The New Jersey State Nurses Association (NJSNA) supports the New Jersey Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act (S119/A804)

Letter from the NJSNA 12/9/09

The New Jersey State Nurses Association (NJSNA) supports the New Jersey Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act (S119/A804) and we urge the NJ General Assembly to pass this legislation.

A804 will protect patients who use marijuana with a physician’s... prescription under a program run by the NJ Department of Health and Senior Services. At the same time, this legislation contains, and continues, sufficient safeguards to protect the public against drug abuse. Medical marijuana is currently legal in 13 states and in the majority of these states teen marijuana use has declined, according to government studies. Medical marijuana has not led to broader legalization of drugs anywhere in the country in the 14 years medical marijuana programs have been in place.

In 2002, NJSNA adopted a resolution at its annual membership meeting that recognized the therapeutic value and safety of medically recommended marijuana. At that time, NJSNA urged the Governor and the State Legislature to move expeditiously to make medical marijuana legally available to New Jersey residents who could benefit from it.NJSNA has repeatedly testified in support of medical marijuana since the New Jersey Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act was first introduced in 2005.NJSNA represents over 110,000 Registered Professional Nurses in the State.

In 2004, the American Nurses Association (ANA) adopted a Position Statement on “Providing Patients Safe Access to Marijuana/Cannabis.” The ANA supports the right of patients to have safe access to therapeutic marijuana/cannabis under appropriate supervision of the prescriber and the education of registered nurses regarding current,
evidence based therapeutic use of marijuana/cannabis. The ANA represents 2.7 million RN's in the U.S.

NJSNA would appreciate your support for this important treatment for patients in need of it.

Should you wish to discuss this matter further, you may contact Dr. Barbara Wright, NJSNA Interim CEO {contact info}.

Sincerely,

Barbara Goldberg-Chamberlain,
PhD, RN, APN, CCRN, WCC

President- New Jersey State Nurses Association
The Voice for Nurses in New Jersey!

www.NJSNA.org