MARIJUANA STALLING OVER

After months of delay, Gov. Christie has finally made the correct
decision: to stop stalling implementation of the state's medical marijuana law.

Christie never got the blanket assurance from federal authorities
that they would honor the law. But he finally came to the same
logical conclusion that others reached months ago, that it is
unlikely that federal prosecutors would raid state-sanctioned medical
marijuana dispensaries.

That doesn't mean federal agents won't pursue illegal marijuana
operations, but they have much bigger operations to target in their
war on drugs.

Since he was a U.S. attorney in New Jersey for seven years, Christie
should have known that all along, and not put up unnecessary
stumbling blocks to thwart the new law.

But now that the governor has given the green light, New Jersey
should move quickly to implement prescription sales of medical marijuana.

Delaware and other states that were hesitant to proceed with medical
marijuana programs while awaiting similar assurances from the federal
government should follow Christie's lead.

New Jersey passed one of the strictest medical marijuana laws in the
country more than a year ago. Then-Gov. Jon Corzine signed the
legislation as he was leaving office, but the law has been in limbo
as lawmakers debated with the Christie administration over the regulations.

The state has yet to create a registry of eligible patients. It needs
to do that immediately. The state's delays to this point have
frustrated seriously ill or dying patients waiting for relief.

Researchers generally agree that marijuana can ease the pain of
persons suffering from debilitating medical conditions, such as cancer or AIDS.

Six nonprofit groups were given licenses to grow and sell medical
marijuana, but none has been dispensed.

The alternative-treatment centers are located in the more populated
region of the state, between New York and Philadelphia. But none were
approved for the Atlantic City area. State-registered patients from
that end of New Jersey will have to travel at least an hour since the
law prohibits home delivery.

That seems like an unnecessary inconvenience for patients. After an
initial trial run, the state should evaluate whether more centers are
needed. After all, the main point of the law was to show more
compassion to the seriously ill.