The New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) released new information this week regarding the applications to grow and distribute legal medical marijuana. Under the compassionate use law passed last year at least six Alternative Treatment Center (ATC) sites must be established.
Advocacy groups and potential business owners have been pressing DHSS to clarify several points about the ATC application process. The updates seem to address some of the concerns.
Here’s the new DHSS section: Frequently Asked Questions -- Alternative Treatment Center Applicants
DHSS also updated the RFA document describing what the potential medical cannabis cultivators must submit. Applications must be filed by 2/14/2010 with a $20,000 fee payment.
Link to pdf document : February 3, 2011 – Proposed New Rules for the Medicinal Marijuana Program
DHSS has not yet addressed the current legislative challenge that may invalidate all or part of the proposed regulations for the Medicinal Marijuana Program.
If the legislature throws out the regulatory language relating to the requirements for ATCs, parts of the posted RFA could be inapplicable.
A newly formed, medical marijuana trade association for New Jersey, ASAP-NJ, stated that legal options are being explored.
NJ DHSS Medicinal Marijuana Program website: http://www.state.nj.us/health/med_marijuana.shtml
More about medical marijuana in New Jersey www.cmmnj.org
Comments
"Responses to the RFAs are due February 14 but will not be published in the New Jersey Register until February 22. How do you resolve those dates? A: In order to expedite the program, the RFA was issued prior to the regulations being published in the New Jersey Register. Responses to the RFA are due February 14, 2011."
In other words, get a time machine? Isn't this illegal? Perhaps the DHSS figured everyone would be "too stoned" to notice?
The DHSS did not just "clarify" some of the requirements - they changed some of them, such as the makeup of the medical oversight board. It is incredible that they are changing requirements 10 days before the applications are due. It's almost as if they are trying to make it impossible for anyone to meet the requirements, except perhaps some group they have already decided to award the ATCs to.
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