Medical Marijuana Group Responds to DHSS Resignations

3/28/2011 - The Coalition for Medical Marijuana--New Jersey (CMMNJ) notes with great concern the sudden resignation of New Jersey’s two top health officials and the continued pressure from Governor Chris Christie to implement unworkable regulations for the medical marijuana program.

Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) Commissioner Dr. Poonam Alaigh and Deputy Commissioner Dr. Susan Walsh were tasked with putting the compassionate use law into practice. Both announced their resignations last week coincident with the awarding of permits to run medical marijuana dispensaries, or Alternative Treatment Centers.

CMMNJ would support any investigation into the ATC awards process by the media and/or the Legislature.

NJ DHSS has proposed a set of regulations to implement the Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act. A state executive agency is obligated to adhere to both the specific statutory terms and the clear legislative intent but it is not authorized or empowered to effectively rewrite the statute, substituting its judgment for that of the Legislature.

The New Jersey Senate and Assembly have declared the proposed regulations from DHSS to be inconsistent with the law's intent. Senator Nicholas Scutari has introduced SCR151, the final stage of a rare process that would invalidate parts of the rules. This action would empower the Legislature to ensure the integrity of the new law and could avoid any further delays to the program, if it is employed quickly.

CMMNJ supports this legislative resolution to invalidate significant parts of the current medical marijuana program regulations.

It is our hope the new DHSS officials in charge of the Medicinal Marijuana Program will uphold the intent of the law, unlike their predecessors. CMMNJ suggests the following:

- The DHSS Commissioner and Deputies must commit themselves to understanding and openly stating that marijuana is medicine, since that is what the law declares

- DHSS should be responsive to the concerns of marijuana experts and patients. Previous public hearings have elicited hundreds of impassioned pleas from patients, advocates and potential ATC operators that have been uniformly ignored by DHSS.

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

New Jersey Licenses Six Alternative Treatment Centers for Medical Marijuana

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Ken Wolski or Chris Goldstein (609) 394-2137 media@cmmnj.org

New Jersey Licenses Six Alternative Treatment Centers for Medical Marijuana

On March 21, 2011 New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS)announced the winning applications for the medical marijuana Alternative Treatment Centers (ATCs) in the Garden State.
Twenty-one applicants submitted exhaustive business plans along with a $20,000 filing fee.

The successful non-profit applicants are:
· Breakwater Alternative Treatment Center, Corp., Ocean, Central Region; The ATC would be located in Manalapan, Monmouth County.

· Compassionate Care Centers of America Foundation Inc. (CCCAF), Jersey City, Central Region; The ATC would be located in New Brunswick, Middlesex County.

· Compassionate Care Foundation Inc., West Trenton, Southern Region; The ATC would be located in Bellmawr, Camden County.

· Compassionate Sciences, Inc. ATC, Sea Cliff, NY, Southern Region; The location of the ATC is undetermined, but will be located in either Burlington or Camden County.

· Foundation Harmony, Cliffside Park, Northern Region; The ATC would be in Secaucus, Hudson County.

· Greenleaf Compassion Center, Montclair, Northern Region; The ATC would be in Montclair, Essex County.

However the regulations governing the facilities have not been finalized and remain in a hard-fought Legislative dispute.

Ken Wolski the executive director of The Coalition for Medical Marijuana--New Jersey (CMMNJ) said,"We certainly wish the successful applicants luck because patients need legal marijuana as soon as possible. However, we have serious doubts that these non-profit organizations will be able to develop a working program with the overly restrictive regulations proposed by DHSS. CMMNJ still supports the legislative Resolution to invalidate significant parts of the DHSS regulations."

Fifteen states and the District of Columbia now have laws that protect patients who use marijuana with a doctor’s recommendation. For more info, contact:

CONTACT: Ken Wolski, RN, MPA, Executive Director 609 394 2137

www.cmmnj.org

State may annouce first medical marijuana suppliers

Today officials will announce the results of the application process for the first medical marijuana Alternative Treatment Centers (ATCs) in the Garden State. The New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) confirmed in an email that they would release a statement.

More than 20 applicants submitted exhaustive business plans along with a $20,000 filing fee. But the regulations governing the ATC facilities have not been finalized and remain in a Legislative dispute. Potential non-profits have stated that they would find it nearly impossible to operate under the current proposed rules, even if the state does give them a green light.

CMMNJ March 2011 Agenda, Minutes & Update

Monthly Public Meeting Agenda
Lawrence Twp. Library (Mercer County) Room #1 (note room change)
Tuesday, March 8, 2011; 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM

7:00 PM: Call meeting to order. Approve February 2011 minutes. Discuss:

DHSS Public Hearing on Medicinal Marijuana Program (MMP) rules is scheduled for Mon., 3/7/11 at the Trenton War Memorial, 10am-12noon. CMMNJ Press Conference noon – 1 pm on the War Memorial steps.

Legal papers seeking an injunction to stop the DHSS MMP ATC RFA were denied by Appellate Court; DHSS accepted 21 applications by 2/14; award decision expected March 21. DHSS web site updated.

New public comment period on DHSS rules ends 4/23/11. Submit written comments on the proposed rules, by regular mail, postmarked by April 23, 2011 to: Devon L. Graf, Director, Office of Legal and Regulatory Compliance, Office of the Commissioner, New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, PO Box 360 Trenton, NJ 08625-0360.

Recent CMMNJ events: Stone Pony, Asbury Park, Bouncing Souls Feb. 9–12. Thanks to vols! CMMNJ met in Newark 2/15 with Mr. Calcagni, Dir. of Consumer Affairs, Office of the A. G. re: rescheduling marijuana in NJ. Ongoing dialogue established. CMMNJ lecture at Ramapo College RCNJ-NORML on 3/1/11. Testimony submitted in support of Maryland’s medical marijuana bill. WZBN interview, 3/3/11. Web site revamp in progress; $500 down payment.

Upcoming event: “Update on Use of Medical Marijuana in NJ” at NJ State Nurses Assn. Convention, Atlantic City, 3/31; CEUs available.

Treasury report: Checking: $5,177; PayPal: $3,280. $500 tax-deductible donation to CMMNJ, a 501(c)(3) public charity, received from a NJ patient. Use Paypal on our web site, or checks to “CMMNJ” sent 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, February 8, 2011; 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM

7:00 PM: Call meeting to order. January 2011 minutes approved. Discussion:

The Senate Health Committee held a public hearing on the proposed Medicinal Marijuana Program rules on 1/20/11 at the State House. Patients and advocates testified against the rules. The committee voted to pass the testimony on to all the NJ legislators, who now have 20 days to act (on or after 2/20) to invalidate all or part of the DHSS rules. The Health Committee also rejected the Board of Medical Examiners’ proposed rules. NJ legislature to vote on SCR 130 & 140. Asm. Gusciora’s compromise noted but not persuasive in the committee hearing.

DHSS publishes Request for Applications to run Alternative Treatment Centers. Applications must be in by 2/14/11, per their web site, but this conflicts with info posted in the DHSS regs. Attempts to clarify the issue with DHSS have been unsuccessful. Injunction to stop this process planned; legal papers to be filed. More info: (ASAP NJ), contact marianne.bays@gmail.com

CMMNJ meeting in mid-Feb. with Mr. Calcagni, Dir. of Consumer Affairs, Office of the A. G. re: rescheduling marijuana in NJ. Update on victimized NJ patients John Wilson and Art Buist.

Upcoming CMMNJ events: Stone Pony, Asbury Park, 4-day event with the Bouncing Souls Feb. 9 – 12. Web site revamp in progress; $500 down payment.

“Update on Use of Medical Marijuana in NJ” at NJ State Nurses Assn. Convention, Atlantic City, 3/31; CEUs available.

New public comment period ends 4/23/11. Submit written comments on the proposed DHSS rules, by regular mail, postmarked by April 23, 2011 to: Devon L. Graf, Director, Office of Legal and Regulatory Compliance, Office of the Commissioner, New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, PO Box 360 Trenton, NJ 08625-0360.

Treasury report: Checking: $4,627; PayPal: $3,339. CMMNJ received its first contribution from the United Way payroll deduction plan this month!

The next CMMNJ meeting will be Tues., 3/8/11, at the Lawrence Library Room #1 from 7PM to 9PM. For info, contact: Ken Wolski, RN (609) 394-2137

ohamkrw@aol.com www.cmmnj.org info@cmmnj.org

















February 25, 2011

Re: Medicinal Marijuana Program Changes Urged

Dear New Jersey Legislator:

The Coalition for Medical Marijuana—New Jersey (CMMNJ) and the Association of Safe Access Providers-New Jersey (ASAP-NJ) have reviewed the Medicinal Marijuana Program regulations published on Feb. 22, 2011 by the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services. Both groups have offered comments and suggestions to put these regulations in conformance with the statutory language and intent.

We believe that the changes we have made to the regulations represent the minimum necessary to have an effective program in accordance with the law. For a copy of the regulations with suggested deletions in brackets and additions underlined, see: http://www.scribd.com/doc/49541387/DHSS-Revised-regs-2-16-CMMNJ-ASAPNJ

I have drafted the Executive Summary, below, of the changes that we made. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

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
ohamkrw@aol.com


Executive Summary of proposed changes to NJ DHSS Medicinal Marijuana Program regulations by CMMNJ & ASAP-NJ

1. Eliminate the entire physician registry;

2. Eliminate the arbitrary cannabinoid (THC, etc.) level and strain limits;

3. Significantly change the process to add debilitating medical conditions;
a. reduce the 2-year waiting period;
b. change the make-up of the review panel to include medical marijuana experts and patients;
c. require the panel to review scientific and medical research and evidence;
d. allow the review panel to make the final decision;

4. Eliminate arbitrary and capricious physician requirements;
a. the physician need not and cannot determine that providing the patient with multiple instructions creates an undue risk of diversion or abuse;
b. the physician’s certification need not include a statement on the “lack of scientific consensus for the use of medicinal marijuana”;
c. eliminate the requirement that the licensed physician also possess an active controlled dangerous substances registration;
d. eliminate the requirement that the physician seeking to authorize the medicinal use of marijuana by a minor obtain confirmation from a pediatrician and from a psychiatrist;

5. Stop micromanagement of ATCs;
a. allow ATCs to determine the makeup of their own Medical Advisory Boards;
b. remove the arbitrary ban on volume purchase discounting;
c. increase the allowable ATC inventory of processed on hand medical marijuana to 3 months supply per patient
d. allow more variety in products (at least cannabis butter, oil and tincture);
e. allow home delivery as the law does (but do not make it mandatory);

6. Protect patient privacy;
a. do not require ATCs to collect information on the medical conditions of patients;
b. do not require ATCs to collect patient surveys regarding pain control, etc.;
c. eliminate the requirement that the physician identify the patient’s diagnosis to the DHSS in a manner that compromises the patient’s confidentiality;

7. Make the patient/caregiver ID card process more patient-friendly;
a. reduce the fee for a patient ID card to $100 and for a caregiver ID card to $25;
b. do not make registry with an ATC a precondition of patient registration;
c. make application and renewal fees refundable if application is incomplete;
d. caregiver criminal history record background check need not be done every two years;
e. proof of state residency may include a notarized certification of residency containing the applicant’s address;
f. custodial parent, or guardian of a minor need not also be qualified as a primary caregiver;
g. eliminate the requirement that a person who voluntarily surrenders an ID must include a written notice to that effect;
h. clarify that the DHSS shall revoke a registry identification card for failing to qualify for medical marijuana, not that the individual “Ceases to have his or her debilitating condition.”

http://cmmnj.blogspot.com/2011/02/medicinal-marijuana-program-changes.html

The Times of Trenton Op-Ed

Wasting precious time for medicinal marijuana program
Monday, February 28, 2011
SPECIAL TO THE TIMES
Gov. Christie said, "Every life is precious." Why, then, is he dismissive of the lives of medical marijuana patients in the state? Jennifer L. confronted Gov. Christie at a town hall meeting in Ewing a few months ago. Jennifer explained how she is rapidly losing weight -- literally wasting away -- without reliable access to medical-grade marijuana. It was clear Jennifer could not survive like this. She said she may be dead by the summer without the use of medical marijuana. Yet the governor told Jennifer that he couldn't be concerned about her as an individual when he had an entire state to worry about. Why is her life not precious? It's one thing to have a tough-guy Jersey attitude. It's another thing entirely to be callous to a dying woman.

Jennifer is not alone. The Hospice and Palliative Care Association estimates that there are 30,000 New Jerseyans in hospice, i.e. with medical conditions that will take their lives in less than six months. All of these patients would qualify for medical marijuana under the terms of the Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act. Yet it has been longer than a year since the act was made into law and not a single patient has received medical marijuana, not a
single distribution center is even close to opening, and not a single legal marijuana plant is yet growing in New Jersey. More than 100,000 patients have died in the state in the last year without having the pain relief and improved quality of life that medically supervised access to marijuana can bring.

Gov. Christie is solely to blame for this unconscionable delay in access to medical marijuana. He has insisted on unworkable and unconstitutional restrictions to the medical marijuana program. These restrictions have outraged patients, advocates and the entire New Jersey Legislature. The Legislature voted in December to give the governor 30 days to come up with acceptable regulations. He failed to do so. The Senate Health Committee held an open hearing on these failed regulations on Jan. 20. No member of the Christie administration showed up at the hearing. Not a single representative from the Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS), which promulgated these regulations, spoke at the hearing in support of the regulations. The testimony was overwhelmingly opposed to the regulations.

The Senate Health Committee gave the Legislature 20 days to consider the testimony and decide whether to invalidate all or part of the regulations. The proposed regulations will not produce a working medicinal marijuana program. At best, they will provide very few patients with low-quality marijuana at exorbitant cost. Only the illegal drug market will benefit from these regulations. Certainly, qualified patients will not. By invalidating most of the DHSS regulations, the Legislature could easily produce a medicinal marijuana program that allows timely access to affordable, medical-grade marijuana for qualified patients in a safe and secure manner.

Even worse than the waste of legislative time that the governor's animosity to the medical marijuana law has caused is its effect on suffering people. Jeanne M. of North Jersey wrote me to talk about her condition, reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD). Jeanne said her left leg from her knee down is "constantly swollen, burning, cold to the touch and purple in color." She often suffers from "electric shocks" in her toes that cause the excruciating sensation of being electrocuted. Jeanne is on heavy doses of morphine as well as eight other drugs. She would like to be included in New Jersey's Medicinal Marijuana Program.

Unfortunately, Jeanne's condition does not qualify in New Jersey. The Legislature gave the DHSS the ability to add qualifying conditions at any time. However, the DHSS has proposed that patients like Jeanne wait a minimum of two years to even submit a petition to try to qualify for legal marijuana therapy in the state. The petition itself would take a minimum of six additional months to be considered and may wind up being denied.

The constant pain associated with RSD is described as "a burning pain, as if a red-hot poker were inserted into the affected area."

I first heard about RSD when R.M. from South Jersey contacted me. R.M. had planned to commit suicide as a result of her RSD and the intolerable side effects of the opiates that were prescribed to treat it. The choices available to her were either to feel constant pain or to feel like a zombie from the medication. R.M. instead planned to commit medically induced suicide. As a last attempt, she wanted to try marijuana because she had read that it was effective for neurogenic pain (the "electric shock" pain that Jeanne described). Moreover, marijuana allowed patients to function normally, once they got used to the psychotropic effects -- the feeling of being "high" or euphoric.

Jeanne M. and R.M. are still years away from safe and legal access to medical marijuana in New Jersey. I was reminded of this when I heard Gov. Christie say, "Every life is precious." If that is so, why are we driving patients to early graves by denying them timely access to a safe and effective medicine--medical marijuana?

Ken Wolski, RN, MPA, is executive director of the Coalition for Medical Marijuana-New Jersey Inc. (cmmnj.org).
©2011 Times of Trenton
© 2011 NJ.com All Rights Reserved.
http://www.nj.com/opinion/times/oped/index.ssf?/base/news-1/1298875512214421.xml&coll=5


For more of the latest info on medical marijuana in New Jersey, see:

NJ Health Commissioner treats medical marijuana patient
http://www.examiner.com/norml-in-philadelphia/nj-health-commissioner-gives-conflicting-testimony-on-medical-marijuana

Charges dropped against NJ medical marijuana patient; Christie’s broken promise
http://cmmnj.blogspot.com/2011/02/charges-dropped-against-nj-medical.html

Maryland's Hearing on HB291, Public Health Medical Marijuana
http://cmmnj.blogspot.com/2011/02/marylands-hearing-on-hb291-public.html

Gov. Christie and Legislature approach deadline
http://cmmnj.blogspot.com/2011/02/gov-christie-and-legislature-approach.html

Open Letter to Gov. Christie from Justin Alpert, Esq.
http://www.facebook.com/ken.wolski/posts/101486949933335#!/notes/ken-wolski/open-letter-to-gov-christie-from-justin-alpert-esq/10150146649839808

NEW LOCATION for DHSS medical marijuana hearing Monday

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 3/4/2011
The Coalition for Medical Marijuana New Jersey CMMNJ
www.cmmnj.org

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

NOTE – New location for DHSS medical marijuana hearing

The NJ Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) has scheduled a public hearing on the proposed regulations for the state medical cannabis program.

The Coalition for Medical Marijuana New Jersey (CMMNJ) will be in attendance.

DATE: Monday, March 7, 2011

TIME: 10:00 A.M. and 12:00 P.M.

*NOTE NEW LOCATION:
New Jersey War Memorial – Delaware River Room
1 Memorial Drive
Trenton, New Jersey 08608

CMMNJ considers the current regulations to be unworkable and outside the intent of the compassionate use law.

Volunteers including New Jersey residents with serious medical conditions, physicians, policy experts and scientists are expected to participate in the hearing.

CMMNJ has a permit to hold a brief press conference at the War Memorial front steps following the hearings.

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

Charges dropped against NJ medical marijuana patient; Christie’s broken promise

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 2/28/2011
The Coalition for Medical Marijuana New Jersey (CMMNJ)
www.cmmnj.org

CONTACT: 609 394 2137, media@cmmnj.org

Charges dropped against NJ medical marijuana patient; Christie’s broken promise

Following the prosecutor’s recommendation a judge has dismissed minor marijuana possession charges against a resident waiting to register for the medical cannabis program. David Barnes has his doctor’s support in explaining to law enforcement that his cannabis use was for legitimate medical purposes. Authorities agreed to put the case on hold nearly one year ago so that Barnes could register.

But the special ID cards have not been issued because of continued delays in implementing the compassionate use law. In September 2010 Barnes attended a town hall meeting with Governor Chris Christie to try to find out when he could resolve his case.

Barnes: “I come here today to make a request of you…it’s an either/or request: either A) Require the Department of Health and Senior Services to issue the patient registry cards on October 1st or October 15th, which is the end of the delay that the Legislature gave them 3 months ago. Or barring that I’d like to see an Executive Order come out of your office barring the prosecution of people like me; when I leave my house I carry letters from my doctors attesting to the fact that I am a qualified patient under the NJ compassionate use law.”

Governor Christie’s reply: “Thank you first of all really for the cogent and respectful way you presented the issue. Um, fact is that in October I think we’re going to be ready to do what you’re talking about.”

Christie went on to explain the delays already holding up the program last fall but then added: “I said during the campaign that I favored people being able to use marijuana for a legitimate medical purpose …and that’s what I want to make sure is available…that the compassionate use is really a compassionate use. So I think you can tell the judge when you see him that you’ll have your card in October. So give us the deference we need for the statutes and you should be able to get those charges dismissed…and lastly I wish you the best in terms of your health because that’s what all this is about.”

NJN captured the entire exchange between David Barnes and Chris Christie, the video can be seen on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2k2V2HOoGbY

As of Feb 28, 2011 not a single patient has been registered for the medical marijuana program in New Jersey.

Barnes reported to the Coalition for Medical Marijuana New Jersey (CMMNJ) that his charges were dismissed last week.

“Justice was truly served by the prosecutor and the judge, who agreed that it did not serve the interests of the State or the ends of justice to continue prosecuting a qualified patient, while policy suffers delay at the hands of politics in Trenton,” he said in an email yesterday.

Allan Marain Esq. of New Brunswick, attorney for Mr. Barnes, issued this statement today.

“I lament that David had to be arrested and endure this legal nightmare. During his gubernatorial campaign Chris Christie stated that he supported medical marijuana. It was that statement of support that helped him become governor. Now, comfortably in office, he turns a deaf ear to the sick and the dying while hypocritically continuing to mouth his support.”

Maryland's Hearing on HB291, Public Health Medical Marijuana

Testimony to the Maryland Health and Government Operations Committee
In support of House Bill 291, “Public Health--Medical Marijuana”
By: Kenneth R. Wolski, RN, MPA
February 28, 2011

I am a registered nurse (RN) licensed to practice in New Jersey and Pennsylvania and I have been doing so since 1976. My professional opinion is that marijuana is a safe, effective and inexpensive therapeutic agent that should be available to any patient who can benefit from it.

Currently, I am Executive Director of the Coalition for Medical Marijuana—New Jersey. (CMMNJ). CMMNJ is a 501(c)(3) corporation. Our mission is to educate the public about the benefits of medical marijuana. I co-founded CMMNJ in 2003 with Jim Miller, whose wife, Cheryl, was an MS patient who died before she could ever legally use medical marijuana.

Accordingly, I am presenting to this committee hyperlinks to:
• A documentary that CMMNJ produced entitled, “Marijuana is Medicine.” This 26 minute film tells the story of patients and healthcare providers who are struggling with outdated drug laws. It is available in three parts. See also, Part II and Part III.
• The story of Cheryl Miller from a booklet entitled “Patients in the Crossfire” that was produced in 2004 by the California-based organization, Americans for Safe Access. This booklet tells the personal stories of patients whose lives were uprooted by the government’s refusal to acknowledge the science that supports medical marijuana.

In 2004 the American Nurses Association (ANA) adopted a Position Statement on "Providing Patients Safe Access to Marijuana/Cannabis." The ANA recognized that:
• marijuana has been used medicinally for centuries;
• patients should have safe access to therapeutic marijuana/cannabis; and,
• marijuana has been shown to be effective for a wide range of symptoms and conditions.
The ANA supports legislation to remove criminal penalties including arrest and imprisonment for bona fide patients and prescribers of therapeutic marijuana/cannabis. The ANA supports federal and state legislation to exclude marijuana/cannabis from classification as a Schedule I drug. The ANA represents 2.7 million RN's in the U.S. RN’s are the largest group of health care professionals and we are, according to Gallup polls, the most trusted profession in the nation.

I have no doubt that medical marijuana will eventually be permitted throughout the U.S. There is too much logic, common sense, compassion and science that supports it. Logic says that doctors prescribe far more dangerous and addicting drugs than marijuana every day; common sense says that this issue ought to be decided in the privacy of the doctor-patient relationship, in the best interest of the patient; compassion says that no patient should suffer needlessly; and there is a wealth of scientific evidence that supports the safety and efficacy of medical marijuana.

I have reviewed House Bill 291, Public Health--Medical Marijuana, and I would like to share with you New Jersey's experience, as the Maryland bill closely resembles the Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act that passed into law in January 2010 in the Garden State.

It has been over one year since the NJ Compassionate Use Act passed into law, and still not a single patient has yet received legal medical marijuana in this state, not a single dispensary is even close to opening, and not a single legal marijuana plant is even growing in this state.

Maryland needs to propose a bill that has at least some chance of actually getting marijuana to qualified patients. A provision for home cultivation is really the only way to guarantee this, as New Jersey's experience proves.

Home cultivation, which is legal in 13 states, guarantees desperate patients access to marijuana therapy. Nor does home cultivation create a significant risk of diversion. Medical marijuana use does not increase non-medical marijuana use, according to the government's own surveys. Home cultivation, moreover, is an important part of health care reform. It empowers patients to produce their own medicine for pennies, and safely control their painful and debilitating symptoms. It allows the patients themselves to take charge of their health issues, under medical supervision, and in a program run by the state health department.

New Jersey's original bill included a provision for home cultivation. Qualified patients who had a state-issued ID card would each be permitted to grow up to six plants. Patients who were unable to grow marijuana for themselves would be able to obtain their medicine from Alternative Treatment Centers (ATCs). These ATCs were non-profit collective gardens that would grow up to six plants for each registered patient and the patient would reimburse the ATC for the cost of producing and processing the marijuana. This version of the bill passed in the NJ Senate, and would have provided a very conservative, state-run program of guaranteed access to medical marijuana for qualified patients. Instead, the NJ Assembly removed home cultivation from the bill and changed the nature of the ATCs to a heavily-regulated quasi-pharmacy model. The NJ Department of Health and Senior Services has been trying for the past year to create regulations to enact this model and has yet to be successful. Meanwhile, patients in NJ continue to suffer needlessly. Or, they risk arrest, prosecution and incarceration (along with a host of severe civil penalties) for using a medicine that the State of New Jersey recognizes as a safe and effective treatment for the very debilitating medical condition from which they suffer.

Don't let this happen in Maryland. Since Maryland is clearly serious about providing safe and legal access to medical marijuana to desperately ill patients, it must include a provision for home cultivation. While it is laudable that Maryland's bill will reschedule marijuana in your state, no pharmacy in the country will dispense it until marijuana is rescheduled nationally, and that is years away from happening.

Thank you for your anticipated support of these important patient care issues. With your help we can ensure that no patient in Maryland suffers needlessly or gets imprisoned for following the advice of a physician. And thank you for the opportunity to address this committee.

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