MEDICAL MARIJUANA CAUSES MORE CONTROVERSIES

Governor Chris Christie plans to put restrictions on the medical
marijuana bill put in place almost a year ago. Last January former
governor Jon Corzine signed a bill that made New Jersey the 14th
state to legalize medical marijuana for individuals with cancer and
other serious diseases.

The push to make medical marijuana legal stems from the benefits it
provides patients. It has been proven to relieve pain, increase
appetite, reduce anxiety and improve sleep.

While these purposes are allowing patients to smoke cannabis,
Christie's administration worries recreational users could benefit
from the legalization as well. That is why the restrictions have been
established.

Christie's administration believes that by controlling the potency of
the marijuana, they can keep recreational users away. Potency is
based on the amount of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) that exists in the
plant. THC essentially makes a smoker "high."

The highest level of potency New Jersey will allow its medical
marijuana to be at is 10. This level was chosen based on studies done
by McGill University Health Centre in Canada and University of
California at San Diego. Within these studies patients reacted
positively to THC levels under 10.

The THC restrictions may have unintended consequences. Most cannabis
that can be found on the streets has a potency level between 15 and
20; knowing they can illegally purchase more potent marijuana off the
streets may deter patients from getting a prescription.

Additionally, New Jersey will not offer the use of marijuana-laced
foods, "weed brownies." Many of the other states that legalized
medical marijuana, like California, have authorized the sale of such foods.

By providing marijuana-laced foods, particularly baked goods and ice
creams, patients are given another form of ingesting THC. Some
patients may not feel comfortable smoking cannabis and would prefer
to just eat it. Christie's administration has denied that option to
New Jersey's patients.

Lieutenant Kieran Barrett of Montclair State University police
department believes that these restrictions stem from less strict
states, such as California. "You could actually buy the stuff in
vending machines," Barrett said.

California's medical marijuana law is relatively unrestrictive. For
starters, patients can get prescriptions for it easily on the west
coast whereas only critically ill patients can be prescribed
marijuana in New Jersey.

Patients suffering from cancer, AIDS, multiple sclerosis, glaucoma,
epilepsy and other diseases all fall under the category of being able
to obtain medical marijuana. If they are in fact prescribed it, an
identification card will be issued that must be on them at all times.

While New Jersey is trying to come up with a database that keeps
track of patients prescribed cannabis and their progress, Montclair
State is also trying to figure out a system for future students who
may be using it.

"We're trying to figure out some kind of system that allows us to
know they're definitely prescribed to it so we can handle the
situation the right way," Barrett said. He also explained that it
would have to be a community effort within the campus community if
students were to be prescribed medical marijuana.

As law enforcers, if the MSUPD smells the distinct odor of marijuana
they wil investigate the situation. It would be reassuring to know
for sure if that particular student is prescribed marijuana so that
"everyone can help," according to Barrett.

It is clear that residence halls could possibly be affected by this
new legislation, but the campus is prepared to do what they have to
for the students who may be prescribed medical marijuana.

"We will want to know who is prescribed, allow them their privacy and
see if there is anyway we can help," Barrett said.