"We should do all we can to get this drug in the hands of all people who need it desperately," O'Scanlon said, explaining that only seriously ill people are eligible to buy the drug.
Assemblyman Reed Gusciora (D., Mercer) has signed on as a cosponsor.
Sen. Nicholas P. Scutari (D., Union) plans to introduce an identical bill in the upper house Monday.
"We are in our third year of the legislation on medical marijuana, and no dispensary has opened and no marijuana has been prescribed to anyone," Scutari said, sighing. He was one of the cosponsors of the legislation that legalized the sale of medicinal marijuana, which former Gov. Jon S. Corzine signed in January 2010.
So far, none of the six nonprofits approved to grow and sell marijuana has received all the approvals needed to move forward.
When Christie was sworn into office in 2010, he initially refused to authorize the businesses because the federal government still deems marijuana sales illegal.
Thirteen other states have legitimized the sales, relying upon the Justice Department's assurances that it would not "spend resources" prosecuting as long as the businesses followed state regulations and dispensed the drug only to sick people.
After reaching out to the Justice Department and reconsidering his position, Christie gave the medical marijuana program the green light over the summer.
Since then, boards and committees in Maple Shade, Westampton, Camden, and Upper Freehold have rejected proposed marijuana operations, mostly because residents objected, citing fears of increased crime.
The marijuana businesses promised 24-hour guards and video surveillance, but still could not get zoning approvals.
