New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine said he will "absolutely" sign a medical marijuana bill for chronically and terminally ill patients if it gets to his desk.

Corzine, a Democrat running for re-election, made the comments Wednesday morning on WNYC radio's "Brian Lehrer Show."

Medical marijuana

He told Lehrer the law could be structured so patients are comfortable and there are safeguards against abuses.

The Senate approved the bill Monday. It faces an uncertain fate in the Assembly.

Thirteen states have medical marijuana laws on the books. All but four came about because of voter referendums. In New Jersey, the Legislature must change the law.

Corzine also said on the show that the $17 billion-plus in federal stimulus money headed to New Jersey will generate or protect 100,000 jobs.

He told Lehrer that the jobs tally includes keeping police officers, firefighters and teachers who might have been laid off in the deepening recession.

The governor and the Legislature will have little control over most of the money, including $7.5 billion in tax breaks, Corzine said.

Much of the $10 billion or so in spending is earmarked for programs like Medicaid or the unemployment insurance fund.

Corzine said a screening process will be set up for discretionary spending on projects like clean energy and road and bridge repairs.

-- THE NEW JERSEY GOVERNOR'S RACE