Full Senate To Consider Fy09 Revenue Offset, ‘One Handgun A Month,’ Medical Marijuana And ‘Vote By Mail’ Bills Monday

TRENTON – Calling the prosecution of a self-medicating Somerset County man with multiple sclerosis (MS) a “severe, inappropriate, discompassionate and inhumane application of the letter of the law,” Senators Nicholas P. Scutari and Raymond J. Lesniak today urged Governor Jon Corzine to pardon Franklin Township resident John Ray Wilson, and called on the Assembly to quickly move legislation to decriminalize the medicinal use of marijuana by New Jerseyans with chronic and terminal illnesses.

“It seems cruel and unusual to treat New Jersey’s sick and dying as if they were drug cartel kingpins. Moreover, it is a complete waste of taxpayer money having to house and treat an MS patient in a jail at the public’s expense,” said Senator Scutari, D-Union, Middlesex and Somerset. “Specifically, in the case of John Ray Wilson, the State is taking a fiscally irresponsible hard-line approach against a man who’s simply seeking what little relief could be found from the debilitating effects of multiple sclerosis. Governor Corzine should step in immediately and end this perversion of criminal drug statutes in the Garden State.”

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senators Nicholas P. Scutari and Jim Whelan to legalize medical marijuana for those suffering from chronic and terminal diseases was approved by the Assembly today by a vote of 48-14, and received final legislative approval in the State Senate later in the day by a vote of 25-13.

“This bill recognizes that compassion for the sick and dying and adherence to our nation’s war on illegal drugs are not mutually exclusive ideals,” said Senator Scutari, D-Union, Middlesex and Somerset. “There is a difference between providing some small measure of comfort for New Jerseyans suffering from chronic and debilitating illnesses, and turning a blind eye to illegal drug abuse. The ‘New Jersey Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act’ creates an avenue of relief for individuals with nowhere else to turn, while maintaining our State’s tough stance on recreational drug abuse.”

TRENTON – Senator Nicholas P. Scutari (D-Union) today introduced a measure challenging the Christie Administration’s proposed rules for implementing the state’s medical marijuana law, saying they run far afoul of the law’s intent.

“The Administration has essentially rewritten the law, making the regulations so constrictive that it would be virtually impossible for eligible patients to access medical marijuana,” said Senator Scutari, prime sponsor of the ‘New Jersey Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act.’ “As written, the rules run far afoul of the Legislature’s intent – this won’t stand. I urge the Administration to go back to the drawing board to write regulations that actually comply with the law.”

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senators Nicholas P. Scutari and Jim Whelan to create an avenue of legality for medical marijuana for those suffering from chronic and terminal diseases was approved by the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee today by a vote of 6-1, with 2 abstentions.

“It is the definition of basic human decency that we do whatever we can to ease the pain and suffering of people living with severe chronic and terminal diseases,” said Senator Scutari, D-Union, Middlesex and Somerset. “When all other avenues of currently-approved pain relief have been exhausted, we need to give doctors the freedom to prescribe medical marijuana to give their patients a measure of comfort and dignity in the face of their debilitating diseases. This bill is about the most humane, compassionate option for those State residents who have nowhere else to turn in managing their illnesses.”

TRENTON – A measure sponsored by Senators Nicholas P. Scutari (D-Union) and Jim Whelan (D-Atlantic) challenging the Christie Administration’s proposed rules for implementing the state’s medical marijuana law received final approval today in the Senate, starting the 30-day clock for the administration to amend the regulations.

The resolution (SCR-130/ACR-151) is part of a legislative process that would invalidate the Department of Health and Senior Services’ regulations as proposed and, ultimately, require the administration to rewrite the rules to bring them in line with the Legislature’s intent in creating the “New Jersey Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act.” Passage of the measure comes after the Governor’s announcement that he had reached a “compromise” with the Assembly on the regulations, and said he would relent on two points. The Senate sponsors, however, believe the regulations must still be revised.

“Despite a so-called compromise, I believe key areas of the regulations still would not comply with the intent of the law and would make it much too difficult for eligible patients to access relief through marijuana,” said Senator Scutari, prime sponsor of the medical marijuana law. “This measure gives the administration an opportunity to revise the rules and resubmit them to the Legislature for review, so that we can ensure the program is implemented in the way we intended.”

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senators Nicholas P. Scutari and Jim Whelan to create an avenue of legality for medical marijuana for those suffering from chronic and terminal diseases was approved by the Senate today by a vote of 22-16.

“If medical marijuana can ease some of the suffering of a patient who’s dying from a chronic, severe or terminal disease, state government should not stand in the way of that relief,” said Senator Scutari (D-Union, Middlesex and Somerset). “This bill is about giving health care professionals options in treating their patients’ pain and suffering, and giving those patients a measure of dignity and comfort in facing a terminal disease. While we should rightfully maintain a tough stance on the recreational abuse of drugs, we must take a compassionate and humane approach to bringing relief to those patients who have nowhere else to turn.”

“A number of healthcare studies have highlighted the benefits of marijuana use in treating severe and potentially fatal diseases, and the side effects associated with the treatment of those diseases,” said Senator Whelan, D-Atlantic, and a member of the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee. “If this drug can bring relief where established methods of pain management have failed, we need to give doctors in this State the authority to prescribe it. We’re not talking about the legalization of pot, but rather about giving suffering New Jerseyans a small bit of comfort in what could be their final days.”

TRENTON – Senator Nicholas P. Scutari (D-Union) today introduced a measure urging Governor Christie to support and advocate for federal legislation that would provide legal protection to patients who use medical marijuana in compliance with state laws.

The Senator’s bill would express the Legislature’s support and urge the Governor to support and advocate for H.R. 2835, known as the “Medical Marijuana Patient Protection Act.” In states with legalized medical marijuana, H.R. 2835 would protect patients, prescribing doctors, distributors and anyone authorized to obtain, possess or distribute marijuana on behalf of a patient against arrest and prosecution by federal authorities.

TRENTON – A measure sponsored by Senator Nicholas P. Scutari (D-Union) challenging the Christie Administration’s proposed rules for implementing the state’s medical marijuana law was approved today by committees in the Senate and Assembly, setting it up for a vote by the full Legislature.

The bill (SCR-130/ACR-151) is the first step in a legislative process that would invalidate the regulations as proposed and, ultimately, require the administration rewrite them to bring them in line with the Legislature’s intent in creating the ‘New Jersey Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act.’

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senators Nicholas P. Scutari and Jim Whelan to legalize medical marijuana for those suffering from chronic and terminal diseases was approved by the Assembly Health and Senior Services Committee today by a vote of 8-1, with 2 abstentions.

“Through this bill, New Jersey is sending a message that compassion for the sick and dying is of paramount importance,” said Senator Scutari, D-Union, Middlesex and Somerset. “For those people suffering from chronic and terminal illnesses, who live in constant pain or are at death’s door, we must provide access to medical marijuana if it will help relieve their symptoms or give them a measure of comfort in their final hours. New Jersey gains no benefit from going after sick and dying people, who have run out of options and are otherwise law-abiding citizens.”