No free samples: Medical cannabis at NJ municipal conference

   Medical Marijuana CMMNJ at the NJLOM

by Chris Goldstein - While attendance this year at the New Jersey League of Municipalities conference was lighter than in the past, there was one new addition that everyone was talking about: Medical cannabis. Vendors and attendees enthusiastically signed their support for legalized medical access in the Garden State at the Atlantic City Convention Center last week.

The Coalition for Medical Marijuana New Jersey (CMMNJ) proudly displayed a booth among the hundreds of exhibitors. The annual NJLOM conference attracts mayors, city council-people, government officials, city managers, public works officials, fire, police, public-safety, accountants, lawyers, doctors and records keepers. Governor Corzine and Governor-elect Christie were both there along with several former governors and current elected state officials. The NJLOM website has a message from their president stating: "Our conference continues to be the largest in the nation, with the most educational sessions, exhibits and networking opportunities for municipal attendees. Some 19,000 local officials received a full update on key issues they will face in the coming year."

There was a lot of talk about medical marijuana at the largest gathering of elected officials in the Garden State. The NJ Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act is expecting legislative action starting December 7th in the lame-duck sessions of the Assembly. Akin to wider public opinion there was little opposition among those gathered to the prospect that New Jersey could be the next state to offer safe, legal cannabis access to residents with qualifying medical conditions.

               Peter at the CMMNJ booth

Peter Rosenfeld volunteered at the CMMNJ booth and submitted testimony in favor of the bill to the legislature. He noted, “Most of these people, who were initially against the idea, when they understood what it was, changed their minds and said they would support the program.”

Many seemed familiar with news and documentaries on California’s current medical cannabis market, but there was some education needed to understand that patients in New Jersey would need to apply to the state Department of Health and Senior Services. Only after being approved into the proposed program by DHSS could a patient receive a registry card and then access the medical marijuana centers. The written recommendation from a doctor is needed for California, but not a state registry card.  The program proposed for New Jersey would be the most restrictive in the nation.

   Hungry looks at brand new trucks

CMMNJ volunteers handed out Emerging Clinical Applications for Cannabis and Cannabinoids booklets, copies of S119/A804, and explained some of the changes that municipalities might see with an active state cannabis program. Many of the attendees seemed to have known a family member or friend who already utilized cannabis therapy at some point over the years. Scores of those who stopped by the booth supported the concept and mentioned that they thought cannabis could help a family member who was currently experiencing cancer treatment or another condition.

Attendees on Wednesday and Thursday seemed to have current knowledge of the recent Department of Justice memo, the American Medical Association report, and recent newspaper items on the topic.

Among the exhibitors were all the major telecommunications companies, cable tv providers, hospital networks and businesses seeking state or municipal contract dollars. There were companies that made everything from hydraulic controls to landmark sculpture pieces. There were snowplows, landscaping equipment, trash trucks, ambulances and police cars all for eager sale. But in a down economy, there isn’t much money flowing. Vendors of big ticket items grumbled loudly in the cigarette smoking areas about the lackluster attendance and missing budget funds this year for their products.

The Newark Star-Ledger noted the mood:

While legislators at the state level have been concerned with same-sex marriage and medical marijuana bills, local officials have been fretting over such unglamorous but essential issues as stormwater management, binding arbitration and municipal aid.  READ FULL

The municipal officials may have been fretting around the convention center, but they were also asking questions about medical marijuana in droves.

CMMNJ handed out every single flyer, booklet, bracelet and refrigerator magnet with medical marijuana information that was brought to the show. Over 200 of the NJLOM attendees signed the support list and most asked to be put on our CMMNJ email list.

The response by the attendees to the cannabis information display was warm and curious: Remember these were mainly municipal elected officials – including police and prosecutors. Frankly, most of the interactions found attendees decidedly positive to the issue.

Dozens of the fellow booth exhibitors at the conference seemed to make their way over to the CMMNJ table as well.  One of the technology vendors on the isle mentioned to a volunteer as the booths were packed up on the last afternoon, "This year, you guys were the hit of the show."

While the CMMNJ booth did seem to be popular in comparison to other exhibits there was one disappointment for those who stopped by: Two out of three asked, “Are there free samples?” 

While most were joking, there was a moment of hopeful sincerity in the eyes of many who posed that question.

Perhaps discussing the benefits of medical marijuana quelled just a little of the overall fretting. Knowing that a medical marijuana program could exist to aid anyone dealing with a serious medical condition, such as cancer, seemed to be a great comfort to many. Even if there were no free samples.

More information about medical marijuana:

NJ -  www.cmmnj.org and www.normlnj.org 

PA- www.pa4mmj.org and www.phillynorml.org

* All photos by Chris Goldstein and Ken Wolski