NJ Lame Duck Session: Let them smoke pot!

It appears that the normal gaggle of lame duck hi jinks will be a bit curtailed this political season (from NJ.com):

Although chances are dwindling for Democrats to enact laws before Republican Gov.-elect Chris Christie takes office Jan. 19, lawmakers said most of their grand plans — with the exception of medical marijuana — have fizzled, many with gut-checks over the state’s fiscal crisis. In addition, the transition from Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine to Christie has focused more Corzine’s nominations of allies to state entities than last-minute legislative moves.

"Lame duck’s becoming so anticlimactic," said Senate Majority Leader Stephen Sweeney (D-Gloucester), who will become Senate president when the new session begins Jan. 12. "There are very important pieces of legislation that are going to move through, but the energy level in past lame ducks seems different." Many bills faded because they would have required new spending without the state revenue to support them, Sweeney said.

Translation: We are teetering on the edge between citizens carrying pitchforks and torches to Trenton versus quietly doing some last minute tidying up. Apparently someone in Trenton has figured out that there is no money left. And that has spoiled the party.

But don't worry, at least they can legalize marijuana use in the state:

But lawmakers are clearing a path for seriously ill residents to legally use marijuana to ease their pain. The qualifying illnesses are cancer, multiple sclerosis, HIV/AIDS, seizure disorder, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and "any other medical condition" approved by the state Health Department, according to the latest version of the bill (S119).

I really don't have an opinion regarding medical use of marijuana and would defer to sound medical advice on its applicability for really ill patients. It does however seem a little bit strange when you see something like this as a part of a lame duck session as it is not without some controversy. And we all know that these sessions are usually the time to stuff pet programs down NJ citizens' throats that couldn't get approved when the sunlight is on and accountability is high.

At least for now this isn't going to cost us anything.

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