very clear to the state that this is for patients to
relieve their suffering. We're not condoning marijuana," he said.

Anthony Mazzarelli, a bio-ethicist and emergency department doctor at
Cooper University Hospital in Camden, said he believes there's
evidence to support that marijuana could be more beneficial than
existing medicines for certain patients.

"From an ethical standpoint, it makes sense that we should be
maximizing the tools in the physician's toolbox," he said. ". . . But
with that tool comes a responsibility."

Rosenfeld, the Collingswood man with neurological pain, said he
thought the law would have a fairly subtle impact because not
everyone will be eligible or want to deal with the hassle of going
through the process.

Even though Rosenfeld could be a good candidate for marijuana, he
said he wouldn't be able to take it unless he switched jobs. He said
he's required to sign a form each year stating he won't violate
federal laws because he does research for a government defense
contractor. Regardless of state laws, the federal government still
prohibits marijuana.

Despite the support medical marijuana advocates already have won,
they said convincing the Assembly to follow suit will be the difficult part.

Assembly Democratic Majority Office spokesman Tom Hester said in an
e-mail statement that Assembly Speaker Joe Roberts, D-Camden, was
open to considering the bill, as long as he could be convinced "it
will be carefully regulated and available under medical supervision
only to those with truly legitimate needs."

Opponents pointed out the Senate vote was relatively close and they
could enlist the senators who voted against it to convince
assemblymen to do the same. Four of the six senators in the
tri-county area Dana Redd, Diane Allen, Philip Haines and Fred
Madden, voted against the bill.

Diane Litterer, executive director of the NJ Prevention Network,
which includes groups aimed at reducing access to alcohol and drugs
in every county, said her agency would be reaching out to lawmakers
and other statewide organizations to explain their concerns about the bill.

"This shouldn't be an issue in the legislator's hands. It should be
in doctor's and the FDA's hands," she said.

Advocacy groups said they'll be doing the same to lobby their point.

Ken Wolski, a nurse from Lawrence Township and director of the
Coalition for Medical Marijuana in New Jersey, said he's confident
the law will pass this year.

Wolski and podcaster Chris Goldstein visited Rutgers
University-Camden this month to give students a presentation on
medical uses for marijuana and the current legislation.

"It's going to happen eventually," Wolski said. "There's too much
science, logic, common sense to support it."