Republican gubernatorial candidates Chris Christie and Steve Lonegan sparred on the issue of medical marijuana on NJN’s On the Record this weekend, with Lonegan arguing in favor of a bill allowing treatment centers to grow marijuana plants for chronically sick patients, and Christie rejecting the bill in its current form, citing the lack of specific and strict controls.
NJN’s senior political correspondent Michael Aron broached the issue with the candidates on Saturday while taping his show at the Ram’s Head Inn in Galloway Township, which aired on Sunday.
“It’s a freedom and liberty issue,” said Lonegan, former mayor of Bogota. “If a doctor knows that’s what needs to be prescribed to a suffering patient, I’ve met patients like this, that’s their decision and government should get out of the way.”
Now Christie considered the question.
“I am concerned as a former law enforcement guy that there are not sufficient controls placed upon what they are proposing in this bill,” said the former U.S. Attorney. “I too am concerned about suffering patients who need relief, but there’s got to be a better way to do it than the way they’re proposing it in this legislation. I’m concerned there aren’t sufficient controls, and from a law enforcement perspective, I have problems with the bill.”
Franklin Township Mayor Brian D. Levine sat onstage with Christie, Lonegan and Aron, but on this issue at least the unfolding back and forth featured the movement conservative and ex-lawman, in arguably their fiercest exchange of the season.
“I’ve got to be honest with you,” Lonegan said. “I’m extremely concerned when I hear about law enforcement getting between a doctor and their patient. I’ve seen people suffering – terminally ill. The idea of law enforcement making those decisions – I think Barack Obama’s proposing that right now with a new board that’s going to determine what medications are going to be available to the public and what not, and we absolutely cannot go down that path. America is about liberty and freedom and this bill is about the freedom of doctors and patients to make their choices.”
“He’s (Steve’s) never been in law enforcement,” Christie told Aron. “I’ve seen suffering, too, and the suffering I’ve seen is what drugs do to our children on the streets every day. Marijuana’s a gateway drug. I’m not saying unequivocally it should not be available to those who are suffering. What I am saying very clearly is there better be specific controls – strict controls – on the distribution of this, because I have seen the suffering that drug abuse and drug trafficking does on our streets all over this state, and if Steve doesn’t think that’s a concern, then his vision of liberty and freedom is very different than mine.”
“Are doctors putting these drugs out onto the streets, is that what we’re saying?” Lonegan shot back, to which Christie responded, “I assume Steve probably hasn’t read the bill. I have, and there are not strict enough controls, in my opinion, placed upon it.”
Lonegan sank back in his chair sighing in apparent frustration.
Sponsored by state Sen. Nicholas Scutari (D-Linden), New Jersey’s Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act passed in the Upper House last Monday by a vote of 22-16 and now faces consideration in the Assembly, where it has bipartisan support.
