Join us for: CMMNJ/Cheryl Miller Medical Marijuana Demonstration June 7, 2013

The Coalition for Medical Marijuana New Jersey has acquired three permits to gather in Trenton between the hours of 11:00 AM and 3:00 PM on June 7th (Friday), the 10th anniversary of the death of NJ Medical Marijuana Patient/Activist Cheryl Miller, wife of CMMNJ co-founder Jim Miller.

To begin; four categories of medical marijuana patients will gather in front of the Statehouse (125 W State St., Trenton, NJ 08608) at 11:00 AM to witness the 12:00 press conference being held on the Statehouse steps on their behalf.

New Jersey medical marijuana patients who are already receiving cannabis legally, those who are registered in the program but not yet able to access their medicine, those who have a qualifying condition but are not able to register, and those have a non-qualifying condition because of the narrow list allowable under current state law, will be represented.

Meghan Wilson, whose two year old daughter Vivian is a registered medical marijuana patient (http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/05/christie_said_hes_not_inclined.html) will wrap up the press conference before patients, family members, caregivers, friends, advocates, and supporters begin the 1/2 mile permitted "march" (at approximately 12:45) to the Dept of Health (369 South Warren St., Trenton, NJ 08608-2308), where patients who are not able to march will be there to greet them (at approximately 1:00).

After a brief memorial remembrance of Cheryl Lee Miller on the tenth anniversary of her passing, NJ medical marijuana patients will honor her by following the example that Cheryl set while she paved the way for legal access to their medicine twenty years ago.

Having been ignored by the Dept. of Health every step of the way during the regulatory process, patients will then have the opportunity to refuse to be ignored any longer as they hand deliver their letters of concern and objection to Health Dept. officials who will be waiting to accept them inside. They will also be able to individually have their say outside to the group as a whole, and have time to interact with any media outlets in attendance.

There will be water, cold beverages, snacks, and assorted fruit available at the Dept.of Health, courtesy of MS patient/medical marijuana activist Chuck Kwiatkowski, who will also be able to assist any patients arriving at the Dept.of Health before the "marchers" arrive.

If you are a medical marijuana patient, either qualifying or non-qualifying, and you have something to say to the Dept. of Health but can't show up on June 7th, a designated attendee (or another patient) will represent you in person. Please get in touch with Jim Miller at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/156388517866235

Patients will be heard, and we will continue to expand this program to accurately reflect our needs. Join us.


 


 

Medical marijuana finally began to be available to patients in New Jersey

January 2013

On December 6, 2012, medical marijuana finally began to be available to patients in New Jersey who have enrolled in the state’s Medicinal Marijuana Program (MMP) and who have a state-issued ID card.  Marijuana is being sold on an appointment-only basis from Greenleaf Alternative Treatment Center (ATC) in Montclair, NJ.  Greenleaf is the only ATC in the state that is currently open.
 
In order to begin the registration process, patients must have a Reference Number that was provided to them by a physician who has registered with the Department of Health and with whom the patient has a bona fide doctor-patient relationship. 

The physician must have on-going responsibility for the patient’s condition.  Fewer than 200 physicians have registered so far, which represents less than 1% of the 30,000 licensed physicians in the state.  Nurse practitioners are not permitted to recommend marijuana for their patients.
 
The NJ Department of Health web site includes the Registration Process for Patients (and Physicians), along with a list of physicians who have registered to take part in its MMP.  See: http://www.state.nj.us/health/medicalmarijuana/index.shtml
 
In order to complete the registration process, patients must have computer access and an email address.  Patients (and their caregivers, if applicable) must have a government-issued photo ID, proof of New Jersey residency, a passport style photograph, and proof of government assistance (if applicable).  These documents must be converted to digital format and uploaded to the Department of Health.  After the Department of Health reviews the documents, they will notify the patient by email to submit the required fee ($200 for two years or $20 if low income) and an ID card will be issued to the patient.  The ID card will allow the patient or caregiver to legally purchase marijuana from an ATC.
 
The “New Jersey Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act" became law in January 2010.  For a copy of the law, see: https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2008/Bills/PL09/307_.PDF
The law removes the state-wide penalties for the possession and use of up to two ounces of marijuana a month when a New Jersey licensed physician recommends it for a patient with one of the qualifying medical conditions. 

Qualifying medical conditions include:

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis
Terminal cancer
Muscular dystrophy
Inflammatory bowel disease, including Crohn’s disease
Terminal illness, if the physician has determined a prognosis of less than 12 months of life.

The following conditions apply, if resistant to, or if the patient is intolerant to, conventional therapy:

Seizure disorder, including epilepsy
Intractable skeletal muscular spasticity
Glaucoma


The following conditions apply, if severe or chronic pain, severe nausea or vomiting, or wasting syndrome results from the condition or treatment:

Positive status for human immunodeficiency virus
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome
Cancer

Patients may designate a caregiver to assist them with obtaining and using the marijuana. The caregiver must register as noted above and also complete a Criminal Background Check at his or her own expense.
 
Eventually, ATCs will be set up in the north, central and southern parts of the state.  The Centers are tightly regulated by the State.  Of the 18 medical marijuana states, only the Garden State and Delaware prohibit home cultivation of medical marijuana.
 
The Department of Health approved applications for six non-profit organizations to run ATCs in NJ in March 2011.  Contact information for these ATCs can be found at: http://www.state.nj.us/health/documents/atc_contacts.pdf
 
However, local zoning boards and townships in the state have taken steps to reject several ATC applications.  The Department of Health has done little to reassure these local communities that they will closely monitor, investigate and oversee all actions by the ATCs, and that these ATCs will be discreet, professional and secure.  Moreover, the Department of Health established extensive background checks for all those associated with ATCs which has also delayed implementation of the MMP.
 
The Coalition for Medical Marijuana--New Jersey (CMMNJ) is a statewide organization that has been providing education about the benefits of safe and legal access to medical marijuana for ten years. For more information, join the CMMNJ e-mail list for monthly updates.  Visit: https://cmmnj.org  Click on the link on the front page that says: Join our mailing list.
 
CMMNJ also has free public meetings on the second Tuesday of each month.  All meetings are held at the Lawrence Twp. Library from 7:00 PM until 9:00 PM. The library* is at 2751 Brunswick Pike, Lawrence Twp., at the corner of Business Rt. 1 and Darrah Lane in Mercer County.  
 
Donations to CMMNJ, an all-volunteer, 501(c)(3) public charity, are income tax deductible.  Donations may be made via PayPal (click the link on our website) or send a check made out to “CMMNJ” to the address below.  Gifts of $15 or more qualify for a CMMNJ t-shirt—specify size.  Please be generous—think how much medical marijuana could mean to you.
 
Thank you for your interest and support.
 
Ken Wolski, RN, MPA, Executive Director
Coalition for Medical Marijuana--New Jersey, Inc.  www.cmmnj.org
219 Woodside Ave., Trenton, NJ 08618
(609) 394-2137
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  or  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

P.S. Follow us on Facebook, Friends of the Coalition for Medical Marijuana-NJ, at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/62462971150/?ref=ts
 
* meeting at the Library does not imply the county’s endorsement of our program
 
Other contact information for State Health Officials:
Medicinal Marijuana Program
Department of Health and Senior Services
PO Box 360
Trenton, New Jersey 08625-0360
Phone: (609) 292-0424

 

0
0
0
s2sdefault