Freedom Is Green

Image from PhillyNORML

This week advocacy organizations are holding events in dozens of communities calling for an end to the Drug War. President Nixon declared the failed effort 40 years ago – June 17, 1971.

More than 800,000 Americans are arrested each year for marijuana violations, more than for all other drugs combined.

From information workshops with activists to somber candle-light vigils for victims this is a poignant moment to take action. Below is a listing of events on the east coast – if we missed any please email [email protected] and we’ll be sure to add it here!

Drug Policy Alliance – Newseum Press Conference and Lunch
June 16, 2011 at 12:30PM-1:30PM
The Newseum, Knight Studio A, 555 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W.
Ethan Nadelmann, executive director, DPA
Jared Polis, Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Colorado’s 2nd district
Peter Shumlin, Governor of Vermont
Sonja Sohn, actress from acclaimed HBO Series “The Wire”
Maxine Waters, Member of U.S. House of Representatives from California’s 35th district
http://nomoredrugwar.org/content/40th-anniversary-press-conference-and-lunch

New Hampshire Teapot Party
Vigil for victims of the War on Drugs
Friday, June 17 · 8:00pm – 11:00pm
Sidewalk in front of the Statehouse 107 N. Main Street Concord, NH
https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=225768200785782

New Jersey Marijuana Reform Groups
No More Drug War
June 17, 2011 at 12:00 pm – 1:00 PM
State House front steps, Trenton, New Jersey
https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=234598436557501

Direct Action for Rights and Equality
Block Party
The intersection of Lockwood & Hayward Streets Providence, RI
http://www.daretowin.org/

HempCT (Here Ends Marijuana Prohibition- CT)
End the Drug War
June 18, 2011 at 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Bushnell Park Pavilion- Hartford
http://www.hempct.org/

PhillyNORML
No More Drug War
June 17, 2011 at 8:00PM to 9:00PM
Independence Mall – 5th Street and Arch Street Philadelphia, PA
www.phillynorml.org

Project South and The Ordinary Peoples Society (TOPS)
No More Drug War
June 17, 2011 at 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
Department of Justice 702 Spring St. Atlanta, GA 30308
http://nomoredrugwar.org/content/war-drugs-war-families-rally-40th-year-anniversary-war-drugs

Women On The Rise Telling HerStory-WORTH
Round table discussion and Vigil
June 17, 2011 at 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
163 W. 125th Street, between 7th and Lenox
New York, NY 10027
http://nomoredrugwar.org/content/roundtable-discussion-and-vigil

Institute of the Black World 21st Century’s Black Family Summit
Forum on the War on Drugs
National Press Club: 529 14th Street Northwest
Washington, D.C.
Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr., Congressmen John Conyers Jr. and Bobby Scott.
Institute of the Black World
http://www.ibw21.org/

George Washington School of Law
June 17, 2011 at 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Lafayette Park 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest, Washington D.C
Facebook Event Page
SSDP National Media Contact: Stacia Cosner 410-299-3433
On-site Media Contact: Irina Alexander [email protected] 410-971-6588

West Chester University Students for Sensible Drug Policy
June 17, 2011 at 4:30 PM – 7:30 PM
High and Market Street, 2 North High Street West Chester, PA 19380
Facebook Event Page
On-site Media Contact: Joshua Merer 908-358-6026 [email protected] or Trevor Hosterman 610-812-2235 [email protected]

West Virginia UniversityJune 17, 2011 at 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM
De Lazy Lizard: 345 High Street Morgantown, WV
Facebook Event Page
On-site Media Contact: Tom Wytiaz  [email protected] 304-203-3842
SSDP National Media Contact: Stacia Cosner [email protected] 410-299-3433

Florida State UniversityJune 17, 2011 at 7:30 PM
Lake Ella, Tallahassee
Facebook Event Page
On-site Media Contact: Cody Swingle [email protected] 814-454-9359 or Mallory Wharton [email protected] 850-766-4191

University of Miami
June 17, 2011 at 8:00 PM
Miami Beach Police Station
1100 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach, FL 33139
Facebook Event Page
On-site Media Contact: Alfred Kilzi [email protected] 3054981616 or Sabrina Koramblyum [email protected] 917-753-5620

University of Rhode IslandJune 17, 2011 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM
India St. Providence RI 02903
Facebook Event Page
On-site Media Contact: Kristin Purvis [email protected] 401-714-6458
SSDP National Media Contact: Stacia Cosner [email protected] 410-299-3433

Columbia University
June 17, 2011 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Columbia U. Sidewalk – 116th Street and Broadway New York NY 10027
Facebook Event Page
On-site Media Contact: Katharine Celentano, [email protected], 914 420 2525

More events at:

http://ssdp.org/events/40years/list

http://nomoredrugwar.org/take-action#events

http://www.meetup.com/teapotparty

This is in response to Radical Russ Belville’s latest piece entitled “Is it NORML to be Sexist?”

Mr. Belville takes on a common issue regarding women’s roles in the marijuana movement, addressing the scantily clad babes often seen at pot trade magazines and expos and how they could be ultimately hurting “the cause.” He also notes the disproportionate amount of men in relation to women throughout said cause, as well as being smokers.

“Those who have tried pot in their lifetime are 54% male; by the time you get to the daily tokers like me, it’s 68%.  That’s two tokers for every tokette!  (Hmm, is “tokette” sexist?)”

No, tokette is obviously not sexist. But way to diminish terms that genuinely are! Sexism tends to be the one “ism” that can be joked about freely (and kind of lamely, in this case). Had you made a similar remark re: African American people (Hmmm…is “darkette” racist?), it wouldn’t have been construed as remotely funny. But alas, by simply critiquing a joke, I must be utterly lacking in a sense of humor. (It’s one of the age-old techniques to shut up a feminist: “Your dour, humorless wench, you. Can’t you take a joke?” Yes, but as a rule, I prefer my jokes the way I prefer my men: funny.)

“On one side you have free speech and sexual expression advocates explaining that sex sells! The marijuana industry is no different in that respect than the fast food, car, and beer manufacturers.”

No, Mr. Belville, marketers say that sex sells, not sexual expression advocates (whoever the heck they are and can I join their club?). Your implication is that scantily clad women selling goods is a form of sexual expression, which it obviously isn’t; it’s just good old-fashioned objectification.

Or do we flaunt our freedom to communicate any message we like, risking it may harm recruiting efforts and public opinion for legalization?  Bottom line (if you’ll pardon the pun): are the extra dollars from advertising marijuana with babes in booty shorts worth impeding the legalization of marijuana?

Ah, priorities. Sure, the exploitation of women may impede a movement, but (and this is a tiny but…oops! Pardon the pun!), it may also oppress half of the population in a broad range of far-reaching and insidious ways. My takeaway? You’re not so concerned with women being squelched by this type of exploitation, because it doesn’t affect you directly. You do care if it affects the legalization of marijuana.

Mr. Belville goes on to question:

Does our outlaw counterculture and male/female imbalance just shelter us from recognizing the sexism that the mainstream’s been addressing and correcting over the past three decades, or does it actively foster an environment of sexism?

First of all, the imbalance of women to men pot smokers isn’t that substantial. Look at your numbers again. There are a lot of women smoking weed. It’s not a man’s sport. Obviously, women are shutting up for the same reasons they always shut up: fear of repercussion, not lack of agreement.

And do tell me what happened three decades ago. I had no clue that the mainstream has been “addressing and correcting” sexism since 1981. I so didn’t get that memo. Open up a magazine, turn on your television, listen to your radio, walk down your street. Sexism is alive and well and raping and exploiting in 2011. Using hot chicks to sell stuff is hardly counterculture; it’s simply more of the same. It’s very…frat. And you’re right; it does diminish a message.

I get what you were going after and do appreciate your underlying points. You’re taking the baby steps required to truly understand the objectification and unheard voices of women. And you nailed the head (is that an “excuse the pun” too? Head? Get it?) on many levels.

But as a woman, I have to walk this walk. I have to look good and sell beer. I have to speak out, and then shut up. And I have to get the joke. Even when it’s not funny.

My Kind of Hot Chick Smoking Weed!

Beth Mann is a popular blogger and writer for Open Salon and Salon. She is also an accomplished artist with over 15 years of experience, as well as the president of Hot Buttered Media. She currently resides at the Jersey shore where she can be found surfing or singing karaoke at a local dive bar.

Contact: maryjane {at } freedomisgreen.com

Photo: Chris Goldstein

The New Jersey Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Services Committee will hold a public hearing on January 20, 2011 to discuss two medical marijuana resolutions SCR 130 and SCR 140. The hearings begin at 12noon in Committee Room #1 at the State House Annex.This is an important part of an ongoing legislative process to re-write regulations proposed by the Christie Administration for the medical marijuana program.Potentially qualifying NJ residents and local medical cannabis advocates found that the draft rules introduce so many new, severe restrictions that they do not follow the intent of the law.Last month the NJ Legislature agreed with that assessment. After hearing testimony before several committees the Assembly and Senate voted forward a set of resolutions introduced by Senator Nicolas Scutari. These resolutions would invalidate the rules and possibly set about re-writing them.The resolution process mandated that a public hearing be called on the issue. The transcript will be placed on the desks of all the legislators for twenty days as elected officials consider the next move. The Senate committee hearings this week will generate that key transcript.The New Jersey Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act was signed exactly one year ago today by then-governor Jon Corzine.Described as the most restrictive medical marijuana law in the nation, it was the first of its kind to remove provisions for home cultivation and allows registered patients just two ounces of raw plant material per month.New Jersey’s new governor Chris Christie has put up a series of barriers to the law’s implementation. So far qualifying patients have no ability to register with the state and no cannabis is being cultivated for them.Senator Nicholas Scutari (D-Union), who is the lead sponsor of the medical marijuana law released the following statement last week:“A year after passage of our medical marijuana law, patients with chronic and terminal illnesses are still awaiting relief. While I believe it is critical to get this program off the ground, implementing it within the guidelines of existing regulations will render it useless.To that end, I am committed to moving forward with overturning unworkable regulations put forward by the administration to ensure that sick and dying patients get relief. However, I am still hopeful that we will not need to see this process through.I have pledged to work with the governor on a medical marijuana program that follows the legislative intent of the law, and fulfills our promise to provide compassionate care to patients who need it the most. I remain hopeful that we will reach a true compromise.”Advocates expect that dozens of potentially qualifying patients will testify at the hearings this week.More info about NJ medical marijuana – www.cmmnj.org

6/8/2011 – There are nine state-approved medical cannabis facilities prepared to open on the east coast. They have veritable dream-teams of expert staffers and some have tens of millions of dollars ready to invest. But Rhode Island Gov. Lincoln Chafee and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie are holding them back.

The six in NJ and three in RI have already been approved by state authorities after a tough bidding process. On paper, they are the most heavily regulated and carefully vetted marijuana centers in the country.  But a perceived threat of federal law has given pause to the two governors.

“We received what I consider to be a clear communication that the current compassion center program would be a violation of federal law,” said Claire Richards Chief Legal Officer for RI Gov. Chaffee.

Richards is referring to a letter from US Attorney Peter Neronha that was hand-delivered in April.  Days later, Chafee announced a hold on issuing the Certificates of Registration to the dispensaries.

New Jersey has received no communication from any federal official about medical marijuana. Not to be left out, NJ Attorney General Paula Dow has sent two letters requesting clarification from the Department of Justice on April 22nd and May 23rd. But there has been no reply.

Governor Christie and his policy office have stated that NJ will not move forward until a federal clarification has been issued. New Jersey has no provisions for home cultivation by patients; they are forced into the central system of Alternative Treatment Centers. So far, not a single patient has been registered.

Freedomisgreen.com spoke via telephone with potential facility operators in RI and NJ.  Neither would go on record with details but both expressed frustration at the current situation. Each took time to re-affirm their commitment to endure the process and eventually go into operation.

Rhode Island Rep. Scott Slater took several local patients to meet with Governor Chafee on June2nd – the same day US attorney General Eric Holder was in Providence for an unrelated visit.  Holder was cornered by the media who were asking nothing but cannabis questions. The Providence Journal reported Holder’s seemingly off-the-cuff statement:

“We are in the process of working these issues with the U.S. attorney for Rhode Island and other U.S. attorneys across the country,” he said.”My hope is that something in the not too distant future …. will be addressed.” read full

The quote sent hopeful waves through the medical cannabis community around the country. But was it enough to lift the hold on RI dispensaries? Nope.

“We were heartened to hear it,” said Claire Richards at Gov. Chaffee’s office. “Right now we are still waiting to see what he will say.”

The Garden State also seems content to wait for the federal Godot.  Messages left today at the press office for the NJ Department of Health and Senior Services inquiring about the status of the program went unanswered. Presumably the NJ hold also remains in effect.

It remains unclear as to why the two states are waiting for a federal blessing to proceed. The compassionate use measures were debated for several years in their respective legislatures. Elected officials were fully aware of the inherent conflict with federal policy when they passed the laws. But it may take unprecedented tolerance from the USDOJ in order to get these nine medical cannabis centers off of paper and into practice.

Chris Goldstein is a respected marijuana reform advocate. As a writer and radio broadcaster he has been covering cannabis news for over a decade. Questions?  [email protected]

October 15, 2012 – The NJ Department of Health (DOH) announced today that final permits were in place for the first medical marijuana dispensary: Greenleaf Compassion Center in Montclair, NJ. These are called “Alternative Treatment Centers (ATCs)” under the severely restrictive regulations.

Greenleaf ATC effectively enjoys a monopoly on all of the legal cannabis cultivation and distribution in a state of almost 9 million residents.  One of the five ATCs is just getting started in Egg Harbor Township while the other four are not even close to opening. More than a year after gaining the initial contract three of the NJ marijuana ATCs have not even secured a location.

NJ DOH reports that about 190 patients have completed the registration process. The unique restrictions in New Jersey prevents DOH from sending out ID cards directly to the patients. Instead, all of the NJ medical marijuana ID cards will be shipped to Greenleaf Compassion Center for the patients to pick up, in person. CORRECTION – Update 10/19/12 – Some patients have received ID cards via UPS. We are waiting for more information from NJ DOH.

No announcement has been made yet from the management at Greenleaf as to when they actually plan to open their doors. In media appearances this summer Greenleaf reported that they were already growing cannabis at an undisclosed NJ location.

When Greenleaf won one of the six ATC contracts, freedomisgreen.com pointed out that they were very well connected. Former Montclair Mayor Jerry Freed personally went to bat for their application. NJ Assemblyman Thomas Giblin (Deputy Majority Leader for the Democrats) sits on their medical board.

New Jersey’s medical marijuana program is the most limited in the country.  It is the only state that requires physicians to join a special list to recommend cannabis. So far only 175 doctors are available in the program, most in northern NJ.

NJ ATCs can only provide patients with two ounces of marijuana per month. ATCs can only grow three strains of cannabis at a time; all must have less than 10% THC potency. The only forms of cannabis an ATC can sell patients are: raw plant material, lozenges and a topical cream.

New Jersey’s harsh regulations mean that the vast majority of qualifying residents will likely remain in the underground cannabis market. Without obtaining one of the extremely difficult to obtain ID cards, these seriously ill residents will be left without legal protections if they are caught by police.

Chris Goldstein is a respected marijuana reform advocate. As a writer and radio broadcaster he has been covering cannabis news for over a decade. Questions?  [email protected]

NJ Gov Christie denies stalling but admits rewriting medical marijuana law

Executives from the mainstream pharmaceutical industry, savvy cannabis experts who already run a facility in Montana and a powerful political figure are the people behind Compassionate Sciences Inc. They are one of the first six non-profit businesses who will operate a medical marijuana center in New Jersey. Like most of the other approved facilities they plan intense investments into the research side of their business.

The application states: “Our mission at Compassionate Sciences is to establish a facility and product that meets a pharma-standard of palliative care.” But the details of their operation to achieve those goals were not released.

The group had the most heavily redacted application for the medical cannabis Alternative Treatment Centers. The NJ Department of Health and Senior Services released over 130 of the 184 pages blank. Missing were financial details and information on the physical location of the site. While the rest of the facilities give a specific address or at least a town, Compassionate Sciences Inc. just lists Burlington or Camden Counties as their targeted areas to build.

What DHSS did release were the resume-style biographies for the key players. So let’s meet some of the first people who will be able to legally grow, sell and research marijuana in the Garden State.

Compassionate Sciences ATC Senior Management Team

Richard Taney, Chief Executive Officer.
Mr. Taney is a chief executive with extensive experience in health care, medical technology and financial services. Mr.Taney assumed leadership of Compassionate Sciences after serving as CEO of Delcath Systems, Inc., (NASDAQ: DCTH), a medical technology company that developed a patented system for the targeted delivery of ultra-high dose chemotherapy to the liver for treatment of a variety of cancers. Under his leadership, Delcath Systems achieved widespread adoption by doctors and hospitals. Mr. Taney is also a Trustee of the Compassionate Sciences ATC.

Jack Burkholder, Chief Financial Officer.
Mr. Burkholder is a consultant with more than 30 years of experience in international investment banking, corporate finance and real estate development. He has an expertise in managing complex projects involving close cooperation with governments at all levels and has served extensively in the public trust as a court-appointed receiver. Mr. Burkholder is active in his community as a member of the Real Estate Roundtable and the audit committee of his local school district. He graduated with a BS in Agriculture from Cornell University. Mr. Burkholder is also a Trustee of the Compassionate Sciences ATC.

Michael Nelson, Chief Operating Officer.
Mr. Nelson is the founder of a highly successful international outfitting business who is also the owner and operator of one of the largest and most respected ATC’s in Montana. As a grower-operator over the last six years, he has developed experience in the building of ATCs, systems design,ATC employee orientation and training and management. Mr. Nelson’s cultivation center and multiple-location dispensaries have set a standard of excellence in serving qualified patients throughout the Central and Western regions of the State. Mr.Nelson brings to his work a background in sales, management, distribution and marketing of school products to universities and high schools across the American Northwest. He is active in the Bozeman area business community and as a volunteer in a sports program for the disabled. Mr. Nelson earned a BS in Business from the University of Colorado.

Nicole Wagner, Master Grower.
Ms.Wagner is an accomplished government and academic analyst and researcher in the fields of sustainable agriculture, ecology, agronomy, statistics, engineering and economics. With an expertise in global and domestic agricultural policy, she has served as an international economist and crop assessment analyst at the U.S. Department of Agriculture as well as a researcher at Montana State University. Ms. Wagner has published numerous research studies and has a deep understanding of diversified agricultural systems including organic vegetable and dairy production, conventional corn, soybean, and small grains production. She is also a director of the non-profit Community Food Alliance and works with Field Day Farms, a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farm that supports 30 families. Ms. Wagner earned her PhD. in Land Resources and Environmental Sciences from Montana State University and attended the University of Minnesota where she earned her Masters and BA in Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering. She developed her expertise as head grower at the Mr. Nelson’s medical Cannabis facility in Montana.

Andrei Bogolubov, EVP of External Affairs.
Mr. Bogolubov is a communications professional who has served government, major multinationals, regional and emerging growth companies in a wide range of industries around the world. His expertise is in public affairs, business development and community outreach. Mr.Bogolubov’s healthcare, medical and pharmaceutical clients have included American Home Products, Bristol Myers Squibb, Columbia Presbyterian Hospital, Medical Excellence, The Michael J. Fox Foundation, Pfizer, Pharmacia & Upjohn and Value Options. He also has served in government as Assistant to the Secretary for Public Affairs at the US Department of the Interior where he was also the Department’s public affairs liaison to the White House. Mr. Bogolubov developed his expertise in community relations as Director of Policy & Communications at a major national grassroots citizens lobby. Mr. Bogolubov began his public sector career on the committee staff of the Connecticut State Legislature and later served as an aide to a US Congressman.

Noel Palmer, Chemist (consultant).
Dr Noel Palmer is a respected chemist with an expertise in plant and soil chemistry. He is skilled in chromatographic and spectroscopy methods, specializing in the detection of heavy metals, pesticides, and herbicides in both soil and plant matter. He received his doctorate in analytical and soil chemistry from the University of Idaho. The focus of Dr. Palmer’s work was applying various analytical methods to look at soil systems and humic materials and their interactions with various inorganic compounds. Earlier, he managed a soil research lab at the University of Idaho. Dr. Palmer brought his skill in performing chromatographic separations to the analysis and study of Cannabis chemistry. He is a member of the board of the Alliance for Cannabis Science, an international community of Cannabis scientists. Dr Palmer is also the lab manager for Montana Botanical Analysis, a research lab in Montana focused on the study of Cannabis chemistry. His research has been published in more than 10 peer-reviewed scientific papers.

Compassionate Sciences Trustees

Webster B. Todd, Jr.
Mr. Todd brings to Compassionate Sciences experience, judgment and insight he developed over the course of a distinguished career in government, politics and commercial aviation. As a public servant, he was a member of the White House staff and the New Jersey General Assembly as well as a State Department official and the Chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board. Among his private sector achievements, Mr. Todd was the founder of Princeton Aviation Corp, Senior Director of Air Safety at the Airline Pilots Association and President of Frontier Airlines. Throughout his career, Mr. Todd has been active in the community including service as a Director of the New Jersey Commerce and Economic Growth Commission, a member of the Tewksbury Township Agricultural Advisory Board and as a New Jersey firefighter.

Dr. Steven Patierno.
Dr. Patierno is a leader in the science and medicine of cancer who is Executive Director of the George Washington University Cancer Institute. He also serves as Vivian Gill Distinguished Professor of Oncology, GW School of Medicine; Professor of Pharmacology & Physiology, Genetics & Urology, The GW School of Public Health & Health Services; Health Sciences Professor of Environmental & Occupational Health; and Founding Director of the Molecular &Cellular Oncology Program. Dr. Patierno has over two decades of experience managing over $30 million of grants including large, complex biomedical research grants (both laboratory and population sciences), as well as community-based grants in cancer disparities, prevention and control, education and outreach, and survivorship. Dr. Patierno is also an accomplished teacher who was been the recipient of the GW Medical Student’s Golden Apple Award. He is the principal mentor to 20 Ph.D. graduate students and Program Director to over 50 graduate students as well as 20postdoctoral fellows, medical residents and undergraduate trainees. Dr. Patierno earned his PhD in pharmacology at the Graduate School of Biomedical Science at University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston and the MD Anderson Cancer Institute where he was awarded the prestigious Rosalie B. Hite Graduate Fellowship in Cancer Research for his work on the genetics of cancer causation.

All six of the approved ATC applications, redacted by NJ DHSS, have been posted online here for public review:  http://www.scribd.com/NJcannabisDocs

John Wilson (left) and Jim Miller in New Jersey

1/26/2012 – Living with multiple sclerosis has never been easy for John Ray Wilson. It will get even tougher tomorrow when he goes to jail. Like thousands of MS patients around the country John found that marijuana helped relieve his condition. But without healthcare and unable to afford medical quality cannabis on the streets Wilson grew seventeen marijuana plants behind his Franklin Township home in 2008.

Every resource in the State of New Jersey has been thrown at John from helicopters to aggressive prosecutors. This week the NJ Supreme Court refused to hear his final appeal. So at 8:30AM on 1/27  John will surrender himself at the Somerset County Courthouse to serve the remainder of his 5-year prison sentence.

This afternoon John was at home with his family, putting his affairs in order and preparing for a dinner out with friends. He was convicted just before the New Jersey medical marijuana law was passed in 2010.

“I’ve almost given up hope. I mean it’s been 2 years and there’s no patients even registered yet,” Wilson lamented.

The medical marijuana program, administered by the Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS), has struggled under heavy regulations.

“When I do finally get out,” Wilson asks, allowing only the smallest hope in his voice, “can I have my medicine?”

Not only is the NJ marijuana program still on paper but those in prison cannot access the state-legal medicinal cannabis at all. Those on probation or parole may have a difficult time as well. Drug testing is often standard practice. Qualifying residents, even those with conditions like AIDS or MS, might still get into trouble for being a registered medical marijuana patient and testing positive for THC.

“John Ray Wilson exemplifies the fact the NJ has some of the most retroactive, ill-advised draconian marijuana laws in the country,” said civil rights attorney William Buckman who represented Wilson in the appeal.

“The notion that taxpayers should pay to lock up a sick man for 5 years is ludicrous and tragic,” said Buckman,”The governor should quickly commute his sentence.”

Governor Chris Christie could intervene. State Senator Raymond Lesniak issued a press release yesterday also renewing that call:

“I am disappointed by the recent decision of the Supreme Court to deny the appeal of John Ray Wilson. Mr. Wilson was not selling drugs on our streets. He was merely trying to alleviate the symptoms of a dreadfully painful and regressive disease. It is unconscionable that this Friday he will be behind bars.

“Three years ago, I called on Governor Corzine to commute the sentence of Mr. Wilson. After inaction with the last governor, I was hopeful Governor Christie would better understand the unfair reality of this situation. Unfortunately, Governor Christie has been just like Governor Corzine, refusing to use his and only his power to make things right when the true intentions of the law were misapplied.”

Wilson’s family, fellow patients and medical marijuana advocates plan to rally at the Somerset County Courthouse as John arrives on Friday morning.

The Coalition for Medical Marijuana New Jersey (CMMNJ) has been keeping up demonstrations in support of John since his original trial. The group plans to hold solidarity events for Wilson while he is in prison.

John Wilson’s case has symbolized the ongoing plight of New Jersey’s medical cannabis patients.

CMMNJ – http://www.cmmnj.org

Support John Ray Wilson on Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/pages/Support-John-Ray-Wilson-New-Jersey-MS-Patient/104540271138

CALL or TWEET to Governor Chris Christie 609-292-6000 or @GovChristie – ask him to “Pardon medical marijuana patient John Ray Wilson!”

Chris Goldstein is a respected marijuana reform advocate. As a writer and radio broadcaster he has been covering cannabis news for over a decade. Questions?  [email protected]

State House in Trenton – photo by C. David Freitag

9/28/2012 – Governor Chris Christie was on his favorite FM radio station last night, NJ 101.5, trying to avoid responsibility for delaying the Garden State medical marijuana law. But he may have come clean about something more serious.

Christie: “This bill was passed in a rush in January of 2010 because they wanted to get it in under the wire while Governor Corzine was still here. The bill was without much thought – they didn’t know how they were going to enforce standards or anything else. We essentially had to remake the bill by regulation because it was so poorly written…”

Ken Wolski, executive director of The Coalition for Medical Marijuana- New Jersey (CMMNJ) pointed out that  the governor is far outside of his authority.

“Governor Christie just admitted that he re-wrote the law through the regulatory process with the NJ Department of Health. This is inappropriate: advocates have been pointing this out for two years. An Executive Agency like the Department of Health is not authorized or empowered to re-write the statute and substitute its judgment with that of the Legislature.”

Back in 2010, Christie pitched a monopoly contract on all growing and distribution by none other than Rutgers University. Then he worked the Legislature for a 6-month implementation delay.  Somewhere in between the corporate pharmaceutical and medical interests in the Soprano State smelled cash in the water.

Now the New Jersey Medicinal Marijuana Program (MMP) stands as one of the worst examples of government because not one single ounce of marijuana has been made available to patients.

The New Jersey Department of Health issued a massive set of regulations in late 2010 that were absurdly overbearing. They limited THC to 10%, required that physicians join a special registry and made the dispensaries treat natural cannabis as if it were radioactive material.

Christie repeatedly went to bat for the harsh provisions from his bully pulpit at press conferences and behind the scenes by sending his Counsel into meetings at NJDOH.

But the cannabis rules were so bad that in 2011 both the NJ Assembly and the Senate passed resolutions (SCR130) declaring the regulations to be outside the “intent of the law.” The step was almost without precedent. Yet the NJ Legislature lost the resolve to make the final move and invalidate the regulations.

Jay Lassiter of Cherry Hill, NJ lives with HIV and is one of the 240 currently registered patients in New Jersey.

“I think I’m patient number 127.”

Still, Lassiter can’t get his MMP card or the legal protections of the compassionate use law just yet.

New Jersey was the first state that passed a medical marijuana law cutting off home cultivation by patients or caregivers. Instead all the patients would be forced into a state-licensed “Alternative Treatment Center (ATC).”

Just six of the ATC contracts were put out to bid by the Christie Administration. None of the ATCs have been fully permitted to open for patients. Greenleaf Compassion Center in Montclair, NJ is the closest to opening.

Jay’s ID card, along with 239 more, will be shipped from NJDOH to Greenleaf for the patients to pick up…if they ever get final permits.

Like most of the NJ patients who have been waiting for the law, Lassiter holds the governor responsible.

“I wish Chris Christie would take the same zeal with which he’s fought this program and apply it to my skyrocketing property taxes instead.”

CMMNJ – http://www.cmmnj.org

Contact  Governor Chris Christie 609-292-6000 or @GovChristie

Chris Goldstein is a respected marijuana reform advocate. As a writer and radio broadcaster he has been covering cannabis news for over a decade. Questions?  [email protected]