Considering Philadelphia is right across the Delaware River from New Jersey, citizens should be aware of recently passed medical marijuana bill and the implimentations of medical marijuana being available at such a close proximity.
According to an article on NJ.com from January 12, 2010,
The bill legalizing medical marijuana, which was passed by the New Jersey Legislature today, will go into effect six months after Gov. Jon Corzine signs it, as he promised to do before he leaves office Tuesday. New Jersey will become the 14th state to legalize marijuana for medicinal purposes, and each state’s laws have their own idiosyncrasies.
Until medical marijuana becomes legal here, the state Department of Health and Senior Services will face intense lobbying from advocacy groups as it outlines a wide range of rules, such as where marijuana can be grown in the state, how much it will cost and who gets to distribute the drug.
Recently, on March 21, 2011, over a year after the bill was passed, NJ announced that dispensaries can open for business,
New Jersey officials today announced which nonprofit organizations can start growing and selling medical marijuana.
Six organizations received licenses to grow and distribute cannabis. The state's rules call for the alternative treatment centers to be set up in northern, central and southern New Jersey.
For the northern region encompassing Warren County, marijuana dispensaries are planned in Secaucus, Hudson County, and Montclair, Essex County, according to the state Department of Health and Senior Services.
For the central region that covers Hunterdon County, medical marijuana will be sold in Manalapan, Monmouth County, and New Brunswick, Middlesex County.
The southern region dispensaries will open in Bellmawr, Camden County, and a location still to be determined in Burlington or Camden County.
Besides the late start, there are many strict rules and regulations arising with the dispensaries and the government,
The state adopted a law more than a year ago allowing pot to be sold to patients with certain conditions. But implementation has been delayed as officials crafted rules spelling out how the industry would work.
Patients or caregivers will have to pay a $200 registration fee, which is valid for two years, to buy medical marijuana in New Jersey. A reduced fee of $20 would be paid by patients who qualify for certain state or federal assistance programs.
Patients will be able to buy a maximum of 2 ounces in any 30-day period.
State health officials have not pinpointed when sales would begin, only that marijuana growing and processing can begin following today's identification of alternative treatment centers.
It is very difficult to research the current news regarding medical marijuana in NJ, but hopefully dispensaries will open soon, over a year and a half after the bill was signed. Possibly, like California, you may simply need to be a resident of NJ and not a citizen to acquire a prescription. Keep a look out on the NJ fact page for medical marijuana for any updates.
Comments