The medical marijuana program empowers the Department of Health to change the list of illnesses that might qualify each year. But now the program is six years old, and nothing has changed. Only six illnesses qualify, plus two more when conventional treatment isn't working (glaucoma and epilepsy), along with terminal conditions.

If you have lupus or rheumatoid arthritis - or dozens of other conditions that might be relieved with marijuana - you're out of luck, because Gov. Christie doesn't feel your pain.

Now Assemblyman Tim Eustace (D-Bergen) is trying to kick-start the process again by introducing bills that add menstrual cramps and PTSD to the list of qualifying illnesses, in cases where conventional treatment fails.

If past is prologue, it will be a futile exercise. It is, however, a good reminder that the governor continues to crimp this program as much as possible.

The DOH is required to convene a medical panel "at least once a year to review petitions" to expand MMP, but this administration's movement is glacial. After years of delays, the DOH finally chose a panel of last month. It has yet to convene.

And even if the panel proposes expanding the list of qualifying illnesses, the DOH commissioner can ignore its suggestions.

Meanwhile, if Eustace's bill goes anywhere, the governor can veto it and claim that it overlaps with existing rules.

Never mind that menstrual pain is the leading cause of workplace absences among women under 30 - that will likely be an ancillary issue for this governor.

Any debilitating or chronic pain should qualify for marijuana treatment if traditional therapies don't work. Introducing bills to cover diseases one at a time is impractical, but the legislature has little choice in a state where the scope of a worthwhile program is limited by one man's callous indifference.

More: Recent Star-Ledger editorials.

Follow NJ.com Opinion on Twitter@NJ_Opinion. Find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook.