MEDICAL MARIJUNANA / REASONABLE RULES?

No one expected New Jersey's medical-marijuana law to be the kind of
loose, wink-and-a-nod dispensary system that exists in California.
Fact is, that's precisely what supporters of the measure said would not happen.

And that's what makes the angry outcry over the new, restrictive
rules announced last week by the Christie administration seem a bit
overwrought. Are they strict? Yes. Are they so strict as to make
medical marijuana unavailable to people who need it? We don't think
so - but those critics have a 60-day public hearing process to make
their case. And the Christie administration should be open to
tweaking the regulations if that case is made.

One of the biggest objections to the new rules is that they would
designate only four nonprofit dispensaries, which could also open one
satellite office each. The law passed last January called for at
least six dispensaries - two in the north, two in the central part of
the state and two in the south - "to the maximum extent practicable."

It's unclear why the administration did not call for six
dispensaries. Clearly, sick people shouldn't have to drive hours to
get their medication. But somewhat ameliorating the access issue is
the fact that the rules would permit home delivery under certain
circumstances - something the original bill was silent on. If only
four dispensaries are permitted, the home-delivery option needs to be
made easily available to those living a distance from the nearest dispensary.

Another major issue is whether allowing only two growers and four
dispensaries is practical from a business perspective.

"You've limited the number of people who can get medical marijuana,
you've limited the amount they can get. It will be interesting to see
if anybody actually applies and thinks they can run one of these
things," said Roseanne Scotti of New Jersey's Drug Policy Alliance.

Other concerns have to do with the capping of the potency of the drug
and limiting the number of strains that could be made available. The
Christie administration says those rules were an attempt to keep the
program a medical model, so the state understands what people are
using and how well the drugs work.

Are these rules tighter than they need to be? Maybe. But the key is
whether the plan represents a responsible, controlled program that
will give patients the opportunity to get marijuana legally for
relief from pain and other symptoms.

Hopefully, both the Christie administration and its critics will keep
an open mind: If opponents make their case, the administration should
change the rules. And if the rules stand as written, critics should
do their best to make this program work.