Trenton - The final votes have been officially scheduled for The New Jersey Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act S119/A804 on January 11, 2010. The Legislative Calendar can be found here.
The NJ Assembly Health Committee passed the bill in June 2009 with new restrictions compared to the version that had already passed the state Senate. The sponsors of the bill along with the Majority Offices of both Houses have been working since the summer to craft compromise language. If the now common version of the bill passes votes in the Assembly and the Senate next week it will go to Governor Corzine’s desk for signature. The outgoing Democrat has repeatedly stated that he will sign the bill into law.
Politicians in New Jersey have expressed strong and even outspoken support for medical marijuana access in 2009. Although retiring, Assembly Speaker Joe Roberts (D-Camden) has supported the bill and has now fulfilled his pledge to post it for a vote. State Senators Scutari and Lesniak, both sponsors of the bill, appealed for an Executive Pardon of MS patient John Wilson for his cultivation of 17 cannabis plants to treat his disease.
Advocates and supporters including The Coalition for Medical Marijuana New Jersey (CMMNJ), the Drug Policy Alliance- NJ and NORML-NJ are asking residents to contact their legislators during this final and critical phase of the legislation. CMMNJ's Executive Director Ken Wolski RN said today "We are cautiously optimistic that a medical marijuana law will soon be in place here in New Jersey to protect patients while they are using this physician-recommended therapy."
CMMNJ and NORML-NJ use CAPWIZ for email and phone contacts
DPA-NJ also has an easy to use contact page here
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