New Jersey Inhales

TRENTON -- The New Jersey Legislature approved a measure on Monday that would make the state the 14th in the nation, but one of the few on the East Coast, to legalize the use of marijuana to help patients with chronic illnesses.

The measure -- which would allow patients diagnosed with severe illnesses like cancer, AIDS, Lou Gehrig's disease, muscular dystrophy and multiple sclerosis to have access to marijuana grown and distributed through state-monitored dispensaries -- was passed by the General Assembly and State Senate on the final day of the legislative session.

Gov. Jon S. Corzine has said he would sign it into law before leaving office next Tuesday. Supporters said that within nine months, patients with a prescription for marijuana from their doctors should be able to obtain it at one of six locations.

This is certainly glorious news for chronic pain sufferers, and we are actually shocked that New Jersey stood up and did the right thing.

It's a good thing the use of marijuana is limited and regulated and it is a sublime notion to start to feel we, as a nation of states, are finally becoming more human as one and less publicly pious and privately devious apart. 

Here's to hoping the remaining 36 states get in line with the rest of us.