NJ marijuana legalization: Public Assembly hearing in Edison looks at weed's pros and cons

EDISON - Linda Dorsey-Agudosi was in a severe car accident in 2008 and uses marijuana for her medication.

"I had a life-changing car accident in 2008," she said, adding that she had two surgeries related to the accident and 10 other surgeries previously. "I live in chronic pain and every day is a struggle for me."

Dorsey-Agudosi, of Franklin, who walks a with a cane, said that she has tried every pain management method available, but nothing has helped her as much as marijuana.

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She shared her story with the Assembly Oversight, Reform, and Federal Relations Committee, which conducted the first of three public hearings on Saturday to take testimony from invited speakers and the public on the impact of prospective marijuana legislation. The testimonies, which took place at the MIddlesex County Community College in Edison, focused on how marijuana could affect the public health, criminal justice system and economy in New Jersey.

"I've been on numerous prescription drugs — opiates — and it's non-functional when you're on those types of medications," she said. "Fortunately, after multiple years, I was able to ween myself off those opiates and take a different approach to my pain."

She began taking a specially made marijuana product called Cannatonic, which is high in Cannabidiol, or CBD, and low in Tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC. This means that it has less of the psycho-active, or "high-inducing" affects of typical marijuana, but provides more pain relief due to the CBDs.

"When I take a step back and I take a look at where I was with prescription drugs, I'm just grateful that I was educated and introduced to medical marijuana," she said. "I'm more functional, I'm alert."

As a medical marijuana patient in New Jersey, she wishes there was more options for people like her.

She said there aren't as many edibles for patients in the Garden State, which makes it harder for her to medicate throughout the day, and that there aren't many medical marijuana facilities in the state, so it's always a drive to get her products, which she obtains in Bellmawr — more than two hours away from Franklin.

A chairman inspired

Assemblyman Joe Danielsen, a Democrat representing portions of Middlesex and Somerset counties who chairs the Assembly Oversight, Reform, and Federal Relations Committee, thanked Dorsey-Agudosi for her testimony.

"I was already inspired, but it's people like you that really need this pharmaceutical medication that is provided by this plant that has really charged me," he said. "This is truly a calling that I will answer, and so will the other members of this committee and the Legislature."

The first of three Saturday hearings the committee is conducting throughout the state started at 10 a.m. and lasted well into the afternoon. The second hearing will be held on April 21 at Rowan University and the third hearing will be held on May 12 at Bergen County College. The open forums are taking in put from organizations and private citizens, and are open to the public.

Anyone wanting to speak can contact Danielsen’s office at 732-247-3999. Walk-up speakers also are permitted.

Michael Feinsod, the executive chairman of General Cannabis, which works with marijuana cultivation, production and retail companies, has worked with cannabis companies in multiple states with legalized marijuana laws.

He recommended that if marijuana becomes legal in New Jersey, that the Legislature makes sure to include security and dose control in the law. He also said that "seed-to-sale" tracking of the marijuana plant is very important, and pointed to Colorado for an example of successful seed-to-sale tracking.

He also said legalized marijuana could help people who could use marijuana to medicate, like Dorsey-Agudosi, so that they could have easier access to the drug.

Against legalization

Not every speaker was pro-marijuana legalization, though.

Sayreville Police Chief John Zebrowski, who also serves as a vice president to the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police, recommended the state does not legalize marijuana and instead conduct more studies on its impact.

"We're dealing with a very short period of time in which states have legalized it," he said, "so we don't really know what the effects will be long-term."

He also said legalized marijuana could be adverse for roadways and traffic safety with impaired driving, and said that is costly to train officers to recognize the signs of marijuana impairment. Zebrowski added that he supports medical marijuana and said the racial discrepancy of marijuana arrests needs more attention, too.

Randy Gurak, a child psychiatrist, also recommended that the state does not legalize marijuana based on its adverse affects on a developing brain. He said it has been shown to cause teenagers to be less motivated in school.

Peter Brown, a councilman in Linden, a city whose mayor recently said he is opposed to a recreational marijuana dispensary being located in its borders, said he is against legalization because there are too many unknowns. He said that people could buy from dispensaries and then sell the substance to minors.

"On a local level, no one has really talked about how we're going to address or how this is going to impact our local budget," he said.

Tracy Noble of AAA Clubs of New Jersey agreed with Zebrowski and said that legalization of marijuana could cause an increase of driving while under the influence.

Thomas Coogan, however, testified that these statistics are not fully accurate.

He said that he looked at the statistics of the car accidents rising in Colorado in the years after the plant's legalization and then compared that to the national increase in car accidents.

He said that from 2014 to 2016, Washington and Colorado had an increase of 18 percent of pedestrian deaths in accidents, but over the same time, the country as a whole saw an increase of 22 percent of pedestrian deaths in accidents. Colorado and Washington's increases were lower than the national average.

"Whenever a percent increase claim is made, I remind myself to ask, 'Compared to what?' " he said.

T.J. and Tangela

Tangela Hamilton, of the Fords section of Woodbridge, also suffers injuries from a car accident. She said that she was originally prescribed opioids, but after using them she discovered they were deteriorating her liver. She made the switch to medical marijuana and has been an advocate of it ever since.

"We need legalization," said said, adding that she "understands there are concerns" but also wishes the public would understand how much marijuana has helped people like her.

T.J. Finnery of Basking Ridge said that he was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and prescribed multiple drugs throughout his life. In the last three years, however, he dropped the prescription pills and began medicating with marijuana. He noticed an incredible difference, he said, and also lost 175 pounds. He held a photo of himself up on his cell phone, showing a picture of himself when he was obese.

"The weight loss happened because I got my willpower back," he said. He called marijuana "a nutrient for your nervous system" and said he "grew off all drugs with a flower."

More than 50 people were present and hours of testimony were heard at the hearing on Saturday, and the legislators are looking forward to more input at the next two scheduled Assembly committee hearings.

"I am glad to have had such great participation in today's Assembly Oversight hearing in marijuana legislation," said Assemblywoman Yvonne Lopez, a Democrat who represents parts of Middlesex County. "The issue of prospective marijuana use in our state is complicated and public comment and discourse on the issue will help to keep us informed in our decision-making."

She said she is looking "forward to the continued conversations we will be having across the state in the coming weeks."

Despite the debate, the reason for wider access to marijuana is simple for people in scenarios like Dorsey-Agudosi.

"Living on medical marijuana is much better than life without," she said.

Staff Writer Nick Muscavage: 908-243-6615; ngmuscavage@gannettnj.com