new jersey medical cannabis Archives

New Jersey Adds Five New Medical Marijuana Conditions, Reduces Patient Fee

March 27, 2018 by Anthony Martinelli

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy announced today that the state is expanding their medical marijuana program to include five new conditions that qualify an individual to legally use the medicine.

Governor Murphy announced the expansion the same day as a governor-appointed task force recommended he do so. The conditions being added are migraines, anxiety, chronic pain related to musculoskeletal disorders, chronic visceral pain, and Tourette’s syndrome. Governor Murphy also announced that the fee to become a medical marijuana patient is being reduced from $200, to $100, or $20 for veterans and seniors.

“We are changing the restrictive culture of our medical marijuana program to make it more patient-friendly,” says Murphy. “We are adding five new categories of medical conditions, reducing patient and caregiver fees, and recommending changes in law so patients will be able to obtain the amount of product that they need. Some of these changes will take time, but we are committed to getting it done for all New Jersey residents who can be helped by access to medical marijuana.”

New Jersey Officials Approve Adding Five New Medical Cannabis Conditions

October 29, 2017October 29, 2017 by Anthony Martinelli

New Jersey officials have given approval to the addition of five new medical conditions to the state’s medical cannabis program.

New Jersey’s Medicinal Marijuana Review Panel voted this week to allow the medical use of cannabis for those with migraines, anxiety, Tourette’s syndrome, chronic pain related to musculoskeletal disorders, and chronic pain related to internal organs.

Although the panel was in strong support of allowing individuals with these conditions to become legal medical cannabis patients, State Health Commissioner Cathleen D. Bennett has the final say. She now has up to 180 days to respond; she has the option of approving all five conditions, approving some of the five, or not approving any of them.

New Jersey Panel Recommends Adding 43 New Medical Marijuana Conditions

August 4, 2017 by Anthony Martinelli

**The New Jersey Medicinal Marijuana Review Panel has recommended the state drastically expand their medical marijuana program by adding 43 new conditions that qualify someone to use the medicine.**

After months of studying petitions from patients and physicians, and after holding two public hearing, the Medicinal Marijuana Review Panel has recommended adding 43 new medical marijuana conditions, including migraines, anxiety, chronic pain, Alzheimer’s disease, opiate-use disorder, autism and Tourette syndrome. The recommendations, which now must go through several steps to actually become law, would greatly expand one of the nation’s most restrict medical marijuana programs.

The recommendations from the panel will be sent to Health Commissioner Cathleen D. Bennett, who has final say on whether or not the 43 conditions are actually added to the state’s medical marijuana program. There will now be a 60-day public comment period accumulating in a public hearing before Bennett can make her decision.

New Jersey Officials Vote to Expand Medical Cannabis Program

May 11, 2017 by Anthony Martinelli

A New Jersey panel today approved expanding the state’s medical cannabis program by including several new qualifying conditions.

The Medicinal Marijuana Review Panel voted to approve to use of medical cannabis for those with anxiety, irritable bowel syndrome, Tourette syndrome and chronic pain related to muscular skeletal disorders. This would allow those with these conditions to legally purchase, possess and use medical cannabis products, given they receive a recommendation from a physician and register with the state.

Unfortunately the panel voted against recommending medical cannabis for those with asthma and chronic fatigue.

Petition: Tell Chris Christie to Sign Bill Adding PTSD as Medical Cannabis Condition

August 12, 2016August 12, 2016 by Anthony Martinelli

On August 1st New Jersey’s full legislature gave approval to Assembly Bill 457 which would add post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a qualifying medical cannabis condition. The vote in the Senate was 29 to 9; the vote in the Assembly was 56 to 13.

Now, the measure sits on the desk of Governor Chris Christie, who has the option of signing it into law, allowing it to become law without his signature, or vetoing it.

We have started a petition calling on Governor Christie to quickly sign the measure into law, which would allow those with PTSD to use a medicine that research has continued to show is beneficial.

New Jersey Legislature Passes Bill to Add PTSD as Qualifying Medical Cannabis Condition

August 1, 2016August 1, 2016 by Anthony Martinelli

Roughly a month and a half after being approved by the state’s Assembly, New Jersey’s full Senate has given approval to legislation that would add post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a qualifying medical cannabis condition. Assembly Bill 457 now goes to Governor Chris Christie for final consideration; Christie has not made a public comment on the measure.

“For many veterans, the effects of PTSD are not always healed by time and can be lasting and profound,” said Assemblyman Tim Eustace. “When it comes to PTSD, medical marijuana holds the promise of providing significant relief as it does for many other illnesses and conditions that are not easily treatable with traditional medication.”

New Jersey Assembly Passes Bill to Add PTSD as Qualifying Medical Cannabis Condition

June 17, 2016 by Anthony Martinelli

New Jersey’s full Assembly has voted 55 to 14 to pass legislation that would add post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a qualifying medical cannabis condition. Assembly Bill 457 now heads towards a vote in the Senate, where its passage will send it to Governor Chris Christie for consideration.

If passed into law, AB 457 would allow those with PTSD to purchase, possess and use medical cannabis, given they receive a recommendation from a physician. The measure is similar to Assembly Bill 3726, which was passed by New Jersey’s full Assembly last year with a 53 to 13 vote, but failed to advance in the Senate.

New Jersey Committee Votes Unanimously to Add PTSD as Qualifying Medical Cannabis Condition

June 3, 2016 by Anthony Martinelli

Legislation that would add post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a qualifying medical cannabis condition has been passed unanimously by New Jersey’s Assembly Regulatory Oversight Committee.

Assembly Bill 457 would allow those with PTSD to become legal medical cannabis patients, given they receive a recommendation from a physician and register with the state (as with all other patients). The measure is similar to Assembly Bill 3726, which was passed by New Jersey’s full Assembly last year with a 53 to 13 vote, but failed to advance in the Senate

NJ: Senate Committee Unanimously Passes Job Protection for Medical Cannabis Patients

December 21, 2015 by Anthony Martinelli

New Jersey’s Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee has given unanimous approval to legislation that would explicitly prohibit employers from firing or discriminating against an employee for participating in the state’s medical cannabis program.

Under the proposed law (Senate Bill 3162), which was passed 6 to 0, employers can only fire an individual for their medical cannabis use if it clearly impacts their job. The measure has now been sent to the full 40-member Senate, where its passage is expected. If given approval in the full Senate, it will head to the Assembly before going to Governor Chris Christie for final consideration.

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie Signs Medical Marijuana School Access Bill Into Law

November 10, 2015November 10, 2015 by Anthony Martinelli

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has signed into law a bill that would allow medical cannabis to be legally administered to qualified adolescent patients while they’re attending school under certain circumstances.

The Medical Marijuana School Access Bill, which goes into effect immediately, requires schools and facilities that provide services to kids with disabilities to adopt policies to allow administration of non-smokable forms of medical cannabis to qualified patients while on school or facility ground.