TRENTON — With revisions made to his liking, Gov. Chris Christie on Tuesday signed into law a bill that eases some barriers that have kept critically ill children from participating in New Jersey's medical marijuana program.

The legislature sent the governor a bill in June that would have reduced the number of doctors needed to recommend a minor's participation from at least two to one. The bill also permitted the state's sanctioned marijuana growers to produce as many strains of the drug as they wanted to cultivate, and offer edible products that children would find easy to consume.

Christie refused to budge on the requirement in the law that at least two physicians — a pediatrician and a psychiatrist — sign off on a child's marijuana use, and vetoed that aspect of the bill. He let stand the other two provisions that lifted a three-strain limit on the kinds of marijuana grown and allowed the sale of edible products — but to pediatric patients only.

On Monday, the Assembly voted to accept the governor's changes. The Senate approved the revised bill Aug 19. Christie's signature Tuesday was the last procedural step to change the law.

“I’m pleased the legislature accepted my recommendations so that suffering children can get the treatment they need. I’ve said all along that protection of our children remains my utmost concern, and this new law will help sick kids access the program while also keeping in place appropriate safeguards," Christie said in a statement. "Parents, not government regulators, are best suited to decide how to care for their children, and this law advances that important principle.”

State Assemblywoman Linda Stender and state Sen. Nicholas Scutari (both D-Union) introduced the bill (S2842) after a story in The Star-Ledger in May described a toddler from Scotch Plains who qualified for the program because of a severe seizure disorder but the rules made participation nearly impossible. Vivian Wilson's neurologist recommended her for the program, but her parents could not find a pediatrician and psychiatrist willing to sign on. The ban on edible pot products and the three-strain limit also stood in the way of the Wilsons obtaining a rare strain produced in Colorado that reduced seizures

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• N.J. Assembly casts final yes vote on bill easing medical marijuana restrictions for kids

• Christie agrees to ease some rules on medical marijuana for kids, but conditionally vetoes bill





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