TRENTON — Gov. Chris Christie has vowed to veto it, but Democratic lawmakers today ignored him and advanced a measure that would expand the state's medical marijuana law so patients can go out of state for their pot.

Under the bill (A4537), which passed the Assembly 50-23 with 7 abstentions, patients from other states would also be able to buy medical marijuana in New Jersey.

The bill has not yet passed the state Senate.

Lawmakers wrote the bill with the help of Meghan and Brian Wilson of Scotch Plains, whose 2 ½ year old daughter, Vivian, suffers from a drug resistant kind of epilepsy called Dravet syndrome.

The Wilsons wanted to purchase a strain of marijuana from a Colorado grower, but are unable to under New Jersey law. And even though the state has relaxed regulations to allow the edible forms of the drug that the Wilsons need, they’re not yet available at New Jersey’s three open dispensaries.

"We are tired of waiting," Brian Wilson said in an email.

While Christie signed a bill (S2842) to allo edible strains, it limited it to minors. Wilson said that makes it financially unattractive for the dispensaries to carry the type marijuana in oil form that Vivian needs.

"We don't want to watch our child die because the department of health and Christie are blocking the program," Wilson said. "If they want to play politics with people's health, let them as it will come back to haunt them. But in the meantime, don't block our ability to get the life saving medicine my child needs from another source."

Another couple, Philip and Paula Joana, had hoped to get out-of-state edible marijuana for their late 15-month-old daughter, Sabina Rose, who also had Dravet syndrome. But Sabina Rose died early this month, before they had a chance to try it.

Christie, however, said he’s not willing to expand the state’s program any further.

“Every time you sign one expansion, then the advocates will come back and ask for another one," he said during a news conference on Dec. 2. "Here's what the advocates want: They want legalization of marijuana in New Jersey. It will not happen on my watch, ever. I am done expanding the medical marijuana program under any circumstances. So we're done."

But Assemblywoman Linda Stender (D-Union), the bill’s prime sponsor, said New Jersey’s medical marijuana program “is not functioning the way it should be.”

“Approved participants have not been able to get the medicine they need,” Stender said. “In no way will this bill expand any of the requirements for participation. Instead, it will allow people who have been approved into the program within the existing limitations to access the strains that they need in the event of a lack of availability within our own program.”

Staff writer Susan K. Livio contributed reporting

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