News (Media Awareness Project) - US NJ: Editorial: Gov. Chris Christie: Stop Stalling on NJ's |
| Title: | US NJ: Editorial: Gov. Chris Christie: Stop Stalling on NJ's |
| Published On: | 2011-07-10 |
| Source: | Star-Ledger (Newark, NJ) |
| Fetched On: | 2011-07-12 06:00:41 |
GOV. CHRIS CHRISTIE: STOP STALLING ON NJ'S MEDICAL MARIJUANA PROGRAM
Gov. Chris Christie's been stalling on the state's medical marijuana
program for very sick and dying patients, saying it won't move
forward until federal authorities assure him there won't be arrests
or prosecutions.
It's a needless delay tactic. After all, the Obama administration has
repeatedly indicated it won't prosecute those who abide by their
state's medical marijuana programs. (Marijuana violates federal laws,
even though 16 states have made it legal for some medical purposes.)
But in any case, now our governor has his answer: If the program's
operation is kept small and controlled, it's not likely to warrant
any action by federal law enforcement. That's what a recent memo from
the U.S. deputy attorney general, forwarded to state Attorney General
Paula Dow, strongly indicates.
So unless you're raking in millions of dollars or engaged in
suspicious activity, your medical marijuana facility won't be of
interest to the feds. They'd rather use their limited resources on
threats to public safety: In Montana, federal authorities conducted
raids on 26 medical marijuana dispensaries in 13 cities because there
was "probable cause" they were involved in illegal, large-scale
trafficking. Those facilities weren't licensed by the state.
In New Mexico, which has smaller scale, well-regulated,
state-licensed dispensaries, there's been no interference from the
federal government. No state workers have ever been threatened with
prosecution.
That's because the feds aren't interested in chasing after people
with terminal illnesses using marijuana, or those responsibly growing
it for them.
Six nonprofit companies already have been approved to grow and sell
the drug in New Jersey, and they're preparing to get started sometime
this summer or fall. More than 80 percent of New Jerseyans favor
medical marijuana, and it's an issue with strong bipartisan support.
So no more excuses, Governor. Quit the foot-dragging and make this
drug available to those who need it -- fast.
Gov. Chris Christie's been stalling on the state's medical marijuana
program for very sick and dying patients, saying it won't move
forward until federal authorities assure him there won't be arrests
or prosecutions.
It's a needless delay tactic. After all, the Obama administration has
repeatedly indicated it won't prosecute those who abide by their
state's medical marijuana programs. (Marijuana violates federal laws,
even though 16 states have made it legal for some medical purposes.)
But in any case, now our governor has his answer: If the program's
operation is kept small and controlled, it's not likely to warrant
any action by federal law enforcement. That's what a recent memo from
the U.S. deputy attorney general, forwarded to state Attorney General
Paula Dow, strongly indicates.
So unless you're raking in millions of dollars or engaged in
suspicious activity, your medical marijuana facility won't be of
interest to the feds. They'd rather use their limited resources on
threats to public safety: In Montana, federal authorities conducted
raids on 26 medical marijuana dispensaries in 13 cities because there
was "probable cause" they were involved in illegal, large-scale
trafficking. Those facilities weren't licensed by the state.
In New Mexico, which has smaller scale, well-regulated,
state-licensed dispensaries, there's been no interference from the
federal government. No state workers have ever been threatened with
prosecution.
That's because the feds aren't interested in chasing after people
with terminal illnesses using marijuana, or those responsibly growing
it for them.
Six nonprofit companies already have been approved to grow and sell
the drug in New Jersey, and they're preparing to get started sometime
this summer or fall. More than 80 percent of New Jerseyans favor
medical marijuana, and it's an issue with strong bipartisan support.
So no more excuses, Governor. Quit the foot-dragging and make this
drug available to those who need it -- fast.
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