The “New Jersey Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act" became law in January 2010.  It went into effect on October 1, 2010.  For a copy of the law, see: http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2008/Bills/PL09/307_.PDF 

The law removes the state-wide penalties for the possession and use of up to two ounces of marijuana a month when a New Jersey licensed physician recommends it for a patient with one of the qualifying medical conditions.  Qualifying medical conditions include cancer, AIDS, multiple sclerosis, Crohn’s disease, etc.  The physician must have an on-going responsibility for the patient’s condition.  Patients will be issued ID cards in a program run by the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS).  Patients may designate a caregiver to assist them with obtaining and using the marijuana. The caregiver must also register with DHSS and must undergo a criminal background check. The marijuana will be obtained from Alternative Treatment Centers which will be set up in the north, central and southern parts of the state.  The Centers will be tightly regulated by the DHSS and the Department of Law and Public Safety.  New Jersey is unique among the 15 medical marijuana states in that only the Garden State prohibits home cultivation of medical marijuana.

 
Specific information about how to apply to the DHSS for ID cards as a qualified patient or caregiver, or how to apply for a permit as an Alternative Treatment Center is available in the form of proposed regulations.  (It is not possible to apply as a patient or caregiver yet.  The DHSS has only started the physician pre-registry at this point.)  The DHSS regulations were revised in mid-January, 2011, and are the subject of legislative debate at the moment.  There is a Resolution in the legislature that will force the DHSS to invalidate all or parts of the regulations.   Nevertheless, the DHSS has awarded permits on March 21, 2011 to six non-profit organizations to run ATCs in NJ.  The DHSS thinks the soonest medical marijuana will be available to patients will be mid-summer, 2011.  The information available to the public from the DHSS can be found at: http://www.state.nj.us/health/med_marijuana.shtml

For more info, join the CMMNJ e-mail list for monthly updates.  Click here.

CMMNJ meetings are the second Tuesday of each month at the Lawrence Twp. Library from 7:00 PM until 9:00 PM.  All are welcome.  Snacks are served.  The library is at 2751 Brunswick Pike, Lawrence Twp., Tel. #609.882.9246.  (It's at the corner of Business Rt. 1 and Darrah Lane in Mercer County.)  We also have Patient Advisory Groups (to add qualifying conditions to the law) and an ATC Advisory Group that meet at various locations.

CMMNJ, a 501(c)(3) public charity, provides education about the benefits of safe and legal access to medical marijuana. Donations to CMMNJ are income tax deductible.  Help us to continue our mission with your generous financial support.  Donations may be made via PayPal (click the link on our website) or send a check made out to “CMMNJ” to the address below.  Donations of $15 or more qualify for a CMMNJ t-shirt—specify size.  Thank you.
 
Ken Wolski, RN, MPA, Executive Director
Coalition for Medical Marijuana--New Jersey, Inc.  www.cmmnj.org
219 Woodside Ave., Trenton, NJ 08618 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it