N.J. doctors required to 'make reasonable efforts' to wean patients off medical marijuana

[prodigals0n]

More ridiculous draconian rules for a law that has already been legislated, passed, and signed into law, yet still not implemented while being essentially rescinded by the Christie administration through delay, obstructionism, and illegal rules that eviscerate the act.

When I read articles that say New Jersey is one of the now 15 states that have medical marijuana laws I just have to laugh.

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2010/11/nj_doctors_required_to_make_re.html

N.J. doctors required to 'make reasonable efforts' to wean patients off medical marijuana

Published: Monday, November 15, 2010, 7:50 PM Updated: Tuesday, November 16, 2010, 5:31 AM

Susan K. Livio/Statehouse Bureau

"TRENTON — Doctors who recommend their sickest patients use marijuana to alleviate their suffering must "make reasonable efforts" at least every three months to wean their patients off the drug, according to the latest rules Gov. Chris Christie’s administration has proposed to implement the controversial law next year.

The routine evaluations are necessary to ensure patients are not becoming addicts, and the drug is actually easing their discomfort, according to proposed medical marijuana program rules for doctors the state Attorney General’s Office made public today.

One of the law’s sponsors and a lobbyist for the medicinal marijuana program expressed surprise and disappointment with the proposal, calling it the latest assault on the law Christie inherited when he took office in January.

Assemblyman Reed Gusciora (D-Mercer) and Sen. Nicholas Scutari (D-Union) have sponsored a resolution awaiting a floor vote that would repeal the medical marijuana program rules as written by the Department of Health and Senior Services. They claim the rules — which include stricter limits on the drug’s potency and how many may outlets shall grow and sell it — would make it too restrictive to benefit those who really need it.

Scutari said he would consider moving to repeal these rules too. He said he expected doctors would be monitoring their patients’ marijuana use, but didn’t want them to discourage its use at every opportunity."

Best wishes for success to the sponsors of the original bill, Senator Scutari and Assemblyman Gusciora.

This is another cruel joke by the Christie administration. Chris Christie told so many lies during the campaign it's hard to keep track but one of his biggest lies was that he supported this law.

Disregarding the fact that it's incredibly poor taste to include such a requirement in a law to ease patient suffering, exactly what kind of people take 18 months to implement a law that includes as one of it's qualifying requirements that the patient has less than 12 months to live?

Chris Christie and Poonam Alaigh. Unbelievable. I know this is New Jersey but lately it feels much more like Mississippi.

[njlib]

1. What about prescription narcotics?

I deal with elderly patients who are obviously addicted to Ativan, Xanax, Oxycodone, etc. The amount of drugs these people ingest is ridiculous, yet doctors are still allowed to prescribe them with no "weaning" regulation.

Guess as long as people are addicted to big pharma's drugs, it's OK....

[amyrose2712]

2. +++