Gusciora – No Delay or Let Patients Buy Legally Now

By Susan K. Livio/Statehouse Bureau

TRENTON —Chronically ill patients who qualify under New Jersey’s new medical marijuana law should be allowed to buy the drug on their own while Gov. Chris Christie and lawmakers haggle over when the state run-program should begin, the law’s sponsor said today.

Assemblyman Reed Gusciora (D-Mercer), said Vermont, Rhode Island, Maryland and other states gave patients this freedom when they legalized marijuana for medicinal use.

“Certainly we can create this window where we allow them to obtain it on their own,” Gusciora said. “It could helps alleviate a lot of suffering.”

Gusciora suggested the idea during a Statehouse demonstration today over Christie’s request to miss the anticipated July deadline to announce rules outlining how the program will work.