Disturbing Trend in Medical Marijuana Laws

Disturbing Trend in Medical Marijuana Laws
By: T.A. Sedlak (Author of Anarcho Grow)

Yesterday, January 11th, New Jersey's legislature passed a bill to legalize medical marijuana. However, their bill is noticeably different than those already passed in thirteen other states. New Jersey is the first state to legalize marijuana for medical patients, but not allow patients to grow their own. Instead patients are forced to purchase their marijuana from government run dispensaries.

While most proponents of medical marijuana appear happy that New Jersey patients can at least legally possess their medicine, others look at the bill as a step back. The facts are that dispensaries often charge steep prices that medical patients can't afford. Many patients are already encumbered by large medical bills, and forcing them to purchase their pot from the state is a burden. They're happy that they can now possess it, but more has to be done.

New Jersey's decision doesn't appear to be a singular case either. There is currently a bill in the Wisconsin state legislature to legalize medical marijuana, and Senator Tim Carpenter (Dem) recently tacked on an amendment that would continue to make it illegal for patients to grow their own. However, there is little buzz about this within the medical marijuana community in Wisconsin. Like folks in New Jersey, many people in Wisconsin just want to get possession legalized.

Still, there should be a simultaneous movement for the legalization of possession and cultivation. Proponents should not only tell people to write their representatives supporting legalization bills, but also tell them to let their representatives know the legalization of cultivation is necessary. Otherwise, the movement is just going to switch from â??Legalize our Medicineâ?� to â??Stop Taxing our Medicine.â?� Let's try to get them both passed at once.

^ yeah, I thought the same thing when I read that yesterday about jersey, no private cultivation??? :wtf: hmmmmm. :detective1:

yes, please write to your reps in those states and explain why that is a really bad idea. Prop 215 was just the opposite, personal cultivation was, and still is, the prefered method. coops and caretakers were added protections that took root on their own some time later. good luck.

the nj law doesnt make the state run the dispensaries, it just says the state has to approve them, the NJ has a very interesting clause that was actualy amended onto it by the health committee that says after the first 6 shops open in nj as non-profits that for-profit enterprises can apply for permits.

the nj law is also the strictest in that it specifically names the medical conditions that qualify.

all of this still indicates an overall national trend towards loosening marijuana laws. the cats out of the bag, its not going back in. hell, its looking like cali is going to legalize it in November.

The NJ law is also terrible because it only covers people who are terminal.

When its sponsor declared that it was a model bill one has to wonder what he was smoking. Maybe the Gambino Family is going to get the state dispensary contract!!!! :D

^ my first thought too. :jointsmile:

scary thought that.. lol
hope the laws improve before being ratified.

~MG a.k.a. le Maine développé

i have been telling the whiners that whine about price this and it should be free and all that bs.i tell them there giving ammo to these gov pricks to come in and do this here.

I lived in new jersey for 50 years and I knew they would do it in a way to profit, it's the Jersey way. The local jails and judicial system would take a big financial hit if pot was to legal. This is not about compassion, it's about profit.

Model Bill? Friiiip. In my opinion it is a deeply flawed approach to the point of my having to be a little hard pressed to be happy for the citizens of New Jersey.

Good luck to the good people of New Jersey on this one.

Corzine signed the toughest law in the nation. :( He should have added a signing statement giving patients the right to grow their own! :D