New Jersey: new governor already working to expand access to medical cannabis

New Jersey's new governor, Phil Murphy, had promised the legalization of recreational cannabis within 100 days. One week after taking office, he has made medical cannabis his priority.

Phil Murphy has called for a comprehensive review of the state's medical cannabis program to determine the best way to expand access to medical cannabis. Findings are due within 60 days.

«We can't turn a blind eye to our veterans, to the families of children with terminal illnesses, or to any other person in New Jersey who would like to be treated like a human, not a criminal.» explained Phil Murphy. «And doctors deserve to be able to provide their patients with stigma-free access to medical cannabis.»

The medical cannabis program in New Jersey was signed into law in 2010 by Democratic Governor John Corzine, on the last day of his term. His successor Chris Christie, known for his strong views on the subject, delayed the rollout of the program until 2012, with numerous restrictions. Only 15,000 people were able to register as cannabis patients, compared with 220,000 in Michigan, a state of similar size but with fewer barriers to entry to the medical cannabis program.

Phil Murphy also explained that «other states have moved ahead of us» in terms of access to medical cannabis, as «politics replaced compassion and care» during Chris Christie's tenure.

Murphy has already floated a few ideas for easing access to cannabis-based care: home delivery, the ability to apply for the program from home (instead of having to go to a doctor's office) or the ability to buy more than 56 grams of dried flower at once. Dispensaries could also be authorized to open more than one establishment, instead of being limited by current law.

In any case, some reforms can be implemented by administrative means, and others by changes in the law. Phil Murphy had made the legalization of recreational cannabis a point of his campaign. In his view, it would free up police time to concentrate on violent crime.

Phil Murphy isn't alone in wanting to change the state's cannabis law. Senator Cory Booker introduced the Marijuana Justice Act before the Senate last autumn, a text which was presented last week in a similar way in the House of Representatives by deputies Barbara Lee and Ro Khanna.