Who is Eligible For New Jersey’s Medical Marijuana Program?

New Jersey is one of the twenty-three states that currently have medical marijuana programs in place. Research has shown that cannabis use can have a positive effect on individuals suffering from various debilitating conditions.

Unlike a few other states, New Jersey has not legalized recreational marijuana use. This means that unless an individual is currently enrolled in the medical marijuana program and has a valid prescription for the plant or its derivatives, possession of marijuana is a criminal offense and can lead to penalties such as fines and jail time.

To qualify for New Jersey’s medical marijuana program, an individual must be a resident of New Jersey. He or she must also meet the program’s physician-patient relationship requirements and be diagnosed with one of the qualifying conditions.

Qualifying Conditions

If an individual has been diagnosed with one of the following conditions, he or she may be eligible for New Jersey’s medical marijuana program:

• multiple sclerosis
• terminal cancer
• inflammatory bowel disease
• muscular dystrophy
• amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
• any other terminal disease if the patient has a prognosis of one year or less to live

A patient may also be prescribed medical marijuana if he or she suffers from one of the following conditions and does not respond to traditional treatment methods:

• glaucoma
• seizures
• intractable skeletal muscular spasticity

An individual who suffers from wasting syndrome, chronic pain, nausea, vomiting, or cachexia as a result of one of the following conditions may also take part in the medical marijuana program:

• HIV
• AIDS
• Cancer

Patient-Physician Relationship

To qualify for New Jersey’s medical marijuana program, a patient must also maintain a relationship with a registered physician for one year or longer. That physician must be the doctor who diagnosed the condition that necessitated the use of medical marijuana. This physician must also be the one to continue to oversee the patient’s care as he or she progresses with the program.

To learn more about your legal rights as a medical marijuana program participant in New Jersey, call The Law Office of Eric B. Hannum Esq., LLC. at (732) 365-3299 and schedule your free legal consultation with our firm.