Parents Seeking Medical Marijuana For Toddler Deliver Letters to Gov. Christie

The Wilson family of Scotch Plains lead more than a dozen other parents and children who visited Gov. Chris Christie's office Thursday to deliver letters of support for a bill that would make it easier for New Jersey children to obtain medical marijuana.

The Wilsons have made headlines for their fight to get their two-year-old daughter Vivian 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 family was met with obstacles, including satisfying state requirements that a psychiatrist sign off on Vivian's treatment, but were eventually able to secure a prescription for Vivian in February, making her one of the youngest enrolled in the state's program. 

Though Vivian's a card-carrying medical marijuana patient, the Wilsons haven't been able to get the specific strain of marijuana they need due to a limitation that dispensaries sell no more than three strains of marijuana. 

"The strain we need contains more CBD, short for cannabidiol, which is non-psychoactive, than THC, the other ingredient in marijuana," Meghan Wilson said. "CBD doesn't make you high. The strain is really rare and has to be bred a certain way, but it's gaining popularity in states like Colorado and California."

Wilson said because New Jersey dispensaries can only sell three strains, it's unlikely they would chose to carry such a rare and non-psychoactive one. However, they did receive encouraging news Thursday when Health Commissioner Mary O'Dowd announced that a new dispensary opening in Egg Harbor Township will carry a high-CBD, low-THC strain. 

The other hurdle for the Wilsons is the law prohibits edible marijuana products, which is how many child patients receive the marijuana instead of smoking it. 

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

The bill was passed the Assembly on June 24, and Christie has until Aug. 8 to sign, veto or change it. 

The Wilsons and the other parents and children delivered nearly 2,200 letters of support for the bill to Christie. He was not in his office, but they were given to his director of constituent relations, Jeanne Ashmore, according to a report in the Star-Ledger.

"Don’t put yourself between us and our doctors," is what Brian Wilson told the Star-Ledger he would tell the governor.

For his part, the governor has expressed some reservations about the bill.
On Wednesday, during NJ 101.5's "Ask the Governor" program Christie said he remains "concerned about expanding the program" but is looking "for a solution," according to the report.

"I know that parents are concerned for the health of their children. I have to be concerned about the health of every child," Christie said. "They can be assured that whatever I do with the legislation, it will be because I believe the solution I have proposed ... is what is in the best interests of all of the children in the state."

Read more about the Wilsons in our story: Medical Marijuana For Toddler Inches Closer as Bill Passes