CMMNJ Agenda for June 8, 2010

Monthly Public Meeting Agenda
Lawrence Twp. Library (Mercer County) Room #3
Tuesday, June 8, 2010; 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM

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

The New Jersey Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act is scheduled to take effect in July 2010. Gov. Christie asks for 6 – 12 month delay. Rally & Press Conference scheduled for Friday, June 4, 2010 at 1:00 PM on the State House steps in Trenton! Please support CMMNJ’s effort in this. Also, tell NJ state officials to implement the law as written. Contact Governor Christie here: http://www.nj.gov/governor/contact/ (Choose “Health & Senior Services” as your e-mail topic) Contact Commissioner Alaigh here: http://www.state.nj.us/cgi-bin/dhss/contact/contact.pl?page=marijuana NJ DHSS posted info about the new law at: http://www.state.nj.us/health/med_marijuana.shtml Patient advisory groups are forming to add qualifying conditions to the law. ATC Advisory Board also formed.

The NJSNA Medical Marijuana Breakfast was canceled. The event had been scheduled for 6/3/10 @ 9:30 AM at New Jersey State Nurses Assn. Headquarters, Trenton, NJ.

Upcoming CMMNJ events: Gay Pride Parade 6/6/10, Asbury Park, NJ; Southern Shore Music Festival, 6/19/10, Bridgeton, NJ, noon to 8 PM; Project Freedom Wellness Fair, Lawrence Twp., 6/22/10 3 pm to 7 pm; MS Patients Support Group in Livingston, NJ, 7/12/10 @ 7 pm; Dingbatz in Clifton, NJ, 7/31/10, 8pm–12 MN; NJ League of Municipalities, 11/15-18/10.

Treasury report: Checking: $2,789.79; PayPal: $2640.34. 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 scheduled meetings are the second Tuesday of each month at the Lawrence Twp. Library from 7:00 PM until 9:00 PM. All are welcome. Snacks are served. The library is at 2751 Brunswick Pike, Lawrence Twp., Tel. #609.882.9246. (Meeting at the library does not imply their endorsement of our issue.) For more info, contact: Ken Wolski, RN, MPA, 219 Woodside Ave., Trenton, NJ 08618 (609) 394-2137 ohamkrw@aol.com www.cmmnj.org




Monthly Public Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, May 11, 2010; 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Lawrence Twp. Library, Mercer County, NJ

7:00 PM: Call meeting to order. April 2010 minutes approval deferred. Discussion:

The New Jersey Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana is scheduled to take effect in July 2010. Emergency regulations were due in April 2010. NJ DHSS posted info at: http://www.state.nj.us/health/med_marijuana.shtml Patient advisory groups are forming to add qualifying conditions to the law. ATC Advisory Board also formed. CMMNJ’s response to delay discussed. Medical marijuana patients should begin discussion with your personal physicians now.

Jahan Marcu, a leading cannabis researcher from Temple University, gave a summary of his research on cannabis and brain cancer (gliomas) and then answered questions about “Spice” or synthetic, legal cannabis. Arthur Buist, a 70-year-old medical marijuana patent from South Jersey, discussed his ordeal following his arrest for growing 13 marijuana plants.

John Wilson was released from prison on 4/29/10 pending appeal.

Upcoming CMMNJ events: Medical Marijuana Info Seminar on 5/12/10 at Bayada Nurses of Morristown, NJ; MS Patient Support Group at Centra State Hospital, Freehold, NJ, 5/17/10 at 1PM; Medical Marijuana Breakfast 6/3/10 @ 8:30 AM at New Jersey State Nurses Assn. Headquarters, Trenton, NJ. Gay Pride Parade 6/6/10, Asbury Park, NJ. NJ League of Municipalities, November 15-18, 2010.

Treasury report: Checking: $2,789.02; PayPal: $2363.85. IRS Form 990-N e-filed 4/13/10. 100 copies of “Cannabis Yields” bought for $265. 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 scheduled meetings are the second Tuesday of each month at the Lawrence Twp. Library from 7:00 PM until 9:00 PM. All are welcome. Snacks are served. The library is at 2751 Brunswick Pike, Lawrence Twp., Tel. #609.882.9246. (Meeting at the library does not imply their endorsement of our issue.) For more info, contact: Ken Wolski, RN, MPA, 219 Woodside Ave., Trenton, NJ 08618 (609) 394-2137 ohamkrw@aol.com www.cmmnj.org



Christie administration seeks to delay the New Jersey medical marijuana law

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For more info, contact: Ken @ (609) 394-2137




WHO: Governor Chris Christie’s administration
WHAT: Wants to delay the New Jersey Medical Marijuana law for up to one year
WHEN: May 27, 2010
WHERE: Trenton, NJ
WHY: The logistics involved are too complex for the NJ Department of Health

A proposal by Governor Christie’s administration seeks to delay the implementation of the “New Jersey Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act" by up to one year. The request for a 6-12 month delay was first reported this week in the NJ Spotlight. New Jersey became the 14th US state to legalize medical marijuana on January 18, 2010. The law is scheduled to take effect in July. The bill, originally introduced in 2005 by Senator Nicholas Scutari (D-Linden), saw broad bi-partisan support when it eventually passed. It was reported that senior staff in Governor Christie's office asked for the delay because they feared the complexities of developing a business model for medical cannabis distribution. Ken Wolski, RN, Executive Director of the Coalition for Medical Marijuana--New Jersey, Inc. (CMMNJ) said, “There must be no delay in implementing this law. Patients are suffering now, and to tell them they must continue to suffer for another year because of the bureaucrats in Trenton is unacceptable.”

Advocates noted that with any delay to the program many terminally ill patients would not live to find relief with legal medical marijuana. Hospice and Palliative Care networks are some of the strongest supporters of the medical cannabis law. Wolski continued, “Marijuana is recognized as medicine in New Jersey and patients deserve timely access to it. The recent trial and conviction of MS patient John Wilson in Somerville amply proves that patients desperately need regulated access to marijuana that is legal in the eyes of police, prosecutors, judges and juries around the state.”

The new law removes penalties for the possession, and use of marijuana when a New Jersey licensed physician recommends it for one of the qualifying medical conditions. These conditions include cancer, AIDS, multiple sclerosis, Crohn’s disease, etc. Patients will be issued ID cards in a program run by the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS). The marijuana will be obtained from Alternative Treatment Centers that will be licensed and regulated by the state. Of the 14 medical marijuana states, only the Garden State currently prohibits patients from cultivating their own medical marijuana in the safety of their homes.

Wolski noted that in a February 2010 letter to DHSS Director Joe Eldridge, CMMNJ offered free, expert advice in the development of regulations to implement the New Jersey Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana law. Thus far, DHSS has not requested any information from CMMNJ. CMMNJ was formed in 2003, incorporated in New Jersey and is recognized as a 501(c)(3) by the federal government. CMMNJ is the only statewide organization solely dedicated to providing education and information about safe and legal access to medical marijuana, and it has closely followed the law’s evolution and patients’ concerns. CMMNJ’s Board of Directors includes health care professionals, attorneys and potential patients with over 50 years of combined experience directly related to medical marijuana. CMMNJ is uniquely qualified to assist in developing effective regulations for New Jersey. Patients and advocates at CMMNJ welcome a dialogue with DHSS and the Christie Administration to discuss the best plan to implement the law.

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

Christie administration seeks to delay the New Jersey medical marijuana law

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For more info, contact: Ken @ (609) 394-2137

WHO: Governor Chris Christie’s administration
WHAT: Wants to delay the New Jersey Medical Marijuana law for up to one year
WHEN: May 27, 2010
WHERE: Trenton, NJ
WHY: The logistics involved are too complex for the NJ Department of Health

A proposal by Governor Christie’s administration seeks to delay the implementation of the “New Jersey Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act" by up to one year. The request for a 6-12 month delay was first reported this week in the NJ Spotlight. New Jersey became the 14th US state to legalize medical marijuana on January 18, 2010. The law is scheduled to take effect in July. The bill, originally introduced in 2005 by Senator Nicholas Scutari (D-Linden), saw broad bi-partisan support when it eventually passed. It was reported that senior staff in Governor Christie's office asked for the delay because they feared the complexities of developing a business model for medical cannabis distribution. Ken Wolski, RN, Executive Director of the Coalition for Medical Marijuana--New Jersey, Inc. (CMMNJ) said, “There must be no delay in implementing this law. Patients are suffering now, and to tell them they must continue to suffer for another year because of the bureaucrats in Trenton is unacceptable.”

Advocates noted that with any delay to the program many terminally ill patients would not live to find relief with legal medical marijuana. Hospice and Palliative Care networks are some of the strongest supporters of the medical cannabis law. Wolski continued, “Marijuana is recognized as medicine in New Jersey and patients deserve timely access to it. The recent trial and conviction of MS patient John Wilson in Somerville amply proves that patients desperately need regulated access to marijuana that is legal in the eyes of police, prosecutors, judges and juries around the state.”

The new law removes penalties for the possession, and use of marijuana when a New Jersey licensed physician recommends it for one of the qualifying medical conditions. These conditions include cancer, AIDS, multiple sclerosis, Crohn’s disease, etc. Patients will be issued ID cards in a program run by the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS). The marijuana will be obtained from Alternative Treatment Centers that will be licensed and regulated by the state. Of the 14 medical marijuana states, only the Garden State currently prohibits patients from cultivating their own medical marijuana in the safety of their homes.

Wolski noted that in a February 2010 letter to DHSS Director Joe Eldridge, CMMNJ offered free, expert advice in the development of regulations to implement the New Jersey Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana law. Thus far, DHSS has not requested any information from CMMNJ. CMMNJ was formed in 2003, incorporated in New Jersey and is recognized as a 501(c)(3) by the federal government. CMMNJ is the only statewide organization solely dedicated to providing education and information about safe and legal access to medical marijuana, and it has closely followed the law’s evolution and patients’ concerns. CMMNJ’s Board of Directors includes health care professionals, attorneys and potential patients with over 50 years of combined experience directly related to medical marijuana. CMMNJ is uniquely qualified to assist in developing effective regulations for New Jersey. Patients and advocates at CMMNJ welcome a dialogue with DHSS and the Christie Administration to discuss the best plan to implement the law.

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

Governor seeks to delay the New Jersey medical marijuana law

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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

Governor seeks to delay the New Jersey medical marijuana law

5/27/2010 - A proposal by Governor Christie’s administration seeks to delay the implementation of the “New Jersey Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act" by up to one year. The request for a 6-12 month delay was first reported this week in the NJ Spotlight.
New Jersey became the 14th US state to legalize medical marijuana on January 18, 2010. The law is scheduled to take effect in July.

The bill, originally introduced in 2005 by Senator Nicholas Scutari (D-Linden), saw broad bi-partisan support when it eventually passed. It was reported that senior staff in the Governor’s office asked for the delay because they feared the complexities of developing a business model for medical cannabis distribution.

Ken Wolski, RN, Executive Director of the Coalition for Medical Marijuana--New Jersey, Inc. (CMMNJ) said, “There must be no delay in implementing this law. Patients are suffering now, and to tell them they must continue to suffer for another year because of the bureaucrats in Trenton is unacceptable.”

Advocates noted that with any delay to the program many terminally ill patients would not live to find relief with legal medical marijuana. Hospice and Palliative Care networks are some of the strongest supporters of the medical cannabis law.

Wolski continued, “ Marijuana is recognized as medicine in New Jersey and patients deserve timely access to it. The recent trial and conviction of MS patient John Wilson in Somerville amply proves that patients desperately need regulated access to marijuana that is legal in the eyes of police, prosecutors, judges and juries around the state.”

The new law removes penalties for the possession, and use of marijuana when a New Jersey licensed physician recommends it for one of the qualifying medical conditions. These conditions include cancer, AIDS, multiple sclerosis, Crohn’s disease, etc. Patients will be issued ID cards in a program run by the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS). The marijuana will be obtained from Alternative Treatment Centers that will be licensed and regulated by the state. Of the 14 medical marijuana states, only the Garden State currently prohibits patients from cultivating their own medical marijuana in the safety of their homes.

Wolski noted that in a February 2010 letter to DHSS Director Joe Eldridge, CMMNJ offered free, expert advice in the development of regulations to implement the New Jersey Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana law. Thus far, DHSS has not requested any information from CMMNJ.

The Coalition for Medical Marijuana New Jersey (CMMNJ) was formed in 2003, incorporated in New Jersey and is recognized as a 501(c)(3) by the federal government. CMMNJ is the only statewide organization solely dedicated to providing education and information about safe and legal access to medical marijuana, and it has closely followed the law’s evolution and patients’ concerns.

CMMNJ’s Board of Directors includes health care professionals, attorneys and potential patients with over 50 years of combined experience directly related to medical marijuana. CMMNJ is uniquely qualified to assist in developing effective regulations for New Jersey. Patients and advocates at CMMNJ welcome a dialogue with DHSS and the Christie Administration to discuss the best plan to implement the law.

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

VIDEO: Philadelphia Global Marijuana March 2010

More info at http://www.examiner.com/x-29881-Philadelphia-NORML-Examiner~y2010m5d3-VIDEO-PhillyNORML-2010-Global-Marijuana-March

Breaking: Wilson released, NJ Senators call for medical marijuana clemency

Breaking: Wilson released, NJ Senators call for medical marijuana clemency

4/29/2010 by Chris Goldstein - John Wilson was released from the Southern State Correctional Facility in New Jersey today to his grateful family at about 1:45PM. Wilson was sentenced to 5 years in prison on March 19, 2010 for growing seventeen cannabis plants to treat MS. An Appellate Court ruled on Monday that he should be granted bail as his case is appealed.

On Tuesday Judge Robert B. Reed, the trial judge in the case, set bail at $15,000. Ken Wolski, Executive director of the Coalition for Medical Marijuana New Jersey (CMMNJ) was in the courtroom.

The prosecutor {NJ Office of the Attorney General], Cassandra Serentino, asked for $75,000 to $150,000 bail. When asked why by the judge, the prosecutor said that was what was listed for such an offense on the bail schedule, but that she would defer to the judge for “whatever you deem appropriate.”

The judge cited the fact that John had no prior criminal record, was gainfully self-employed, had a family who was at the trial every day, and had many responsible members of the community vouch for him “in the cause which he has come to represent.” READ KEN's BLOG POST IN FULL

New Jersey passed a medical marijuana law in January, although the program will not be fully implemented until this fall. Multiple Sclerosis or MS is one of the qualifying conditions under the new law.

State Senators Raymond Lesniak and Nicholas Scutari issued a press release yesterday renewing their call for Governor Chris Christie to grant Wilson a pardon.

“The court recognized the cruelty of incarcerating an MS sufferer under these circumstances. We think Governor Christie should likewise recognize this injustice and pardon Mr. Wilson from the most serious charges,” said Senator Lesniak. “We believe that such an egregious injustice demands prompt action. Through the power of clemency invested in this State’s Chief Executive, Governor Christie can overturn an unjust and overly cruel sentence for a man simply seeking a small measure of relief from chronic pain and illness.”

“We remain hopeful that Governor Christie will see the light and order a more appropriate sentence for John Ray Wilson through a gubernatorial pardon,” said Senator Scutari. “Given our State’s budgetary woes, it does not make sense to incarcerate a non-violent offender for the personal use of medical marijuana, especially when the Legislature and the previous Governor have since legalized the medical use of the drug. Governor Christie should recognize the will of the Legislature, and of the public, and step in to overturn a prison sentence for a very sick man who felt he had nowhere else to turn for relief from his symptoms.” READ THE FULL PRESS RELEASE

Before being incarcerated Wilson was living with his elderly grandmother, helping to care for her and his wheelchair-bound younger brother.

We spoke with Wilson's mother and father today. The family is planning a barbecue for the homecoming.

"We're just happy that he's out," said his mom.

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

Report from Somerville--John Wilson Bail Hearing

Judge Reed set bail for John Wilson at $15,000 today at a hearing in Somerville, NJ. John's father, Ray, couldn’t come to the hearing because he was desperately trying to raise bail for his son. Even John couldn’t come to the hearing because he was locked up in one of New Jersey’s most remote prisons—Southern State Correctional Facility, near Cape May.

John was convicted of second degree manufacturing of marijuana—he grew some plants to treat his illness, but he was not permitted to discuss his illness during the trial. The judge denied John’s request for bail pending his appeal. John’s lawyer, Jim Wronko, appealed the judge’s decision to lock John up pending appeal. The judge did so despite the fact that John was no flight risk and no threat to the community. The appeals section of Superior Court agreed with Mr. Wronko and sent the case back to Judge Reed to set bail.

The prosecutor, Cassandra Serentino, asked for $75,000 to $150,000 bail. When asked why by the judge, the prosecutor said that was what was listed for such an offense on the bail schedule, but that she would defer to the judge for “whatever you deem appropriate.”

The judge cited the fact that John had no prior criminal record, was gainfully self-employed, had a family who was at the trial every day, and had many responsible members of the community vouch for him “in the cause which he has come to represent,” i.e., medical marijuana.

All those factors militate in his favor, the judge ruled, before setting the lower bail.

The judge acknowledged that the case has garnered a great deal of publicity and public debate. He was disappointed by what he called the lack of understanding of the three branches of our government. He was also disappointed by the personal attacks on him by well-meaning but ill informed people. He cited a recent editorial in The Times of Trenton, NJ that compared him to a “hanging judge” in Old England who hung a young girl for stealing three pennies. He said it was an unfair comparison.

The judge said his critics fail to consider the fact that the law is determined by the legislature, and is, he said, “clear and precise.” The judge said his critics should not denigrate the judicial branch of government when they disagree with the results, but should instead devote their efforts to changing the law, “and in this case, they have.”

The judge said that he did his duty in respect to the Constitution, and that he had no more ability to grant a pardon than he did to change the law himself. He protested the attacks on the judiciary in general and “on this jurist in particular.”

The Coalition for Medical Marijuana--New Jersey had appealed to Governor Jon Corzine and Attorney General Anne Milgram to pardon John Wilson or to use prosecutorial discretion to make this case go away, before it ever even went to trial. It would have spared the state and the defendant great expense, and it would have spared a conscientious judge great embarrassment.

But the State of New Jersey insisted on pursuing this case—the case of an impoverished young man with multiple sclerosis (MS) who grew marijuana to treat his disease. While the trial was in progress, the state passed into law the New Jersey Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act. The state officially recognized that marijuana is medicine, and specifically recognized that it is medicine for MS.

The state desperately tried to send John Wilson to prison for twenty years. In the end, John spent a little over thirty days locked up. Let’s hope that’s all the time he ever spends in prison. Let’s also hope he is the last medical marijuana patient to be prosecuted in New Jersey.

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
ohamkrw@aol.com

Breaking : Court orders bail for John Wilson!

John Wilson was sentenced to 5 years in state prison for growing seventeen cannabis plants to treat his MS. But he may be released tomorrow after being incarcerated since March. A NJ State Appellate Court ruled today that Wilson should be granted bail and released to his family if he can meet the requirements.

Wilson’s attorney James Wronko confirmed the ruling, “They have stayed the sentence.”

Family and supporters were optimistic, but pointed out that John spent three weeks in the Somerset County Jail, then a week in a Trenton tranfer facility and had just been moved to a state prison complex in southern New Jersey. Some were growing concerned over his health.

Wilson’s case attracted significant media attention as supporters demonstrated in front of the Somerset County Courthouse. Initially, John was not allowed to mention to his trial jury that he lived with Multiple Sclerosis. Any testimony as to the medical benefits of cannabis was also barred.

Wilson was convicted in December 2009. The next month New Jersey passed a medical marijuana law, under which Wilson would qualify as a registered patient.

State Senators Raymond Lesniak and Nicholas Scutari have asked for the Governor to pardon Wilson.

Chris Goldstein of the Coalition for Medical Marijuana New Jersey attended the trial and demonstrations. “People with MS who seek cannabis therapy should not be in prison. Thankfully for John and his family, he will now be free on bail as his case is appealed.”

John Wilson’s emergency bail hearing is scheduled for 1:30PM, Tuesday April 27 in the courtroom of Judge Robert B. Reed at the Somerset County Courthouse in Somerville, NJ.