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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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US: Time to embrace medical marijuana centers
Philly Blurbs Thursday 12 Jan 2012 But the program has struggled to operate under heavy restrictions. The six alternative treatment centers, approved by New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, are being given yet another hurdle. Westampton officials turned down a land-use variance in a 4-3 vote, joining other municipalities around the state that have refused the centers. Yet medical marijuana is the law, and it is resoundingly backed by public opinion. For years, medical cannabis has been the top-polled issue in New Jersey compared with all others, rating a whopping 86 percent favorability, according to a November 2011 Rutgers-Eagleton poll. Nothing else even comes close. Although the state's program is severely limited in almost every way — 10 percent THC, fewer qualifying conditions than other states, and little choice in therapy products — there will be some AIDS, cancer and MS patients who will benefit from having it up and running. But it won't happen until a community allows a treatment center to open. Because of the extensive new regulations, the state cannot accept or register any actual patients until one of the centers is approved. So it's an ongoing Catch-22 for local residents with medical conditions that unambiguously qualify under the law. They can still be arrested and prosecuted — right now — for having any amount of cannabis. They will not be fully "legal" until they have a patient registry card and purchase their marijuana at one of the approved and permitted alternative treatment centers. Turning down such a vigorously regulated micro-industry hurts residents in Burlington County and the entire region. Towns should be welcoming the jobs and economic growth potential of this program, while helping ease the worst suffering around us. Let's stop the hurdles and allow this new law to move forward. Chris Goldstein Board of directors Coalition for Medical Marijuana New Jersey Willingboro http://www.phillyburbs.com/news/local/burlington_county_times_news/opinion/letters_to_editor/time-to-embrace-medical-marijuana-centers/article_05d45794-0752-5a24-b97c-135b18d06511.html
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