The New Jersey Senate Health Committee passed a medical cannabis-related bill (S3799) on Thursday to provide financial support programs for children, seniors, and crime victims in need of medical cannabis treatment reported nj.com.
The Garden State has among the most expensive medical cannabis programs in the country with an ounce costing anywhere from $350 to $500 on average. This can be explained by the sluggish development of the state's medical marijuana program that minimized competition while the demand exploded, according to the outlet.
In that health insurance does not cover the cost of medical cannabis because it is still illegal at the federal level, many patients in need cannot afford to pay for it on their own.
“The cost of medical cannabis, for some people, it’s just not within reach,” Sen. Joe Vitale, who sponsored the bill, said during the hearing. “In most cases, this would be someone who would qualify because of financial reasons or because of an injury they suffered.”