Medical marijuana – NJ moving ahead with edible pot for kids

New standards released by the state Department of Health could get the ball rolling on edible medical marijuana products in New Jersey.

It's been 18 months since Gov. Chris Christie signed the measure into law, allowing the products for children.

As long as New Jersey's Alternative Treatment Centers, or dispensaries, fall in line with the designated manufacturing and safety guidelines, they can begin the manufacturing of edibles, according to Donna Leusner, a spokesperson for the health department.

"The purpose of these manufacturing standards is to ensure that the products that the dispensaries manufacture are safe, sanitary and clearly labeled with amounts of all ingredients," she said.

The 12-page guidelines define edibles as "tablets, capsules, drops, or syrups and any other form as authorized by the Commissioner of Health." They also lay the ground rules for lozenges and topical formulations.

Michael Weisser, CEO of Garden State Dispensary in Woodbridge, said his facility will "100 percent go forward" with manufacturing edibles. He met Thursday with the head of New Jersey's Medicinal Marijuana Program.

"We showed them several products that we would like to introduce, and they were favorably received," Weisser said. "All in all, it was a positive meeting."

Weisser predicted he'd have the first products ready to go in the next few weeks.

Ken Wolski, executive director of the Coalition for Medical Marijuana New Jersey, said he hopes there are no more delays in the process.

"It took them a year and a half to produce these manufacturing standards for edible products in New Jersey," Wolski said. "It's not rocket science. These edible products exist in other states."

An estimated 3,700 patients are registered with the New Jersey's marijuana program. Of the six originally planned, three dispensaries have opened their doors in the state.