Christie Opposes Import of Medical Marijuana, but Democrats Still Push Bill

Gov. Chris Christie has expressed opposition to a bill allowing New Jersey patients to bring in medical marijuana from other states, but that hasn’t stopped Democratic legislators from pressing forward with the measure. Assemblywoman Linda Stender (D-Middlesex, Somerset and Union) emphasized yesterday that the bill, A-4537/S-3108, wouldn’t expand eligibility for use of the substance, which is the grounds that Christie gave earlier this month for rejecting the bill.

Christie has said he is “done” expanding the medical marijuana program, alleging that supporters are seeking to ultimately legalize marijuana in New Jersey. As recently as September, Christie signed a measure that expanded the number of plant strains treatment centers can grow and allowed children to take an ingestible form of medical marijuana.

But he also vetoed an earlier version of the bill that would have reduced the number of doctors that must approve use of the substance by juvenile patients. And he appears unwilling to go further in shoring up a program that he opposes but has been forced to implement. Access to medical marijuana continues to be problematic nearly four years after former Gov. Jon S. Corzine signed the New Jersey Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act into law the day before Christie took office.

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