US Pharm. 2010;35(2):8.
Trenton, NJ — New Jersey has become the 14th state in the U.S. to legalize the use of marijuana for medical purposes. It will be one of the most restrictive medical marijuana laws in the nation. Only patients with certain severe illnesses such as cancer, glaucoma, HIV/AIDS, Lou Gehrig’s disease, multiple sclerosis, and seizure disorders will be eligible for a prescription. A valid prescription from a physician will be required, and the drug will only be available from dedicated pharmacy centers. Qualified patients must be state residents and will be issued an identification card granting access. “I truly believe this will become a model for other states because it balances the compassionate use of medical marijuana while limiting the number of ailments that a physician can prescribe it for,” Assemblyman Reed Gusciora (D, Princeton) said. The law is expected to go into effect by July 2010.
