ARTICLE: MONTCLAIR NJ OK'D TO GROWING CROP:

Montclair medical marijuana center OK'd to start growing crop immediately Amy Brittain/The Star-Ledger 04/16/2012 4:54 PM

MONTCLAIR — A Montclair medical marijuana center has been granted permission to immediately start growing its cannabis crop, a process that will take about three to four months, according to an announcement today by the Department of Health and Senior Services.

But Greenleaf Compassion Center, which becomes the first of six state alternative treatment centers to receive a preliminary permit, will not have permission to dispense marijuana to patients until a final permit is issued, said Donna Leusner, health department spokeswoman.

Additionally, health department officials today published a long-awaited list of more than 100 physicians now authorized to prescribe the drug. A list of the physicians can be viewed here.

The new movement in the medical marijuana program comes after a series of recent complaints, including a heated letter sent from Greenleaf CEO Joe Stevens to Gov. Christie in late March, alleging state officials had tried to sabotage the program.

Two weeks ago, a patient and a doctor filed a lawsuit in Superior Court in Trenton claiming the health department has caused undue suffering to patients across the state by failing to get the program up and running.

New Jersey’s Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act, signed by Gov. Jon Corzine on his last day in office, became state law more than two years ago.

Related coverage:

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• Gov. Christie: I won't force N.J. towns to allow medical marijuana facilities

• Monmouth County Assemblyman looks to block local anti-medical marijuana efforts

• Another N.J. town votes against allowing medical marijuana facility

• Proposed medical marijuana treatment center in Maple Shade to seek approval for site this week