TRENTON — New Jersey doctors who began enrolling some of their sickest patients in the state's medical marijuana program today found they must agree to tell the patients there's a "lack of scientific consensus" the drug works and that it could even hurt them.

Physicians must sign off on a statement attesting to their patients’ conditions and the failure of conventional medicine to help alleviate their suffering. But the statement also requires doctors to provide "education for the patient on the lack of scientific consensus for the use of medical marijuana, its sedative properties, and the risk of addiction."

State health spokeswoman Donna Leusner described the statement as "reasonable."

"Marijuana, like other drugs that affect the central nervous system, has the potential to cause a patient to become addicted," she said.

But Ken Wolski, a nurse and executive director of the advocacy group Coalition for Medical Marijuana New Jersey, called the requirement "a blatantly political statement" that further proves Gov. Chris Christie's administration is trying to weaken the program before it even starts.

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The statement "shows open hostility to the use of marijuana as medicine," Wolski said.

He also said he was troubled the online registry form requires doctors to attest they have completed education in "addiction medicine and pain management" within the past two years. Wolski said that's not in the law.

"Marijuana is approximately as addictive as caffeine," he added.

Donald Cinotti, an ophthalmologist and president of the Medical Society of New Jersey, said he agreed with the state's strict approach.

"We don't have scientific evidence on dosage and really whether marijuana is any better than other treatments," Cinotti said. "It is not FDA-approved, so therefore there has never been good research."

The debate is the latest controversy over the creation of a medical marijuana program in New Jersey. The law's authors say they are so disappointed in the state Health and Senior Services Department’s restrictive approach to the rules that they have threatened to repeal them if the Christie administration won't compromise.

The drug won't be available for sale to screened patients until July.

Starting today, physicians could visit the Health Department's website and enter their name, medical license number and the Drug Enforcement Administration number that permits them to write prescriptions. After their information is confirmed, the doctors can enroll patients by name and medical condition and give those patients a code number so they can apply for an identification card, Deputy Health Commissioner Susan Walsh said.

As of 5 p.m., 17 physicians had registered online, Leusner said.

Previous coverage:

• Gov. Christie, N.J. Sen. Scutari spar over medical marijuana rules

• N.J. health official defends medical marijuana rules at public hearing

• N.J. releases highly anticipated rules for dispensing medical marijuana to patients

• N.J. medical marijuana to be available for patients by next year

• Sponsor of N.J. medical marijuana law not happy about Christie's plans to make drug available to sick