In January 2010, medical marijuana was legalized in New Jersey. But new regulations drafted by the administration of Republican Governor Chris Christie threaten to turn what was already the nation's most restrictive proposed medical marijuana system into an unusable one, with activists and lawmakers accusing him of thwarting not just the will of the people but the letter of the law.

On October 6th, Department of Health Commissioner Poonam Alaigh, a Christie-appointee, unveiled the state's plan for implementing the medical marijuana program. But while the law itself calls for six "alternative treatment centers" to be placed throughout the state, New Jersey's draft regulations would allow just two of the centers to actually grow marijuana; just four would be allowed to distribute it. That means just one federal raid could potentially shut down the state's entire medical marijuana distribution system, leaving patients who would be completely dependent on that system without access to their doctor-prescribed medication (patients are barred from growing their own).

The draft regulations also limit the THC content of the state's medical marijuana to 10 percent -- half of typical medical cannabis in California -- while limiting growers to just three strains. They also bar marijuana-based food products.

As activist Chris Goldstein tells Change.org, "The entire set of regulations seems to be a poltical move based on how restrictive you can make a medical marijuana program, rather than a reasonable set of regulations that follows the intent of the law."

Tell Governor Christie and Department of Health and Senior Services Commissioner Poonam Alaigh to uphold the law and withdraw their draft regulations immediately.

Photo Credit: Troy Holden