NJ Medical Marijuana Process in 2020 – There is a set process for applying for and receiving permission to use medical marijuana in the state of New Jersey. Buyweed-NJ has been keeping you apprised of this situation all along, but here’s some back story.
In order to apply for a medical marijuana card, patients must be at least 18 years old and a New Jersey resident. To that end, they should provide a valid ID to verify his or her resident status and age. The state also allows minors to apply for medical marijuana cards through a designated legal guardian, with a signed confirmation from the minor’s psychiatrist and pediatrician. Additionally, the patient’s medical condition should fall under the state’s approved list as part of the overall NJ Medical Marijuana Process.
Steps: How to Get a NJ Medical Marijuana Card
- Patients with a qualifying condition should visit a physician registered with the state’s Department of Health. The initial consultation will include a review of the patient’s medical history and an exam of his or her condition.
- The doctor will recommend marijuana if the patient qualifies for it under the law. In order to be eligible, the patient cannot be using any other drug.
- Patients will then return for a follow-up visit, whereby the doctor will analyze the patient’s test results and recommend medical marijuana if necessary. This is typically in the range of half an ounce to two ounces.
- Once the patient gets a doctor’s certification, he or she can apply for a medical marijuana card by providing the necessary documents. In the event a caregiver is applying for the patient, the caregiver must also submit a criminal background check form.
- The state will then review the application and respond with the status via email. After receiving notification of application completion, the patient pays the application fee online. Please note: the fee won’t be refunded even if the application is rejected.
- The patient will receive his or her medical marijuana card within two to three weeks in the mail, after which time said patient can visit any of the six state dispensaries to buy his or her medical marijuana.
- The patient should schedule a follow-up visit with the doctor after consuming the medical cannabis so the physician can monitor progress and continue to update the dosage.
NJ Medical Marijuana Program: A Look Back
In the beginning, the state’s marijuana program had some pretty strict limitations. Enrollment in the program was slow yet came at a high cost for the state. Then-Governor Christie was against legalization, so resistance to the program was increased. In 2015, registered patients under the program totaled about 5,500, but it’s interesting to note that this number went on to double in the next couple of years.
New Jersey’s marijuana is some of the most expensive in the country, about $400 per ounce for standard quality marijuana. But the highest quality strains can cost up to $600. The program in the state of NJ currently serves more than 63,000 registered patients.
Look to Buyweed-NJ to keep you updated on the NJ Medical Marijuana Process.