DRUG LAWS IN BERGEN AND PASSAIC COUNTIES: NEW MEDICAL MARIJUANA LEGISLATION

Last week, a congressional representative from Maryland introduced the "Medical Marijuana Patients' Protection Act." It was co-sponsored by 13 bi-partisan members of Congress. The act would change marijuana's classification from a Schedule I drug, which is a schedule where the substance has no medical value to a Scheduled II drug, which recognizes the substance's medical value. The statute would also prohibit federal interference with local or state laws that authorize the use of marijuana for medical purposes. The sponsor of the Bill, Barney Frank said "it is time to recognize marijuana's medical capabilities and to develop a comprehensive plan that will provide access to medical marijuana protection for the hundreds of thousands of sick Americans that benefit from its use."