KEEP PUSHING CHRISTIE ON MEDICAL MARIJUANA

Thank you for your call to Governor Christie to implement the medical
marijuana program immediately ("Speed the relief," Editorials, July
13).

We should consider why he has such concern for "doing it right." The
elephant in the room is those people who will not qualify to be
medical marijuana patients. They are in a gray area. Their ailments
are not considered severe enough or they are simply recreational
users. They would love to stop being treated as criminals. Some people
prefer cannabis over aspirin and other products for pain relief.

By forcing this group to continue to skirt the law, we are allowing
criminals who supply them on the street to thrive, police officers to
waste time instead of focusing on more serious crime, and the public
to lose massive tax revenues and many jobs in dispensaries.

Only full legalization will really address this wrong. I urge our
strong, independent-minded governor to recognize the great good that
will come to our state by legalization. He should at least allow
others besides terminal patients permission to use medical marijuana
for such ailments as back pain, which cannabis has been shown to help.

Adam Stein

Teaneck