Fri Jul 23, 2010 at 02:41:24 PM EDT
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| By Assemblyman Reed Gusciora
Rutgers University took an unfortunate pass on Governor's plan to be included as a grower and research facility under the state's medicinal marijuana law. The news was announced on the heels of growing public support for the plan including myself, the original Assembly sponsor of the medicinal marijuana bill, and Governor Chris Christie himself.
Many critics cited the struggles of University of Massachusetts Amherst that tried to become a medical marijuana grower, but was ultimately denied by the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). However, it is important to note two major differences between the UMass scenario and the one occurring with Rutgers.
UMass requested a growers bid from the DEA in a state that has not legalized medical marijuana to this day. In addition, the waiver was requested in 2002 under the Bush Administration. U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder has already stated the feds will not interfere with dispensaries that operate in states that have legalized marijuana for medicinal uses. Its apples and oranges we're talking about. |
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| Not to mention, the New Jersey Council of Teaching Hospitals has come out in favor of the proposal without any heartache over federal issues, noting that the teaching hospitals could gain a significant source of funding to invest in the training of new doctors. The proposal would benefit those patients seeking medicinal marijuana who already rely on the hospital clinics.
Legislation was passed allowing an October 1st extension to begin implementation of the medical marijuana law. This extension created ample time to consider the Governor's proposal, which included Rutgers as the state's grower and teaching hospitals as potential dispensaries. Rutgers has nine extension farms in the state, has a food innovation center, a pharmaceutical school, a business school, and could have garnered patent rights for any new strains of the plant that were developed.
In the end, this is a slap in the face of the Governor who has been advocating for the state's university in finding innovative ways for the institution to advance academically. I would have preferred Rutgers announcing they will work with our state's federal delegation and Governor to find a way to solve any legal hurdles instead of just walking away from this opportunity. |
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