Gov. Phil Murphy Just Made It Easier To Get Marijuana In NJ

Gov. Phil Murphy took some steps on Tuesday that will make marijuana much more readily available in New Jersey – and push the state closer toward legalization. And home delivery of medical marijuana could be one of the options available.

Murphy announced "major reforms" to New Jersey’s medicinal marijuana program during a Tuesday press conference, including the addition of medical conditions, lowered patient and caregiver fees and allowing dispensaries to add satellite locations.

His administration also offered some recommendations to lawmakers that could require legislative action, such as home delivery. He also proposed legislative changes that would increase the monthly product limit for patients, and allow an "unlimited supply" for those receiving hospice care.

“We are changing the restrictive culture of our medical marijuana program to make it more patient-friendly,” Murphy said. “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."

Murphy said 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.”

More than 20 recommendations are outlined in a report that state Department of Health Commissioner Shereef Elnahal submitted to Murphy in response to Executive Order 6, which directed a comprehensive review of the program within 60 days.

“As a physician, I have seen the therapeutic benefits of marijuana for patients with cancer and other difficult conditions,” said Elnahal. “These recommendations are informed by discussions with patients and their families, advocates, dispensary owners, clinicians."

Elnahal said reducing the barriers for all of these "stakeholders" is important in order to allow many more patients to "benefit from this effective treatment option." Those recommendations include the home delivery option as well as developing a provider education curriculum and expediting the permitting process.

Effective Tuesday, five new categories of medical conditions – anxiety, migraines, Tourette’s syndrome, chronic pain related to musculoskeletal disorders and chronic visceral pain– will be eligible for marijuana prescription, according to state officials.

Currently, 18,574 patients, 536 physicians, and 869 caregivers participate in the program – a far smaller number than comparably populated states, according to state officials.

Other immediate changes include lowering the biennial patient registration fee from $200 to $100 and adding veterans and seniors – 65 and older – to the list of those who qualify for the $20 discounted registration fee, according to state officials.

The department’s website will continue to be available for physicians who would like to publicize their availability and willingness to offer medical marijuana as a treatment option for patients, but the public physician registry will no longer be a requirement, according to state officials.

The department also has made recommendations to change state law to include increasing the monthly product limit to 4 ounces, allowing hospice patients to have an unlimited supply and allowing adult patients to have access to edibles.

Frequently Asked Questions are also available on the Department’s medical marijuana webpage for patients, physicians and Alternative Treatment Centers. For additional information about medical marijuana in New Jersey, please visit: http://www.nj.gov/health/medicalmarijuana

Photo: Governor Phil Murphy holds a press conference on expanding access to medical marijuana in Trenton on Tuesday, March 27, 2018. Edwin J. Torres/ Governor’s Office.