The state Senate has approved a bill to give children with certain medical conditions easier access to medical marijuana.

The bill approved Thursday would eliminate the need for written consent from a pediatrician and a psychiatrist for juveniles to be eligible. It would also permit medical marijuana to be produced in an edible form and allow for more strains to be available to patients.

The bill is in response to the plight of a Scotch Plains girl with severe epilepsy, whose parents had not been able to find a psychiatrist to sign a consent form.

Some medical professionals acknowledge a problem but say eliminating regulations is not an answer.

The Assembly budget committee on Thursday also advanced the measure to the full chamber.

 

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