An outspoken opponent of legalized cannabis, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is coming under pressure to sign legislation that would add post-traumatic stress disorder to the list of qualifying conditions for the state’s medical marijuana program.
The inclusion of PTSD would be a shot in the arm for the state’s MMJ industry, given that many military veterans suffer from the condition. New Jersey remains one of the most restrictive MMJ markets in the nation.
Christie’s options are to sign the measure into law, allow it to become law without his signature, or veto it.
Although the state legislature passed the MMJ program in 2010, the first dispensary didn’t open until 2013. And only five of the six allotted dispensaries have been approved to open.
Illinois and Rhode Island are two states that this year added PTSD to their qualifying conditions lists, but several more also include it in their qualifying condition lists for MMJ.
