Medical Marijuana Supporters See Hurdles Mount for Patients

New Jersey doctors have been slow to register to prescribe medical marijuana, one of several hurdles preventing expansion of the state’s program, according to medical marijuana advocates.

Only one of six marijuana alternative treatment centers approved by the state has opened, with several of the others facing problems getting locations approved by local governments.

These and other obstacles were highlighted by members of the nonprofit Coalition for Medical Marijuana New Jersey, who called for a series of new legal and regulatory changes to ease access to the drug.

Coalition members want post-traumatic stress disorder to be added as a condition approved for use of the substance; access to marijuana in a lozenge form for those who can’t or won’t smoke it; and approval of home cultivation of marijuana.

The coalition members said Gov. Chris Christie is dragging his feet in enforcing a law that was signed just before he took office.

“Governor Christie, this is a crisis,” said Princeton resident Vanessa Waltz, who has used marijuana to ease pain related to cancer. “You can call me and the other patients across our state seeking relief criminals, but denying patients safe, legal and timely access to medical marijuana as allowed by New Jersey state law, now that’s the real crime.

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