NJ Assembly to Vote on Medical Marijuana Bill Inspired by Scotch Plains Toddler Today

The medical marijuana bill inspired by Scotch Plains two-year-old Vivian Wilson will be voted on by the State Assembly Monday afternoon, the final step before it reaches Gov. Chris Christie's desk. 

Vivian's parents, Brian and Meghan Wilson, have made headlines for their fight to get their daughter a strain of marijuana that has shown success for children with Dravet syndrome, a rare form of epilepsy that causes Vivian to suffer frequent and violent seizures. 

The Wilsons were met with obstacles, including satisfying state requirements that a psychiatrist sign off on Vivian's treatment, a restriction against edible marijuana products, and the limitation on dispensaries to sell no more than three strains of marijuana.

After writing lawmakers for help with their plight, State Assemblywoman Linda Stender (D) and State Senator Nicholas Scutari (D), sponsored a bill that would rectify all three of the Wilson's obstacles by requiring only one prescribing physician and allowing the sale of edible products and unlimited strains of marijuana. The bill cleared the Senate on Thursday.

When Gov. Chris Christie was asked about the Wilson's situation last month during a press conference in Lavallette, he responded that he was "very concerned, if we go down this slope of allowing minors to use this, where it ends. So I'll have the health commissioner look at it, report back to me, but I don't want to mislead people either, I'm not inclined to allow them to have it."