NJ Senators Ask for Medical Marijuana Pardon

Somerville, NJ - In a major development in New Jersey two of the state Senators sponsoring The Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act have asked for Governor Corzine to pardon a man from a first degree offense because he was using cannabis therapeutically.

John Ray Wilson faces 15 years in state prison for being caught with 17 marijuana plants that he grew to treat MS.

The Senator's took the unprecedented action on behalf of medical marijuana rights in New Jersey after Wilson's interlocutory appeal was recently denied. Read more about John's case here

In August medical marijuana advocates rallied at the Somerset County Courthouse after the judge in Wilson's trial ruled that he couldn't even tell the jury he has MS. 

Volunteers plan on having a supporting presence at the courthouse through all phases of John's trial. The next date is December 14, 2009. Read More

The case has garnered national attention for the aggressiveness of the prosecution. New Jersey's Office of the Attorney General is pursuing the case.

Supporters in NJ can sign an online letter and have it emailed directly to the Governor urging him to pardon John.

This is the first time that sitting state legislators have asked a governor for a pardon because of marijuana being used medically. A portion of the Senators' press release is below:

Scutari and Lesniak Ask for Pardon of Medical Marijuana User

Lawmakers Say Imprisonment of Somerset County Man Suffering with MS is Inhumane, Illegal and Inconsistent with Direction of State’s Drug Policies

Calling the prosecution of a self-medicating Somerset County man with multiple sclerosis (MS) a “severe, inappropriate, discompassionate and inhumane application of the letter of the law,” Senators Nicholas P. Scutari and Raymond J. Lesniak today urged Governor Jon Corzine to pardon Franklin Township resident John Ray Wilson, and called on the Assembly to quickly move legislation to decriminalize the medicinal use of marijuana by New Jerseyans with chronic and terminal illnesses.

“It seems cruel and unusual to treat New Jersey’s sick and dying as if they were drug cartel kingpins. Moreover, it is a complete waste of taxpayer money having to house and treat an MS patient in a jail at the public’s expense,” said Senator Scutari, D-Union, Middlesex and Somerset. “Specifically, in the case of John Ray Wilson, the State is taking a fiscally irresponsible hard-line approach against a man who’s simply seeking what little relief could be found from the debilitating effects of multiple sclerosis. Governor Corzine should step in immediately and end this perversion of criminal drug statutes in the Garden State.”

“Without compassion and a sense of moral right and wrong, laws are worth less than the paper they’re printed on,” said Senator Lesniak, D-Union. “New Jersey’s tough criminal drug laws were never intended to be used against patients suffering from chronic and terminal medical conditions. The prosecutors and presiding judge have set up a scenario where Mr. Wilson is no different than a common street thug in the eyes of the law.”

Medical marijuana legislation in New Jersey has reached its final phase and is expected to see an Assembly Floor vote soon. If passed, there could be an active medical cannabis program in the Garden State by the end of 2010.

More information on medical marijuana in New Jersey at www.cmmnj.org and www.normlnj.org