N.J. Lawmakers Pass Medical Marijuana Bill

The Legislature on Monday approved a bill that would allow chronically ill patients access to marijuana for medical reasons.

Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine supports the legislation and could sign it before leaving office next week, which would make New Jersey the 14th state to allow medicinal marijuana use.

The bill allows patients with ailments such as cancer, AIDS and multiple sclerosis to buy up to 2 ounces of marijuana a month at state-monitored dispensaries.

Assemblyman Reed Gusciora, a Trenton Democrat, was a co-sponsor of the bill and pushed for it for years. He said medical marijuana can alleviate suffering and there's no evidence it increases overall drug use.

"I don't think we should make criminals out of our very sick and terminally ill," he said.

Incoming Republican Gov. Chris Christie, a former federal prosecutor, said he supports the concept of the bill but remained concerned that a loophole could lead to abuses.

A compromise bill was worked out after some lawmakers expressed concerns about potential abuses. For example, a provision allowing patients to grow marijuana was removed.

Driving while high would continue to be against the law.