N.J. issues first permit for legal pot growing

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(AP) TRENTON, N.J. - New Jersey has issued its first permit for a nonprofit group to grow medical marijuana legally.

The state Department of Health announced the permit for Montclair-based Greenleaf Compassion Center on Monday.

A second permit would need to be granted before the center can begin selling pot to patients. A crop is expected to take three to four months to grow, and the state says a permit to sell would come as the first crop is ready.

Greenleaf is one of six centers chosen last year by the state to grow and sell cannabis. But it's one of just two that have announced locations with local approvals.

The Montclair group says it has a cultivation site but has not disclosed where it is.

[Freepress1111]

The federal marijuana laws are the epitome of poor legislative practices and should be repealed. Check out the Virginia Law Review- http://www.druglibrary.org/schaffer/library/studies/vlr/vlrtoc.htm

[Samlv]

Let's legalize domestically grown pot, make importing it illegal (felony) and then seek to dominate the world with exports.

Mexico included.

Tax the sn(t out of it, like we do fuel and cigarettes now.

We need the money, and we need to stop wasting money on people doing something which is less harmful than alcohol and tobacco are now.

[chyenna-2009]

STANDING OVATION TO SAMLV.

[1----1]

I agree.

[retiredWAC]

I don't understand this at all. If I go to the VA, I can get medical marijuana, but if YOU get a civilian drs prescription, it is illegal. One law for me and another for you???

[jamesellis2]

I worked in County Drug-Alcohol for 10 years. Most pot users were referred because they "broke the law" (pot is "illegal"). The broken heads, crushed bodies and decapitations we saw from alcohol was staggering. In my opinion, if we legalized pot, the alcohol statistics would go down, those costs would go down, the cost for enforcing "illegal pot use" would be almost nil. It just seems to make good dollars and sense to simply legalize pot. Very few people are slaughtered on the highway from "smoking pot" compared to alcohol. I also think a percentage of the people who drink do so because they rather not be smoking pot and "breaking the law"; let em' smoke pot instead.

[jamesellis2]

I worked in County Drug-Alcohol for 10 years. Most pot users were referred because they "broke the law" (pot is "illegal"). The broken heads, crushed bodies and decapitations we saw from alcohol was staggering. In my opinion, if we legalized pot, the alcohol statistics would go down, those costs would go down, the cost for enforcing "illegal pot use" would be almost nil. It just seems to make good dollars and sense to simply legalize pot. Very few people are slaughtered on the highway from "smoking pot" compared to alcohol. I also think a percentage of the people who drink do so because they rather not be smoking pot and "breaking the law"; let em' smoke pot instead.

[sgtrock95023]

This is a modern beginning of states taking back their rights under the constitution. Over the years, the liberals / communists have tried to establish a central government to "rule" over all in the US.

I am glad NJ is leading the fight!

[bobnjersey]

[Over the years, the liberals / communists have tried to establish a central government to "rule" over all in the US. ]
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so it's been the liberal/commies all along that have held their authoritarian rule over the masses wanting freedom ... and it's been the conservative/capitalists that have wanted the cannabis sit-ins and freedom to expand their minds thru psycho-tropic drugs?

[realtimecoffee]

Both parties want to keep this insane war going, in spite of the fact that in both cases it violates their core principles.

[micmac666]

The story needs clarification. Would this not make the state a co-conpirator against federal law(s)?

[realtimecoffee]

Hope just that question will get to the Supreme Corut one day and put and end to this madness called the war on drugs. Then if you want to live in a no grow state, move to one. (and vice versa). 50 States, fifty laboratories. Someone is bound to get it right eventually.

[josephp5]

I agree---a poorly written story. This law sets up a confrontation between the state of NJ and the Feds. Obama has been relentless in pursuing people that grow under state laws and suing states that attempt laws like this. It is really remarkable that Obama is like this, considering his supposed reputation for being a crazy socialist. In fact Obama is taking a harder line than many Republican presidents, including the preceding one.