By a 22-16 margin, senators sided Monday with activists who say the regulations are so restrictive that patients who can benefit from marijuana may continue to get it from illegal dealers.
One main point of contention is the governor's insistence on limiting the potency of the pot.
The Assembly has already voted in favor of rewriting the regulations.
The administration now has 30 days to do so. If it refuses, lawmakers could invalidate the regulations.
