New Jersey is yet another state to diminish its prohibition of marijuana use, passing a law that allows parents to give their sick or disabled children medical marijuana at school without fear of breaking state law.
Assembly Bill 4587 requires school boards throughout the Garden State to allow parents, guardians and primary caregivers to take edible cannabis on a school bus or to school property to administer to a child.
The legislation passed with an overwhelming majority in both houses of the state legislature in June, and Gov. Chris Christie signed it into law earlier this month.
There are a few guidelines that must be met in order for parents to be able to administer medical marijuana in schools or school buses. The child in question must be diagnosed with a developmental disability; be a registered patient with the state medicinal marijuana program. But although New Jersey law has become more tolerant of medical marijuana, possession of this narcotic remains a federal crime.
Assembly Majority Leader Lou Greenwald, a sponsor of the bill, said he is well aware of the need for this law and is hopeful school districts around the Garden State conform swiftly to follow it.
“If you are really looking after the best interest of the child, these are children with severe disabilities, and (this is) a medicine that is helping them to reach their maximum potential,” said Greenwald.
As the law explicitly compels school districts to comply with this new stance, state education officials are not protesting the change. Yet, they said they believe it should fit within the parameters that are already in place.
“Medical marijuana may be administered on a school bus, but it needs to be consistent with the local district’s policy and procedures,” said Michael Yaple, director of public information for the New Jersey Department of Education.
