Great news for the chronically ill New Jerseyan who can find relief from smoking pot — Gov. Chris Christie has finally lifted his suspension of the state's medical marijuana program.

Patients could buy pot by the end of the year, growers say. This ends the stalling by the governor, who was concerned because federal law still prohibits the possession and sale of marijuana.

Though the risk of prosecution was always small, several states shared Christie’s concern and had been rethinking their programs.

A recent memo from the U.S. Department of Justice put those concerns to rest by making it clear that prosecutors will look the other way when a state operates a tightly controlled program like New Jersey's.

While Christie said Tuesday this is “not a law that I would have signed if I were governor at the time,” he went on to acknowledge the worthiness of the cause. “It’s a risk worth taking in order to alleviate the pain that people are suffering here in the state.”

Christie has never been fond of this program. It was approved by the Democratic Legislature last year and signed by Gov. Jon Corzine on his last day in office. For many months, the governor’s team has been throwing up roadblocks, delaying the program’s implementation.

Regulations drafted by his people still contain obnoxious provisions, like a ban on home delivery and rules that prohibit the more potent strains of the drug.

“A terminal cancer patient who is bedridden is unlikely to get into their Volkswagen and drive to a dispensary,” remarked Assemblyman Reed Gusciora (D-Mercer), one of the law’s Democratic sponsors.

Still, this is a big step forward. Six nonprofits have been authorized to sell the marijuana and will start growing it as soon as possible. Patients recommended by their doctors for the program will be told to apply for identification cards and put their names on a state registry.

Marijuana is a relatively benign drug when compared with cocaine, heroin or even alcohol. If smoking pot helps relieve chronic pain for patients who have tried everything else, we say puff away.