WATCH: Chris Christie Clashes With Veteran Nurse Over Medical Marijuana
At the second Republican presidential debate, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie claimed that he’s “not against medical marijuana.” But his exchange with a registered cannabis nurse this week seems to suggest otherwise.
On Wednesday at an event in Newton, Iowa, cannabis nurse and Gulf War veteran Shelly Van Winkle asked Christie how he would balance states’ rights to legalize medicinal marijuana with the fact that federal law still considers marijuana a Schedule 1 drug. Would he do anything to address the confusion?
The exchange got tense, quickly. Christie said he would enforce the existing federal laws criminalizing cannabis, and said he would not act administratively to change them. And when Van Winkle countered that “Cannabis is medicine,” Christie disagreed:
Christie: “That’s your opinion. I respect your opinion, but I disagree with it. Now, there are limited instances in [New Jersey] where we allow folks to use marijuana for medical purposes, but it is a medical program and it’s for only certain, specific diseases — you have to get a doctor to write a prescription for it. Those doctors have to be registered with the state, and we have to monitor what they’re doing.”
Van Winkle: “But under federal law, a doctor can’t write a prescription. They can only recommend. Because it’s a Schedule 1 substance. That’s the problem.”
Christie: “You’re asking me what I would do as president. I’m not going to get into a debate with you. You and I have different views.”
Christie then argued that as president, he wouldn’t be able to change the medical marijuana laws either way. Instead, he said, he would need an act of Congress to change the laws.
Christie: “I could not administratively fix it and I will not administratively fix it.”
Van Winkle: “Under federalism, you could.”
Christie: “No, not under federalism. Federalism is a concept, it’s not a law. Okay? “
Christie then accused Van Winkle of not wanting a real answer to her question.
“Listen, do you want an answer? Or do you want to continue to video me, so that you can use that and put it on the internet? Because that’s what this is about. And I’ve had this done to me in other states as well,” Christie said.
jody Foster
I was diagnosed with Class A Bipolar,about 9 yrs.ago.I am Forced to see a Physiciatist physician every 6 weeks for Govt.Provided Pharmaceutical meds.due to my Previous Job.”A Govt.Job”I must add.I was Responsible to Take 5 “trustee”, inmates out into the Communities of a Certain County in Georgia,to Rejuvinate these inmates back into the Societyby teaching them Constructional Trades,” that most Co.’S,don’t Request a Drug Screen”,Basically fill out W-2 tax forms,then Go to work.Well There was a Day that a new Inmate was Put On my Crew”instead of 5, I had 6,for that 1 day.As I started this 32yr.Career,I was Trained through a Govt.Facility”Post”,I was instructed Not to Tell Inmate to Do,”ask them to do”,due to any Inmate will “Buck” on You,Meaning they will turn on Me,like a Criminal does.So Govt.Policy and Procedures were that I interview each New Inmate added,needed to be Screened to make Sure there would not be “a conflict” of interest.I was not able to do this that Day,So I took the chance,Later that Day I “asked him to do Something” and Yes He ” BUCKED on Me,By Hitting me Across my TailBone,Shattering 6 Vertabraes in my Spine.Using a Flat Point Shovel.I fell in the Street,”On coming Traffic”Coming up and down this Street.A Resident called 911,Guilty Inmate did not Run,he Sat down on Curb,”Thought”nothing of It.Seconds later,I heard Helicopter,Hovering above me,Ambulance had arrived,4 Police Cars,The Officers jumped out of the Cars,And Guilty Inmatestood up and Said Yes I did this,Police asked me as I was being loaded on Gurney into Ambulance,Officer asked me,Yes sSir he is the 1 that Attacked Me.”Qoute” this Particular Inmate was Due to get out of Jail the Next Day,Due to Serving 60 days in Jail for “Simple DUI”, End Quote”.So I was Rushed to Nearest hospital In Chronic Severe Pain,The Paramedic put A Bar of Wax in my Mouth to keep from Getting my Teeth.Paramedic Hooked me up to Oxygen,Dopemine for Pain,I told Paramedic that I was ” Immuned”to Any type of Pain Meds,But Protocol was Followed.Don’t Remember from that Point to when I was put in a Hospital Room,So Who Knows How Many Hours or Days went By,As I was in Emergency Room.I woke up 14 hrs.Later,Realized where I was,I said What in the Hell Happened to Me.I was so Doped up to Where I was More Confused than to Be in Pain.Suffering both mentally and Physically,People You all just Don’t know.I was Fit to be Tied,Extremely Angry,Dr.Ordered Sedetive,To be injected into Syringe,via Nurse every 3hrs.500cc’s of ?,to this day 12/2/2015,Don’t know what was injected into Me.Well after More Pharmaceutical Drugs,Therapy and More Therapy,I was Released,Family had Ambulance Service bring me Home,into House,Remove me From Gurney Onto my Bed Laying on my back.Raised up my Gown Seen Staples and Stiches,from my Spline down past my Nable,Just above my MANHOOD.This Freaked Me Out.Glad The Dr’s didn’t cut my MANHOOD Off.After 2 yrs.of in home Therapy and The Strongest Prescriptions that our Federal Govt.Would Allow a Paicents to Take.Remember I am today still “Immuned” to Any Type of Pharmaceutical Drugs.I got this way from my family Gens.Well Without Proper Pain Meds.I dealt with my Issues on my Own.Felt Like I got Addicted to ?,So I went and Seen a Physicharitrist,He put me in His Hospital,for 2 weeks.within these 2 weeks,”Every other Day,I under went 6 “E C t’s,(Electronic Convulsive Therapy),This was to Reset my Brain,Both Serotonin and Neurotonin Blood Cells,”WHITE”-SEROTONINS,BLOOD CELLS,AND” RED”NEUROTONIN BLOODS CELLS,AFTER THIS I HAVE BEEN SEEING THIS SAME PHYSICHITRIST DR.EVERY 6 WEEKS FOR Pharmaceutical Drugs that Don’t work.These 3 Drugs are the Strongest that a Physician can Provide to Me, See People I must Tell you all that Prescriptions are prescribed to a Paicents at A Co-pay,at Pharmacy,But what People dont understand is every Prescription Drug that is Written for a Paicent,Cost Pharmaceutical Companies,I’ll take a Guess $2500.00 for 1 Prescription,and if each Dr.Uses a a Certain Brand,that Dr.Received a “kick back” under the Table from Pharmaceutical Companies.So Dr.S and PPharmaceutical Companies and Any and All Doctors are making Plenty of “My” or Your Money.Everytime we as the Paicents go see a Dr.there is a Claim made,”look at Top right hand corner of Dr.Office files You will see Different Claim Numbers,Every claim written is sent to Our Insurance Companies to be Paid to Pharmaceutical Companies and Our Doctors.Wow…..