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barking_iguanaOK, this time I'll allow comments here, as well as at Blue Jersey, because I think some of you may want to comment in relative privacy. Anonymous comments are allowed, but if you're comfortable doing so, an email telling me who you are would be nice.
I see the negative effects of marijuana every day in my classroom when I see otherwise healthy students (one student especially) who have trouble remembering something from one minute to the next. And back in the day, I had negative (as well as positive) effects on my own life from the drug. So I understand those who want to keep it generally illegal, even to competent adults under normal circumstances. I disagree on practical enforcement, social, and fundamental philosophical grounds, but I understand and respect the position.
But as a prescribed drug for those suffering from nausea, certain kinds of pain, and/or wasting related to those symptoms, I see no reasonable reason at all to prohibit it. It is effective, often when nothing else is. The supply chain is controllable, so its market need not be intertwined with the illegal market. And it vastly improves the lives of some people who are suffering from cancer and other horrible diseases.
But the most extreme of those who want to keep marijuana illegal generally have insufficient faith in the power of any arguments than can truthfully make. So they spread the propaganda that marijuana has no legitimate medical purpose.
Twelve states already allow the use of marijuana medically. And finally, there is serious progress in the effort for New Jersey to join them. The Assembly Health Committee is holding a hearing on Bill A804 (at least it's not named A420), which would allow compassionate use, is scheduled for this Thursday. The legislation is supported by, among others, the New Jersey State Nurses Association, the New Jersey Academy of Family Physicians, the New Jersey Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, the New Jersey League for Nursing, and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Southern NJ and Northern NJ chapters.
It would be good if Health Committee members went into the hearing as favorably disposed as possible, and ready to move the bill forward when the hearing is over.
Because legislators are never sure how they will be redistricted in the future, nor what elected and other positions they may later seek, the opinion of anyone in New Jersey can influence the committee members. But if you live in any of their districts, I especially urge you to send an email, either via the links below or on your own.
The Health Committee members are
The Drug Policy Alliance has more information at http://www.drugpolicy.org/about/stateoffices/newjersey/medmj/
and
http://dpa.convio.net/site/MessageViewer?em_id=4581.0&dlv_id=14241
How often do you get a chance to support legislation sponsored by both Reed Gusciora and Michael Patrick Carroll?
I see the negative effects of marijuana every day in my classroom when I see otherwise healthy students (one student especially) who have trouble remembering something from one minute to the next. And back in the day, I had negative (as well as positive) effects on my own life from the drug. So I understand those who want to keep it generally illegal, even to competent adults under normal circumstances. I disagree on practical enforcement, social, and fundamental philosophical grounds, but I understand and respect the position.
But as a prescribed drug for those suffering from nausea, certain kinds of pain, and/or wasting related to those symptoms, I see no reasonable reason at all to prohibit it. It is effective, often when nothing else is. The supply chain is controllable, so its market need not be intertwined with the illegal market. And it vastly improves the lives of some people who are suffering from cancer and other horrible diseases.
But the most extreme of those who want to keep marijuana illegal generally have insufficient faith in the power of any arguments than can truthfully make. So they spread the propaganda that marijuana has no legitimate medical purpose.
Twelve states already allow the use of marijuana medically. And finally, there is serious progress in the effort for New Jersey to join them. The Assembly Health Committee is holding a hearing on Bill A804 (at least it's not named A420), which would allow compassionate use, is scheduled for this Thursday. The legislation is supported by, among others, the New Jersey State Nurses Association, the New Jersey Academy of Family Physicians, the New Jersey Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, the New Jersey League for Nursing, and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Southern NJ and Northern NJ chapters.
It would be good if Health Committee members went into the hearing as favorably disposed as possible, and ready to move the bill forward when the hearing is over.
Because legislators are never sure how they will be redistricted in the future, nor what elected and other positions they may later seek, the opinion of anyone in New Jersey can influence the committee members. But if you live in any of their districts, I especially urge you to send an email, either via the links below or on your own.
The Health Committee members are
- Dr. Eric Munoz, R-21 (Union, Morris, Essex), who is a trauma surgeon
- Linda Stender, D-22, whose congressional race takes her constituency beyond the legislative district
- Linda Greenstein, D-14 (Middlesex, Mercer)
- Anthony Chiappone, D-31 (Hudson)
- Vince Polistina, R-2 (Atlantic)
- Jerry Green, D-22 (Union, Middlesex, Somerset)
- Joan Quigley, D-32 (Hudson, Bergen)
- Dr. Herb Conaway, D-7 (Burlington, Camden), who served in the USAF Medical Corps
- Sandi Love, D-4 (Gloucester, Camden)
- Mary Pat Angelini, R-7 (Monmouth)
- Connie Wagner, D-38 (Bergen)
The Drug Policy Alliance has more information at http://www.drugpolicy.org/about/stateoffices/newjersey/medmj/
and
http://dpa.convio.net/site/MessageViewer?em_id=4581.0&dlv_id=14241
How often do you get a chance to support legislation sponsored by both Reed Gusciora and Michael Patrick Carroll?
