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Christie Says He'll Resist Attempts To Force Medical Marijuana Into Communities

By David Madden

CAMDEN, N.J. (CBS) -- There's a bid in the New Jersey Assembly to make it easier for medical marijuana licensees to set up shop in the state.  But Governor Chris Christie makes it clear he's not in favor of it.

After several communities across New Jersey shot down requests to open marijuana farms and/or dispensaries (see related stories), there's a new move sponsored by assemblyman Declan O'Scanlon (R-Monmouth) to add medical marijuana to the state's Right to Farm Act, which would lift many zoning restrictions.

Gov. Christie believes the medical marijuana law approved in the waning days of the Corzine administration is, in his word, "flawed."

Speaking yesterday at a school event in Camden, the governor said, "There was no thought given as to what would happen if nobody wants to take these dispensaries or these farms to grow marijuana."

He says he'll enforce the law as best he can but won't force any town to host a facility.

He sees the move to use the Right to Farm Act as a means to force towns to accept medical marijuana in their midsts, and he suggests the bill would face a veto if it gets to his desk.

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