Testing It Up

A man who is suffering from multiple sclerosis and is using marijuana for his treatment regimen has been sentenced to five years in state prison, according to an article by Samantha Henry of The Associated Press and posted on R&D Magazine.

John Ray Wilson was sentenced on Friday after being convicted of second degree manufacturing of marijuana and third degree possession of psychedelic mushrooms in December. At the time of his conviction, New Jersey did not have a law that sanctioned the use of marijuana for medical purposes, which was one of the things that State Superior Court Judge Robert Reed reportedly pointed out in his ruling. Outgoing New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine only signed the New Jersey Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act in January this year.

Wilson was arrested in 2008 when a pilot for the National Guard flew over his residence and noticed marijuana plants growing in the yard. State police was then notified and they found a total of 17 marijuana plants behind Wilson’s home, some of which had grown to six feet.

James Wronko, Wilson’s lawyer, said: “We’re disappointed that he’s in state prison for smoking marijuana to treat his multiple sclerosis. I think anytime someone using marijuana for their own medical use goes to state prison, it’s clearly a harsh sentence.” He said further that they intend to appeal the sentence next week.

Advocates for medical marijuana are supporting Wilson and two state senators asked former Gov. Corzine to pardon Wilson. Under the New Jersey medical marijuana law, patients are not allowed to grow marijuana privately; marijuana of up to 2 ounces a month are to be bought from dispensaries monitored by the state.

One more state is a step closer towards joining the ranks of Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington. Lawmakers in New Jersey approved Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act on Monday. With Democratic Governor John Crozine’s support of the legislation, this one looks like it is definitely in the bag and may be signed into a law before the governor will leave office next week.

The bill is co-sponsored by Assemblyman Reed Gusciora, who reportedly has been pushing the bill for years. Among his reasons for advocating medical marijuana is its potential for alleviating the suffering of patients; he also said that there is no evidence that use of marijuana eventually leads to an increase in overall drug use.

Among the stipulations in the bill is the allowing of patients with medical conditions such as cancer, AIDS and multiple sclerosis to purchase a maximum of two ounces of marijuana on a monthly basis from marijuana dispensaries monitored by the state. The Department of Health will now be authorized to issue registry cards to patients who have “debilitating medical conditions” that signify that they are allowed to use marijuana. To qualify, patients need to be able to demonstrate the following symptoms: severe or chronic pain, nausea, seizures, muscle spasms or wasting syndrome.

Possession of a registry card will mean immunity “from arrest or prosecution for the medical use of marijuana”.

The New Jersey legislation is reportedly the strictest medical marijuana bill in the country, according to the bill’s co-sponsor himself, Reed Gusciora. Lawmakers were reportedly particular about not following the in the footsteps of California’s rather liberal medical marijuana laws. New Jersey medical marijuana users, for instance, will not be allowed to grow their own marijuana.

Medical marijuana advocates as well as patients who would like to benefit from medical marijuana expressed approval over the decision of the Legislature, including Roseanne Scotti, Director of Drug Policy Alliance New Jersey.

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