Christie signs bill easing access to medical marijuana

Gov. Christie signed legislation Tuesday that changes New Jersey's medical marijuana law to improve sick children's access to the drug.

Last month, Christie vetoed a bill designed to remove barriers preventing a 2-year-old Scotch Plains girl with a rare form of epilepsy and other children with ailments from obtaining cannabis. He promised to sign it if lawmakers would agree to his revisions.

On Monday, the Assembly went along with the governor, following Senate action last month.

"I'm pleased the Legislature accepted my recommendations so that suffering children can get the treatment they need," he said in a statement Tuesday. "I've said all along that protection of our children remains my utmost concern, and this new law will help sick kids access the program while also keeping in place appropriate safeguards."

The parents of toddler Vivian Wilson say she needs cannabis to control life-threatening seizures but their efforts have been stymied by a dearth of dispensaries in New Jersey and prohibitive regulations.

The bill that Christie signed into law allows dispensaries to produce the drug in edible form so children can use it. It also lifts restrictions on authorized growers so that they may produce more than the current three strains, including one tailored to children.