Alicia Alvarez

Although few people care much about New Jersey other than Snookie's misadventures on The
Jersey Shore, they may be surprised to know that the state legalized medicinal marijuana early this
January. The New Jersey bill provides an opportunity to regulate at least some of the marijuana use in
the state by allowing a maximum of two ounces per thirty day. Medicinal cannabis is authorized for a
wide variety of diseases such as seizure disorders, glaucoma, chronic pain, severe nausea or vomiting,
wasting syndrome, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, multiple sclerosis, terminal cancer, muscular
dystrophy, inflammatory bowel diseases and the general umbrella of a terminal illness when a
physician determines a prognosis of less than a year. This legislation also makes it illegal to drive
while under the influence and prohibits growing any marijuana, while simultaneously controlling the
purity and quality of the distributed drug.
To decriminalize marijuana for medicinal purposes, New Jersey called the bill the New Jersey
Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act. Democratic Senator Raymond Lesniak says that his was
“a vote of conscience." He continued to pull on the senate's heartstings by saying that “[his]conscience
tells [him that] we should ease people's pain and suffering, and give them hope. . .God knows they have
suffered enough." Apparently the line between church and state blurs in the New Jersey State Senate.
Sponsors of the bill call marijuana distributors “compassion centers” and brought in patients who
would benefit from legal medicinal marijuana. One testimonial from Charles Kwiatkowski, a 37-year-
old multiple sclerosis patient, stated that the pain prevents him from playing with his children ages
three, eight and nine. Kwiatkowski called marijuana "an illegal miracle. He continued to say that it
helps him to "walk better, see better, go fishing with my kids. ... It's not right there are 13 states I could
live in, in less pain." Along with Kwiatkowski, a number of other patients provided statements that
moved the senate and house representatives.
The legalization of cannabis for therapeutic intentinos has been debated since before the 1980's,
and even though fourteen states seem to have decided that medicinal marijuana is right, the federal
government disagrees. This disparity has caused increased tensions between state and federal
governments, especially when the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) still runs drug raids on
medicinal marijuana distributors. Only recently did the DEA secede to new state policies in all
fourteen states with legal medicinal marijuana. Needless to say, the other thirty-six states are still left
to vigorous drug searches. According to their website, the DEA considers medicinal marijuana a ploy
for total legalization of the drug. The Administration calls marijuana “addicting” and a “gateway
drug.” Even though the DEA may seem like they haven't bothered to update their website since the
'70's, their worries are not totally unfounded. The World Health Organization declares that cannabis
“impairs cognitive development” as well as psychomotor performance which can affect performance
on complicated machinery, motor vehicles, coordination, and operative tasks. Nonetheless, WHO
admits that there are medicinal uses of marijuana. The organization states that some “therapeutic uses
of cannabinoids are being demonstrated by controlled studies, including treatment of asthma and
glaucoma, as an antidepressant, appetite stimulant, anticonvulsant and anti-spasmodic.”
Even so, every time research is done on marijuana it seems to contradict earlier studies. For
example, one study certified by the American Chemical Society states that cannabis smoke damages
DNA and increases the risk of cancer. However, Brown University's Department of Community Health
and Division of Biology and Medicine found that marijuana reduced the induction of certain head and
neck cancers. Needless to say more research is still being done on marijuana and its effects on the
body, but many Sophie Davis students have their minds made up on the therapeutic benefits of
cannabinoids. Although many students insisted on remaining anonymous, there were a variety of
responses most of which centered on moving to New Jersey. One anonymous second year declared
that marijuana is “from the Earth, nothing is wrong with it” and it should be entirely decriminalized as
long as there are “sufficient restrictions.” Unfortunately, if a product is natural that does not
particularly mean that its healthy. Even though tobacco is a plant and cocaine comes from coca leaves,
it really is not a good idea to start using either. Fifth year Isaac Gordon calls marijuana a “destructive
drug” but “not a gateway drug.” He continues to refute the DEA and says that it is only addictive
because tolerance builds, but its “not like crack.” Isaac goes on to say that he is not sure whether other
marijuana synthetics are just as effective as the real McCoy. In truth, there are mixed reviews on
cannabinoid substitutes. Some say it is not the same high while others say its better. Nevertheless,
current synthetics floating around like K2 are only legal because they are not meant for human
consumption. K2 is actually marketed as incense and looks like potpourri. So, according to the
Federal Analog Act, which allows any substance “substantially similar” to an illegal drug be treated as
a Schedule I drug, but only if it is intended for human consumption. So things are pretty blurry to say
the least. Some states like Kansas are beginning to write laws prohibiting marijuana substitutes. K2
itself contains JWH-018 which is only a couple of atoms different from Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol
(THC) and attaches to the same receptors in the brain.
Although public opinions seem to be mixed, it appears that most Sophies agree with Stella
Cassignol when she said that marijuana “should be restricted to medicinal purposes only” and New
Jersey is on the right track with this “good idea.” Prince Odigie concurs saying that “if marijuana is
medicinal then there is nothing wrong with it being used.” He recounts a time he saw a show on how
it “helps calm very hyper children.”
According to Zubair Hasan, whose birthday is April twentieth, “medicinal marijuana can be
helpful,” and that “its worth exploring further.” Although many people fear that therapeutic cannabis
will be abused, Zubair points out that many regular, FDA approved drugs are abused. So, he continues,
“do we stop giving patients morphine... because we are afraid that they will abuse it?” Of course not,
but marijuana itself is attached to a strong derogatory tone, which stems even from the slang terms of
“weed” and “pot.” Nevertheless, some legislators are moving forward from this old stigma of dope and
are beginning to see marijuana for what it is, a pharmacuetical drug.