N.J. GETS MEDICAL MARIJUANA

Gov. Chris Christie gave the green light to New Jersey's medical
marijuana program on Tuesday, saying he believes the state's narrow
initiative would not run afoul of federal prosecutors.

New Jersey's six approved dispensaries could be open by the end of the
year, serving patients who have certain debilitating medical
conditions such as multiple sclerosis or terminal cancer, or those
whose conditions are not responding to other treatments.

Last month, Mr. Christie said he wouldn't move forward with the
program until he received assurance that those carrying out the law
wouldn't be prosecuted. Critics said he was deliberately trying to
delay or kill the program for political reasons.

In response to New Jersey and other states with budding medical
marijuana programs, the Justice Department issued a memo on June 29
reiterating that small, focused state programs would not be a top
priority for law enforcement.

"It is likely not an efficient use of federal resources to focus
enforcement efforts on individuals with cancer or other serious
illnesses who use marijuana as part of a recommended treatment regimen
consistent with applicable state law, or their caregiver," the
department said.

Mr. Christie said that while the memo did not directly address the
issue, his experience as a former U.S. attorney allowed him to read
between the lines.

"They were clearly trying to send us a signal," he said. He also cited
then-candidate Barack Obama's comments to an Oregon newspaper in 2008,
when he said prosecution of medical marijuana users and dispensers
would not be "real high" on his priority list as president.

Other states' programs have been criticized for being too
lax.

The recent federal memo said large-scale "commercial cultivation, sale
and distribution" of pot for "purported medical purposes" had
expanded, and the federal government never intended to "shield" those
types of activities from prosecution.

New Jersey's program is considered one of the strictest in the nation.
Patients are limited to a 2-ounce supply every 30 days, and the active
ingredient, THC is limited to a maximum of 10%. So far, 92 physicians
from 19 counties have registered to participate in the program,
according to the Department of Health and Senior Services.

Diane Riportella, 55, of Egg Harbor Township, has Amyotrophic lateral
sclerosis, or ALS, the fatal disease that breaks down nerves that
control muscles. She said marijuana replaces several pain
drugs=ADwithout the side effects=ADand helps her deal with her condition.

"Emotionally, to be told that you're going to be dying, that you have
a fatal disease, that alone will take your breath away and make you
want to crawl in a hole," she said. "With the marijuana, I get a sense
of peace, tranquility. It helps me to eat because I have lost my
flavor for food. And it really calms me down when I'm in my deepest
and darkest times, when I feel that there's no hope."

Patients say it still will not be easy to get marijuana. Ms.
Riportella said her husband would have to travel an hour to the
nearest dispensary to pick it up, and each of them would have to pay
$200 to participate.