Gov. Chris Christie’s been stalling on the
state’s medical marijuana program for very sick and dying patients, saying
it won’t move forward until federal authorities assure him there won’t
be arrests or prosecutions.
It’s a needless delay tactic. After all, the
Obama administration has repeatedly indicated it won’t prosecute those who
abide by their state’s medical marijuana programs. (Marijuana violates federal
laws, even though 16 states have made it legal for some medical purposes.)
But in any case, now our governor has his
answer: If the program’s operation is kept small and controlled, it’s not
likely to warrant any action by federal law enforcement. That’s what a recent
memo from the U.S. deputy attorney general, forwarded to state Attorney
General Paula Dow, strongly indicates.
So unless you’re raking in millions of
dollars or engaged in suspicious activity, your medical marijuana facility
won’t be of interest to the feds. They’d rather use their limited resources
on threats to public safety: In Montana, federal authorities conducted raids on
26 medical marijuana dispensaries in 13 cities because there was “probable
cause” they were involved in illegal, large-scale trafficking. Those
facilities weren’t licensed by the state.
In New Mexico, which has smaller scale,
well-regulated, state-licensed dispensaries, there’s been no interference from
the federal government. No state workers have ever been threatened with
prosecution.
That’s because the feds aren’t interested
in chasing after people with terminal illnesses using marijuana, or those
responsibly growing it for them.
Six nonprofit companies already have been
approved to grow and sell the drug in New Jersey, and they’re preparing to get
started sometime this summer or fall. More than 80 percent of New Jerseyans
favor medical marijuana, and it’s
an issue with strong bipartisan support.
So no more excuses, Governor. Quit the
foot-dragging and make this drug available to those who need it — fast.
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