In New Jersey, there are nearly 50,000 registered medical marijuana patients and only six Alternative Treatment Centers (ATCs) currently operating. New Jersey recently responded to public demand to revise and expand its medical marijuana program to address issues such as supply scarcity, employment and hiring concerns, and geographic access problems.
The Garden State’s Governor, Phil Murphy, signed the Jake Honig Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act(CUMMA) on July 2, 2019. Specifically, the newly amended law:
- creates the governing body, the Cannabis Regulatory Commission, with five Governor-appointed members, two of which will be recommended by the Senate President and Assembly Speaker;
- expressly prohibits discrimination for off premises and non-working hour consumption for patients “based solely on the employee’s status as a medical marijuana patient.” Additionally the law creates procedures for employees or applicants who test positive for marijuana;
- increases the monthly purchasing limit from two to three ounces of dry flower for the next 18 months, with the maximum to be determined by regulation thereafter. Terminally ill and hospice patients will have no limits, effective immediately;
- permits edible cannabis products to be sold;
- phases out sales tax over a 3 year period;
- permits physician assistants and advanced practice nurses to provide recommendations;
- provides reciprocity for patients registered with other state medical cannabis programs; and
- authorizes home delivery to patients.