NJ DHSS starts marijuana registry for doctors

The New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) launched the physician registry for the Medial Marijuana Program today. No other state with a medical cannabis access law has this requirement.

https://njmmp.nj.gov/njmmp/

CMMNJ press release below:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The Coalition for Medical Marijuana New Jersey CMMNJ
www.cmmnj.org

CONTACT: Ken Wolski or Chris Goldstein 609 394 2137 media@cmmnj.org

NJ DHSS starts doctor registry for marijuana

The New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) launched the physician registry for the Medical Marijuana Program today. No other state has this requirement. The details emerged in draft regulations DHSS released earlier this month.

LINK https://njmmp.nj.gov/njmmp/

Ken Wolski is a Registered Nurse and the executive director of the Coalition for Medical Marijuana New Jersey. He issued the following statement today:

"The entire physician registration program is unnecessary and was created in the draft regulations from DHSS and not the Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act. The law only calls for a patient registry, not a physician registry.

The DHSS says that there will be a public comment period on the draft regulations after they are published in the NJ Register in November. This new registry has no input from patients, legislators or the public.

Moreover, the physician registration program is even more limiting. A new requirement says that physicians must certify that they have completed medical education in Addiction Medicine and Pain Management within the past two years. Physicians must include the course title that covers these two areas, or they will be rejected from the registry.

This is a curious add-on. Marijuana is approximately as addictive as caffeine. Physicians should not be required to take a course in addiction medicine for recommending a substance with documented low addiction potential.

The physician, as part of the registry process, must further certify that the patient has not responded to conventional medical treatment for all qualifying conditions. This goes far beyond the law, which currently requires only a few diagnoses to be resistant to conventional treatment.

The physician is also required to attest that; 'I have provided education for the patient on the lack of scientific consensus for the use of medical marijuana.' This is a blatantly political statement, at odds with the law itself, and shows open hostility to the use of marijuana as medicine.

Finally, it appears that DHSS has also added a new Debilitating Medical Condition to the list that will qualify for medical marijuana. 'Agitation due to Alzheimer's Disease' is now included, arbitrarily, with no public comment.

While it is entirely appropriate to add this condition, it is entirely inappropriate to stop there. Why must tens of thousands of chronic pain patients wait a minimum of two years to be included in NJ's law, when the DHSS clearly has the power to add qualifying conditions so easily?”

CMMNJ is holding a Patient Advisory Group meeting at the Collingswood Public library at 7:00PM on Wednesday October 27th.

More information at www.cmmnj.org

CONTACT: Ken Wolski or Chris Goldstein 609 394 2137 media@cmmnj.org

CMMNJ on FOX9 New Jersey Now

NJ Medical Marijuana Patient Advisory Group at Jersey City Hall

EVENT: Patient meeting
LOCATION: Jersey City, City Hall
TIME: 7:00PM ET

NJ Medical Marijuana Patient Advisory Group at Jersey City Hall

On October 20, 2010 the Coalition for Medical Marijuana New Jersey (CMMNJ) is hosting a meeting of the Patient Advisory Group (PAG) in Jersey City.

New Jersey residents who are potentially qualifying medical marijuana patients, their caregivers and physicians are invited to attend. Patients with conditions not specifically designated in the law are also welcome to attend.

The New Jersey Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act was signed into law in January 2010. After a 90-day delay was approved this summer the state is attempting to fully implement the program in January 2011.

This week legislators began challenging the draft regulations issued by the Department of Health and Senior Services. The proposed rules for the program are viewed as overly restrictive and outside of the intent of the law.

As part of CMMNJ's on-going educational program focused on NJ’s medical cannabis patient/caregiver/medical community, the PAG goal is to facilitate networking and information sharing among these stakeholders in medical marijuana.

This includes helping affected citizens organize to request coverage for additional medical conditions under the law.

Tonight’s meeting will offer a general overview of the law and ask for patient perspectives on the new program.

CMMNJ is a 501(c)(3) public charity providing education about the benefits of safe and legal access to medical marijuana and has been working for the legalization of medical marijuana since 2003.

The Coalition for Medical Marijuana New Jersey (CMMNJ) www.cmmnj.org

Read the full text of NJ's medical marijuana law http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2008/

The Coalition for Medical Marijuana of New Jersey
(609) 394-2137

Demonstration for Medical marijuana in Trenton today

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The Coalition for Medical Marijuana New Jersey CMMNJ
www.cmmnj.org

CONTACT: Ken Wolski 609 394 2137 or Chris Goldstein media@cmmnj.org

Medical marijuana in Trenton today

A press conference and a peaceful demonstration are scheduled for today, October 18 from 12:00NOON to 2:00PM. The location is the front steps of the State House in Trenton.

Potential New Jersey medical marijuana patients, their families, NJ physicians and local advocates will participate. Detailed concerns with draft regulations issued by the Department of Health and Senior Services last week will be addressed.

Stephen Cuspilich of Burlington County, who lives with Crohn’s Disease, plans to be at the demonstration. “I hope that they will go over the regulations to make it all more patient friendly,” he said today.

Those gathered will also support a new resolution being introduced by Senator Nicholas Scutari. The move is the first step in a process that could rescind the draft regulations issued by the DHSS.

Legislators, patients and advocates found the draft rules for the new medical marijuana program so extremely restrictive that they have missed the intent of the law.

Jay Lassiter is an activist and blogger at BlueJeresy.com who has been involved with the medical cannabis effort.

"I was infected with HIV as a teenager. I've taken anti-retroviral meds for more than half my life just to survive. Despite pharmaceutical advances, these powerful meds can have severe side effects that can easily be treated with a puff or two of medical marijuana.”

Lassiter will speak at the press conference today with a cadre of local patients including Jennifer Lande of Medford.

Ken Wolski RN, the executive director of The Coalition for Medical Marijuana New Jersey, and Anne Davis the executive director of NORML-NJ will lead the demonstration and address the media.

CONTACT: Ken Wolski 609 394 2137 or Chris Goldstein media@cmmnj.org

CMMNJ Patient Advisory Group meetings are being held around the state this month.
October 20: Jersey City, Caucus Room, City Hall – 7:00 pm

October 21: Wayne Public Library, Wayne, NJ - 7:00 pm
October 27: Collingswood Public Library, Collingswood, NJ – 7:00 pm

Limits on THC in medical marijuana unfounded

Limits on THC in medical marijuana unfounded

by Chris Goldstein - The Department of Health and Senior Services offered dozens of new restrictions on medical marijuana in their draft regulations for New Jersey’s law. But the limitation on THC content to just 10% is one of the key concerns.

“Are they serious?” was an almost universal reaction from dozens of potential patients who contacted me after the regulations were released. This time it was from Stephen Cuspilich of Burlington County, who lives with Crohn’s Disease.

“It’s awful. How is that supposed to work for me?”

DHSS held a public meeting for potential Alternative Treatment Center operators this week. Deputy Commissioner Dr. Susan Walsh took questions and a lot of heat about the THC issue.

Walsh stated that the department’s scientific research into THC content came primarily from the University of California San Diego and the University of Mississippi.

It happens that those two study programs work with only a single strain of marijuana supplied by the federal government. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) oversees that federal marijuana cultivation.

But NIDA is not concerned with producing quality medical marijuana. According to a Boston Globe feature article:
"…the institute's director, Nora Volkow, has stressed that it's 'not NIDA's mission to study the medicinal use of marijuana or to advocate for the establishment of facilities to support this research.'" READ FULL ARTICLE

Restricting any of the cannabinoid content of New Jersey’s medical marijuana was not part of the legislation and for good reason: Marijuana and the component cannabinoids are safe.

Greater cannabinoid levels, not just THC but also the non-psychoactive compound CBD, benefit patients in their treatment.

Read full article

http://www.examiner.com/norml-in-philadelphia/nj-leave-thc-levels-unregulated

Medical marijuana in Trenton on Monday 10/18

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - EVENT
The Coalition for Medical Marijuana New Jersey CMMNJ
www.cmmnj.org

CONTACT: Ken Wolski 609 394 2137 or Chris Goldstein media@cmmnj.org

Medical marijuana in Trenton on Monday

A press conference and a peaceful demonstration are scheduled for Monday October 18 from 12:00NOON to 2:00PM. The location is the front steps of the State House in Trenton.

Potential New Jersey medical marijuana patients, their families, NJ physicians and local advocates will participate. Detailed concerns with draft regulations issued by the Department of Health and Senior Services last week will be addressed.

Senator Nicholas Scutari and Assemblyman Reed Gusciora, the sponsors of the Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act, immediately stated that the details in the regulations were outside of the legislative intent.

Senator Scutari told the Newark Star-Ledger today that he plans to repeal the rules proposed by Christie Administration. http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2010/10/nj_senator_plans_to_repeal_gov.html

Local advocates contend that the proposed regulations violate the law and severely interfere with patient access.

Stephen Cuspilich of Burlington County, who lives with Crohn’s Disease, plans to be at the demonstration. “I hope that they will go over the regulations to make it all more patient friendly,” he said today.

CONTACT: Ken Wolski 609 394 2137 or Chris Goldstein media@cmmnj.org

CMMNJ Patient Advisory Group meetings are being held around the state this month.
October 21: Wayne Public Library, Wayne, NJ - 7:00 pm
October 27: Collingswood Public Library, Collingswood, NJ – 7:00 pm
October 28: Ocean City Public Library, Ocean City, NJ – 6:45 pm

Change.org launches medical marijuana petition aimed at DHSS

Change.org has launched a petition for the New Jersey Medical Marijuana Program

Please sign and pass on!

http://criminaljustice.change.org/blog/view/scoffing_at_the_law_nj_governor_proposes_nations_most_restrictive_medical_marijuana_program

2

Draft medical marijuana regulations are on time but unacceptable

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 7, 2010
The Coalition for Medical Marijuana New Jersey CMMNJ
www.cmmnj.org

CONTACT: Ken Wolski 609 394 2137 ohamkrw@aol.com
Chris Goldstein media@cmmnj.org

Draft medical marijuana regulations are on time but unacceptable

We are grateful to the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services for publishing the draft regulations to enact the New Jersey Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana law in a timely manner.

However, the Coalition for Medical Marijuana--New Jersey has serious concerns that these regulations go far beyond the intent of the law. In fact, we find that the bulk of the regulatory details are outside of the legislative intent.

Many of the new restrictions created by DHSS are based in politics, not in science.

The current draft regulations, if adopted, would create an unworkable program for qualifying residents.

CMMNJ strongly compels DHSS to reconsider the draft Medical Marijuana Program regulations in their entirety.

“Rather than create a reasonable set of regulations, the Christie Administration is playing politics with the lives of New Jersey’s most severely ill residents. Instead of opening a pathway to safe marijuana access these draft regulations only create more barriers,” said Chris Goldstein CMMNJ spokesperson.

“Patients in New Jersey now have a legal right to medical marijuana. These draft regulations are deeply flawed and do not reflect the vision that patients, advocates and the legislation have for compassionate access.”

CMMNJ will issue a detailed analysis of the regulations.

DHSS link: http://www.state.nj.us/health/draft_mm.pdf

NJ Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act: http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2008/Bills/PL09/307_.HTM

Potential medical marijuana patients and advocates in New Jersey are available for comment. Please contact Ken Wolski or Chris Goldstein.

CONTACT: Ken Wolski 609 394 2137 ohamkrw@aol.com
Chris Goldstein media@cmmnj.org

Draft medical marijuana regulations published online

The New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) has released the draft regulations for the Medical Marijuana Program.

http://www.state.nj.us/health/draft_mm.pdf

Read the full text of NJ's medical marijuana law http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2008/Bills/PL09/307_.HTM

More about medical marijuana in New Jersey at www.cmmnj.org

CMMNJ October 2010 Monthly Public Meeting Agenda

Monthly Public Meeting Agenda
Tuesday, October 12, 2010; 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Lawrence Twp. Library (Mercer County) Room #3

7:00 PM: Call meeting to order. Approve September 2010 minutes. Discuss:

CMMNJ’s efforts in support of Sen. Nick Scutari’s Resolution to pass the federal medical marijuana bill (HR 2835) which also reschedules marijuana: A packet of material was sent to elected officials which included: A cover letter (below), the CMMNJ Op Ed 9/12/10 in The Times of Trenton, & a DVD from Americans for Safe Access, “Medical Cannabis in California.”

Sen. Scutari expects the New Jersey Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act to be implemented in Jan. 2011; AP reports the NJ Patient Registry is due this month from DHSS.

Upcoming CMMNJ events/appearances: Rally with President Obama, 60 E. Haines St., Philadelphia, PA, 10/10 at 3:00 PM; Hydro Comics, Crossroads, Garwood, NJ 10/22, 8 PM; NORML NJ Halloween Party, Pistol Pete’s in Pleasantville, NJ, 10/23 at 8 PM; Louis Bay Library, Hawthorne, NJ 10/27, 9:30 – 11 am; NJ League of Municipalities conference, Atlantic City 11/15-18/10.

Upcoming Patient Advisory Group meetings:
October 20: City Hall (Caucus Room), Jersey City, NJ – 7:00 pm
October 21: Wayne Public Library, Wayne, NJ - 7:00 pm
October 27: Collingswood Public Library, Collingswood, NJ – 7:00 pm
October 28: Ocean City Public Library, Ocean City, NJ – 6:45 pm
Web site revamp.

Treasury report: Checking: $6,472; PayPal: $3,238. Tax-deductible donations to CMMNJ, a 501(c)(3) public charity, may be made through Paypal on our web site, or send a check made out to “CMMNJ” to the address below. Get a free t-shirt for a donation above $15—specify size.

CMMNJ’s meetings are the second Tuesday of each month from 7 - 9 PM at the Lawrence Twp. Library, 2751 Brunswick Pike, Lawrence Twp., Tel. #609.882.9246. All are welcome. (Meeting at the library does not imply their endorsement of our issue.) For more info, contact: Ken Wolski, RN, MPA, Executive Director, Coalition for Medical Marijuana—New Jersey, Inc. 219 Woodside Ave., Trenton, NJ 08618 (609) 394-2137 ohamkrw@aol.com www.cmmnj.org




Monthly Public Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, September 14, 2010; 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Lawrence Twp. Library, Mercer County, NJ

7:00 PM: Call meeting to order. August 2010 minutes approved. Discussion:

Sen. Nick Scutari introduced a Resolution to support the federal medical marijuana bill (HR 2835) which also reschedules marijuana. The senator met with CMMNJ representatives on 9/1/10. Scutari expects the New Jersey Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act to be implemented in Jan. 2011; AP reports the NJ Patient Registry is due next month from DHSS.

CMMNJ Op Ed 9/12/10 in The Times of Trenton urges federal protection of NJ patients.

Joyce Murray, Esq., a local lawyer and land use expert, gave a presentation on zoning laws pertaining to ATCs. The presentation was well-received. Contact Joyce at: info@cmmnj.org

CMMNJ’s NJ State Museum Stakeholders Meeting and benefit dinner at the Princeton Hyatt netted $1440 for CMMNJ after a $500 donation to ASA. ASA is working with CMMNJ to implement the NJ law and pass federal, state, and local legislation to protect patients. Join ASA.

CMMNJ to begin physician education of medical marijuana with Medical Grand Rounds at Trinitas Medical Center in Elizabeth, NJ on 9/23 from 9-10 am. CMMNJ also begins Patient Advisory Group meetings at the City Hall Caucus Room in Jersey City, 10/20, 7-9 pm, & at the Collingswood Public Library on 9/16 and 10/27, 7-9 pm. Tourette Syndrome OK’d in NJ. Per John Wilson’s lawyer: State of NJ asked for a 30 day extension to file their appeal brief.

Upcoming CMMNJ events/appearances: Boston Freedom Rally 9/18; Garden State Elder Care, Elberon, NJ 9/24, 1- 2:30 pm; 40th Annual Great Midwest Marijuana Harvest Festival, Madison, WI 10/1-3; Lawrence Twp. Community Day, Bergen Park 10/3; Hydro Comics, Crossroads, Garwood, NJ 10/22; Louis Bay Library, Hawthorne, NJ 10/27, 9:30 – 11 am; NJ League of Municipalities conference, Atlantic City 11/15-18/10. Diane Riportella fund raiser 9/25 in Gardiner’s Basin, Atlantic City. Web site revamp.

Treasury report: Checking: $7,058; PayPal: $3,189.
The next CMMNJ meeting will be 10/12/10 (the second Tuesday of each month.)
Ken Wolski, RN, MPA, Executive Director, 219 Woodside Ave., Trenton, NJ 08618




Governor Chris Christie
PO Box 001
Trenton, NJ 08625

September 14, 2010

Dear Governor Christie--

On behalf of the Board of Directors of the Coalition for Medical Marijuana--New Jersey, Inc., I urge you to support H.R. 2835, the “Medical Marijuana Patient Protection Act.” This federal legislation will provide important legal protection for patients who use medical marijuana in compliance with state laws.

For more information, please see the enclosed Op-Ed, “New Jersey must protect medical marijuana patients” that was published in the September 12, 2010 edition of The Times of Trenton, NJ.

The enclosed 10-minute DVD from Americans for Safe Access entitled, “Medical Cannabis in California: A report from the frontline” also gives an important update on the issue.

As Senator Nicholas Scutari, the prime sponsor of the New Jersey Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act has said, “We need to be sure that New Jerseyans who comply with our medical marijuana law are not at risk of being harassed, arrested or prosecuted by federal law enforcement officials.”

Thank you for your anticipated support of this bill and thank you for your efforts to protect medical marijuana patients who are suffering from debilitating illnesses.

Sincerely yours,

Ken Wolski, RN, MPA
Executive Director
Coalition for Medical Marijuana New Jersey, Inc. www.cmmnj.org
219 Woodside Ave., Trenton, NJ 08618
609.394.2137




SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION No. 120

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

214th LEGISLATURE

INTRODUCED SEPTEMBER 13, 2010


Sponsored by:

Senator NICHOLAS P. SCUTARI

District 22 (Middlesex, Somerset and Union)

SYNOPSIS

Urges Governor to support and advocate for passage of federal “Medical Marijuana Patient Protection Act.”

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT As introduced.

A Concurrent Resolution urging the Governor to support and advocate for passage of H.R. 2835, the “Medical Marijuana Patient Protection Act.”

Whereas, Marijuana has been found effective in treating and alleviating pain or other symptoms associated with debilitating medical conditions in many cases; and

Whereas, Over 80% of the American public supports legalizing marijuana for medical purposes, the American Academy of Physicians, American Public Health Association, American Nurses Association, and American Bar Association are among the major organizations that either endorse legalizing marijuana for medical purposes or support research into its therapeutic uses; and

Whereas, Because of the unique benefits that medical marijuana can provide to suffering patients, the “New Jersey Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act,” P.L.2009, c.307 (C.24:6I-1 et al.), was signed into law in 2010; and

Whereas, The express purpose of the “New Jersey Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act” is to protect from arrest and prosecution qualified patients who use marijuana to alleviate their suffering, as well as their physicians, primary caregivers, and those who are authorized to produce medical marijuana; and

Whereas, New Jersey has joined Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington in allowing patients in their states with certain debilitating medical conditions to legally use marijuana to alleviate their suffering; and

Whereas, The “New Jersey Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act” provides for many safeguards and is one of the strictest state medical marijuana laws in the country; and

Whereas, Under the federal Controlled Substances Act, marijuana is categorized as a Schedule I controlled substance and is statutorily deemed to lack accepted medical value, no physician can legally prescribe or recommend it, and possession, cultivation, and use of marijuana are prohibited; and

Whereas, Federal law places what is estimated to be more than 250,000 patients using marijuana pursuant to state laws, as well as their caregivers, physicians, and medical marijuana suppliers, in a precarious legal position because even if they comply with state medical marijuana laws, they nevertheless violate the federal Controlled Substances Act and risk prosecution under federal law; and

Whereas, Despite assertions by the federal government that prosecuting medical marijuana users who comply with their state medical marijuana laws is not a good use of the United States Department of Justice resources, and despite the fact that announcements made in 2009 by United States Attorney General Eric Holder followed by a memorandum issued by the Department of Justice indicated that federal resources would no longer be used to focus on individuals operating in compliance with state medical marijuana laws, federal prosecutions of such individuals have continued; and

Whereas, The federal prosecutions of individuals who use marijuana pursuant to state laws have caused needless patient suffering and intimidation, thwarted and undermined state laws, and wasted federal taxpayer dollars; and

Whereas, In recognition of the problems resulting from conflicting federal and state policies toward medical marijuana, Representative Barney Frank introduced H.R. 2835, the “Medical Marijuana Patient Protection Act,” which would transfer marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule II under the federal Controlled Substances Act, and further provide that federal law shall not prohibit, in a state in which marijuana is permitted to be prescribed or recommended by a physician for medical use: (1) a physician from prescribing or recommending marijuana for medical use; (2) patients from using marijuana in accordance with such prescriptions or recommendations; (3) individuals authorized under state law from obtaining, possessing, or transporting marijuana on behalf of patients; or (4) authorized entities from obtaining, possessing, or distributing marijuana to such patients; and

Whereas, The State Legislature supports H.R.2835 because it will provide important legal protection for suffering patients, their caretakers, physicians, and medical marijuana suppliers in New Jersey and in other states where the use of medical marijuana is permitted; and

Whereas, The State Legislature respectfully urges the Governor, by a public declaration that befits his well-earned reputation for forthright advocacy of his public policy preferences, to join the Legislature in supporting and advocating for the passage of H.R.2835; now, therefore,

Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of New Jersey (the General Assembly concurring):


1. The Governor is respectfully requested to urge Congress and the President of the United States to pass H.R.2835, the “Medical Marijuana Patient Protection Act.”

2. Duly authenticated copies of this resolution, signed by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the General Assembly and attested by the Secretary of the Senate and the Clerk of the General Assembly, shall be transmitted to the Governor.

STATEMENT

This concurrent resolution expresses the Legislature’s support for H.R. 2835, the “Medical Marijuana Patient Protection Act,” and respectfully requests that the Governor urge Congress and the President of the United States to pass H.R.2835. H.R.2835 would provide legal protection from federal prosecution to patients who use marijuana pursuant to a state medical marijuana law, as well as to individuals who are their physicians, caretakers and suppliers of medical marijuana.