Who Qualifies for Medicinal Marijuana in New Jersey

On January 11, 2010, the New Jersey State Assembly and Senate approved A804/S119, which establishes “The New Jersey Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act,” which removed state-level criminal penalties on the use and possession of medical marijuana (also referred to as medical weed, medical pot or medical cannabis) by qualifying patients who obtain a recommendation from their New Jersey licensed physician. Patients will be issued ID cards by the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services and may designate a registered caregiver to assist in obtaining marijuana. Though this created the medical marijuana program in NJ that now contains over 15,000 registered patients, marijuana was still considered a “schedule 1” drug. With new Appellate Court hearings in October 2017, this could change in the future, allowing New Jersey to further expand its medical marijuana program.

New Jersey’s medical cannabis law is the first of all the legal states, to prohibit home cultivation of marijuana, and require patients to obtain a limited amount of marijuana, from state-monitored dispensaries.

What Ailments Qualify For Medical Cannabis in New Jersey

Patients in New Jersey diagnosed with one of the following severe, debilitating, or life-threatening medical conditions, are afforded legal protection under the New Jersey Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act, as per Senate Bill 119:

• One of the following conditions, if resistant to conventional medical therapy:
  • seizure disorders, including epilepsy
  • intractable skeletal muscular spasticity
  • glaucoma;
• HIV/AIDS or cancer, if chronic or severe pain, severe nausea or vomiting, cachexia or wasting syndrome results from the condition or treatment thereof;
• PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder);
• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig’s disease)
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Severe muscle spasms
• Terminal cancer
• Muscular Dystrophy
• Ulcerative Colitis
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease, including Crohn’s disease;
• Terminal illness, if the physician has determined a prognosis of fewer than 12 months of life
• Anxiety 
• Chronic pain related to musculoskeletal disorders including:
  • fibromyalgia
  • lupus
  • complex regional pain syndrome
  • rheumatoid arthritis
  • and more
• Chronic pain of visceral origin
• Migraines
• Tourette’s syndrome

New Jersey’s Medicinal Marijuana Review Panel has held hearings on behalf of doctors and patients who are looking to expand qualifying conditions to include migraines, anxiety, chronic pain, and more.

How to Become A Medical Marijuana Patient in New Jersey

1. Patients must be a resident of the state of New Jersey with proof of residency. If you do not have a New ersey I.D. an out of state I.D., passport, or other photo I.D. with proof of residency such as bank statement, utility bill, etc is acceptable.
2. The qualifying patient must have been diagnosed by a physician as having a debilitating medical condition.
3. Patients must obtain legitimate medical records or documentation from his/her primary care physician describing his/her diagnosis. Ensure to bring all records with to the marijuana evaluation appointment — *Learn how to request your medical records
4. The New Jersey program requires all patients to have an established, bonafide doctor/patient relationship, which in some cases may take several appointments, to establish. * Please note: The New Jersey MMP requires that all physicians participating in the program, first register with the DHSS, before certifying any patients. If a patient’s physician chooses not to participate in the state’s program, the patient is required to establish a bonafide relationship with an approved physician — *Find a certified medical marijuana physician in New Jersey
5. Once the patient has been certified, the patient MUST register with the MMP Patient Registry. Registration is mandatory in order for patients to ensure protection under New Jersey’s medical marijuana law.