Chris Christie, New Jersey Governor, Conditionally 'Approves' Marijuana Bill; Wants 'Children In Need' To Get Proper Treatment
As the marijuana debate pushes on, those in favor of the drug's medicinal properties might see a certain governor’s acceptance of a marijuana bill as a step forward in the fight to legalize the drug.
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie announced on Friday that he would agree to allow a medical marijuana bill to pass, but only on certain conditions. The bill would allow minors to consume edible forms of marijuana, and it would also remove the limit on the amount of marijuana strains that could be cultivated by state dispensaries.
Christie said he would only sign the bill if it allowed strictly children, not all patients, to consume edible marijuana.
He also wants to remove a part of the bill that would allow children to qualify for medical marijuana based only on a doctor’s approval; currently, the law states that children would also need to be approved by both a pediatrician and a psychiatrist.
"Today, I am making common sense recommendations to this legislation to ensure sick children receive the treatment their parents prefer, while maintaining appropriate safeguards," Christie said in a statement. "I am calling on the Legislature to reconvene quickly and address these issues so that children in need can get the treatment they need."
Christie made the announcement after Brian Wilson, the father of a 2-year-old, pleaded with the governor to sign the bill, stating that it would help his daughter Vivian overcome her daily epileptic seizures by giving her access to a certain version of marijuana.
Earlier this month, news of a girl named Charlotte who suffered from grand mal seizures came into focus. Charlotte had an obscure disorder called Dravet Syndrome that caused her to have up to 300 grand mal seizures a week, and was gradually losing physical and cognitive development skills as she grew older.
Normal epilepsy drugs were proving ineffective for Charlotte. However, her family found out about a strain of marijuana that was high in cannabidiol (CBD) and low in tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which reduced her seizures to a few per month.
"(Charlotte's) been close to death so many times, she's had so much brain damage from seizure activity and likely the pharmaceutical medication," Dr. Margaret Geddem, the physician who treated Charlotte, told CNN. "When you put the potential risks of the cannabis in context like that, it's a very easy decision."
"As I have repeatedly noted, I believe that parents, and not government regulators, are best suited to decide how to care for their children," Christie continued on Friday.
However, in conversation with Vivian’s father Brian Wilson, Christie mentioned that passing a marijuana bill was complicated for a Republican governor, according to CNN. “I know you think it’s simple and it’s not,” Christie told Wilson.
More information about marijuana's medicinal purposes can be found in Dr. Sanjay Gupta's new documentary, “Weed,” which can be viewed here.