N.J. TOWNS NEED A NUDGE ON MEDICAL MARIJUANA

As New Jersey trudges slowly toward distributing legal medical
marijuana, some towns might need a nudge to help them do the right
thing - in the name of greater good.

The state's medical marijuana law is two years old, but medicinal pot
is not yet available to New Jersey patients. The next step is to open
growing and dispensing facilities throughout the state.

Already, though, municipalities are putting zoning laws on the books
that effectively bar these perfectly legal medical centers from their
borders. It's a "Reefer Madness" hysteria that is based on
nonexistent fears - that facilities will lure both criminals and
federal drug raids.

For the sake of the patients, this is a zoning decision that must be
taken out of local hands.

New Jersey's medical marijuana law is the most restrictive in the
nation. The idea that federal drug agents will raid our grow
operations already has been debunked. And pot dispensaries will hold
only a tiny fraction of the narcotics found in any neighborhood
Walgreen's or Rite Aid.

And hold onto your cries of "home rule" - there are lots of laws that
say the greater good trumps local preferences.

Eminent domain, for example, lets the state and federal government
decide where to build prisons, highways, schools and other public
projects over local objections. State laws prevent communities from
zoning group homes and other so-called nuisances out of existence.

In this case, Assemblyman Declan O'Scanlon (R-Monmouth) would add
marijuana to the list of crops protected by New Jersey's Right to
Farm Act, which protects farmers from nuisance lawsuits and municipal
zoning that target ordinary farming activities - such as the use of
fertilizers and farm equipment. If passed, the law would nullify
anti-pot rules adopted in towns such as Upper Freehold, Maple Shade
and Westampton.

The Republican from Monmouth County - where towns already have passed
local ordinances banning marijuana grow facilities and dispensaries -
said he has a moral obligation to right a wrong, to protect patients
who need medical marijuana from unnecessary delays.

Gov. Chris Christie said Thursday he believes local elected officials
should be able to block medical marijuana facilities from their towns
- - risking still more delays toward finally getting legal pot to the
patients who need it.

Continued delays accomplish nothing but to prolong the suffering of
the sick. New Jersey, after years of hand-wringing, finally legalized
marijuana for these patients - many of them dying, many in pain. More
delays over unfounded fears amount, plainly and simply, to torture.