SOMERVILLE -- Proponents of medical marijuana plan to rally in front of the Somerset County courthouse Friday in support a multiple sclerosis patient facing trial for

growing 17 marijuana plants

behind his home last year.

The state chapter of the Coalition for Medical Marijuana expects about two dozen people to assemble in downtown Somerville on behalf of 36-year-old John Ray Wilson, a Franklin Township man who is accused of first-degree maintaining or operating a drug-production facility, second-degree manufacturing and third-degree drug possession. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in prison. Last month, Superior Court Judge Robert Reed ruled that Wilson won't be able to reference his medical condition at trial and he cannot assert personal use as a defense. Advocates say the decision is a prime example of why the Legislature needs to pass the New Jersey Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act.

In his decision, Reed said the establishment of medical marijuana for personal use as a state policy or as a defense to criminal liability is a matter for the Legislature to decide and not for a court to create.

Deputy Attorney General Russell Curley said allowing Wilson to reference his condition would merely be a way to garner sympathy and could prompt the jury to acquit, believing he had a reason to break the law. Defense lawyer James Wronko said barring the medical-use argument ties their hands unfairly. Jurors could speculate that he was operating a commercial operation and must have done so for years.

Wilson uses the drug to help alleviate the pain and other symptoms that have plagued him since 2002, Wronko has said. Omitting that information means Wilson won't be able to defend himself, said Jim Miller, coalition president. The rally starts at 11 a.m. and is meant to spread the word about his plight.

"Even if the jury won't, the general public is going to find out that this is a problem," said Miller, whose wife, Cheryl, died of complications from multiple sclerosis.

Previous coverage

• --N.J. Assembly committee passes bill to allow 'medical marijuana'

• N.J. Senate approves bill allowing use of medical marijuana