NJ Medical Marijuana Qualification

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.

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.

How To Become A Medical Marijuana Patient in New Jersey

Patients must be a resident in the state of New Jersey with proof of residency. If you do not have a New Jersey 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.
The qualifying patient must have been diagnosed by a physician as having a debilitating medical condition.
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
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
Once the patient has been certified, the patient MUST register with the MMP Patient Registry. Registration is mandatory in order for patients to be ensure protection under New Jersey’s medical marijuana law.

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, or 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;
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig’s disease), multiple sclerosis, terminal cancer,muscular dystrophy, or inflammatory bowel disease, including Crohn’s disease;
Terminal illness, if the physician has determined a prognosis of less than 12 months of life.

Medical Marijuana Access in New Jersey

Some medical marijuana patients will claim they have a doctor’s prescription for medical marijuana, butmarijuana prescriptions are in fact illegal. The federal government classifies marijuana as a schedule I drug. Therefore doctors are unable to prescribe marijuana to their patients, and medical marijuana patients cannot go to a pharmacy to fill a prescription for medical marijuana. Instead, medical marijuana physicians will supply patients with a medical marijuana recommendation in compliance with state law.

Unlike other medical marijuana states, New Jersey medical marijuana law does not allow for the cultivation of medical cannabis. Patients may only purchase a recommended amount of medical marijuana at one of the following state-monitored cannabis dispensaries: