CMMNJ plans press conference at New Jersey medical marijuana hearings

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 12/3/2010
The Coalition for Medical Marijuana New Jersey - CMMNJ
www.cmmnj.org

MEDIA NOTE: Location changed for public hearing

CONTACT: Ken Wolski 609 394 2137 ohamkrw@aol.com

CMMNJ plans press conference at New Jersey medical marijuana hearings

Trenton - The New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) will hold a public hearing on the proposed regulations for the medical marijuana program next week. The hearing takes place Monday December 6, 2010 starting at 10:00AM. The location has been moved to the auditorium at the New Jersey War Memorial building in Trenton.

CMMNJ is planning a press conference at the War Memorial front steps at 12 noon with patients and advocates who will testify at the hearing.

Ken Wolski is a Registered Nurse and executive director of CMMNJ. He issued the following statement today:

“The rules from DHSS propose amendments to the medical marijuana law not merely regulations to enact it. Many of the new requirements are burdensome and unnecessary far exceeding the already restrictive language of the New Jersey Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act.

Governor Christie has said that he will not permit these rules to be revised, so we can only hope that the public comment period with the DHSS is not merely an exercise in futility. Ultimately the New Jersey Legislature needs to intervene to protect the integrity of our law and insist that these rules be revised.”

This summer the Christie Administration requested a 1-year delay in implementing the program. Instead, the Legislature granted an extra 90 days. Under the current time-line the medical marijuana program is supposed to become operational in January 2011.

In November both Assembly and Senate Committees forwarded a resolution that would force a re-evaluation of the proposed regulations. Strong patient testimony was featured at the committee hearings. The Assembly then passed the resolution ACR 151 in a floor vote. Senate voting is expected on 12/13.

The DHSS public hearing on Monday is just one part of the official public comment process for the medical marijuana regulations. Detailed written comments must be submitted via regular mail to various state departments for consideration by January 14, 2011.

CONTACT: Ken Wolski or Chris Goldstein, 609 394 2137

www.cmmnj.org

CMMNJ is the only tax-exempt 501c3 non-profit in New Jersey whose mission is to educate the public about the benefits of medical marijuana.