Officials: 50 NJ patients registering for medical marijuana

(AP) - New Jersey residents aren't exactly beating down the door to register as medical marijuana patients.
The state Health Department says 21 patients have started the process of registering for medical marijuana since the state started taking applications on Aug. 9.
Another 29 have been declared by their doctors to be eligible.
Earlier Wednesday, officials said 18 patients had started to register out of 44 doctors had certified.
Advocates for more liberal medical marijuana laws say the numbers are low because of the restrictive laws and regulations for New Jersey's upstart program.
The first legal pot for patients in the state is expected to be available in September.
The state says the website to register for medical marijuana has gotten nearly 8,400 hits since it went online last week.