N.J. Bill Proposes Marijuana For Menstrual Cramps

Woman Cramps

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By Noelle Skodzinski

Assembly Democrats Tim Eustace, L. Grace Spencer, Angelica Jimenez and Mila Jasey April 7 introduced legislation that would add dysmenorrhea (menstrual cramps) to New Jersey's medical marijuana program — for those patients who are unresponsive to other treatment options. 

The Assembly Democrats issued a press release about the bill, stating, "By denying women in New Jersey access to a means of treating dysmenorrhea, our state fails to acknowledge the serious impact it can have on their wellness," said Eustace (D-Bergen/Passaic). "Furthermore, from an economic standpoint, New Jersey is missing out on millions of dollars in tax revenue due to the restrictive nature of its medical marijuana law. While this will affect women directly, the financial benefit ultimately will be positive for everyone in the state.

"For much of history, medical issues that impact women have been ignored or downplayed, leaving far too many individuals to suffer in silence," said Spencer (D-Essex). "This legislation recognizes that, in severe cases, dysmenorrhea can be a debilitating condition that has a limiting effect on women's lives."

The Push to Expand NJ's MMJ Program
Just last month, the Coalition for Medical Marijuana in New Jersey (CMMNJ) made a push to include additional ailments in New Jersey's MMJ law, such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Lupus and chronic pain associated a number of other illnesses. Also last month, the NJ Health Commission appointed a panel of physicians and other health practicioners to evaluate whether or not the state's MMJ program should be expanded — which is seen as progress, but patients and advocates have been waiting several years for this panel to be created. 

It's unclear why this bill to include menstrual cramps in the state's program would be introduced separately, aside from it following on the heels of Whoopi Goldberg's new-business announcement that she is launching a line of marijuana products to treat menstrual cramps. Maybe a celebrity tie-in will have more influence over lawmakers?

The likelihood that this new bill — or any leglislation that would add other conditions such as PTSD and Lupus to the list of approved medical conditions under the program — will pass seem slim to none. Ken Wolski, executive director of the Coalition for Medical Marijuana New Jersey, submitted a petition to the state's Health Commissioner "two years ago to add PTSD, it was rejected because the panel had not yet been created," reported Philly.com

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, who has voiced his opposition to any marijuana legalization, including medical, has said (despite admitting that prohibition has failed) he would veto any legislation that comes across his desk.

The governor has broken a record for the most bills vetoed in New Jersey, and he "has vetoed more bills than any governor in a least a quarter of a century," reported NJ.com

In November, however, Gov. Christie surprised many residents by signing a medical marijuana bill that "requires facilities and schools providing services to residents with developmental disabilities to adopt policies allowing administration of medical marijuana to qualifying patients," reported The Courier-Post. "The bill raced through state Legislature over the summer. It would protect school districts from liability, force officials to adopt a policy allowing for medical marijuana use, and authorize parents, guardians or primary caregivers to administer medical marijuana in a non-smokable form in a location designated by the school."

Perhaps the Governor will again decide to heed the will of the voters and state legislators in favor of expanding the medical marijuana program so that it can serve more patients, whether those suffering with PTSD, Lupus, and chronic pain associated with other illnesses. including menstrual cramps.

New Jersey, which has a population of about 9 million, serves just over 5,000 patients with the program that was legalized in 2010. For comparison, Arizona, which has a population of approximately 7 million, serves nearly 88,000 patients with its medical marijuana program.  

Photo by: AndreyPopov

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