Gov. Chris Christie said today he has directed the state health department to “move forward as expeditiously as possible” with the state’s medical marijuana program he put on hold in April, while awaiting for assurances from federal law enforcement officials that state employees and licensed growers would not be vulnerable to prosecution.

Christie said he never got a clear answer from federal officials. But after analyzing a memo from the U.S. Justice Department last month, reading comments President Obama made when he was a presidential candidate in 2008, and reflecting on his own experience as the former U.S. Attorney, he said going ahead with the program was worth however small the risk.