N.J. health commissioner Poonam Alaigh resigning

TRENTON - State Health and Senior Services Commissioner Poonam Alaigh said Friday she would resign effective April 1 "due to an urgent illness in the family."

"I am passionate about the work and accomplishments we have been able to deliver for the families of New Jersey during this time of unprecedented budget challenges," Alaigh said in a statement. "So, it is with both pride and difficulty that I today announce my resignation from the department."

Gov. Christie praised Alaigh's service.

"Her commitment and passion for the job has been unprecedented, and her stewardship of the department has been world-class through a period of economic difficulty and an increased need among our citizens for quality health-care services," he said in a statement.

The announcement comes as the agency faces opposition from Democratic legislators and medical-marijuana advocates for the way it is implementing regulations to make the drug available for people with certain illnesses. Critics say the administration's rules have been too restrictive and don't meet the intent of the law passed last year, which made New Jersey the 14th state to legalize medical marijuana.

The department announced Monday that it had approved six alternative treatment centers around the state to grow and sell marijuana.

Deputy Commissioner Susan Walsh, who helped shape the marijuana rules, also is leaving.

Chris Goldstein, a board member of the Coalition for Medical Marijuana New Jersey advocacy group, said he thought Walsh's departure "has more of an impact" on medical marijuana.

But, he said, "seeing the two people who were responsible for this process resigning, it is certainly curious to watch."

"We are all pretty much in shock," said Roseanne Scotti, director of the Drug Policy Alliance New Jersey. "I actually did have great respect for the commissioner. I disagreed with her about how medical marijuana was implemented . . . I think she was a great pick as a health commissioner despite our differences over that one issue."

"She seemed to be very in line with what the administration wanted, publicly at least," Scotti said.

Alaigh was serving as executive medical director of Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield when Christie nominated her to the commissioner's post 14 months ago.