New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy has signed legislation into law that will allow healthcare practitioners to remotely authorize medical marijuana use via telemedicine/telehealth.
Murphy signed the bill into law on June 24, according to a press release. Sponsors of the legislation included state assemblywomen Pamela Lampitt and Joann Downey, and state Sen. Declan O’Scanlon.
The law permits healthcare practitioners to initially authorize any qualifying patient for the medical use of cannabis via telemedicine or telehealth, as long as the use of telehealth/telemedicine is consistent with the standard of care required for in-person assessment and treatment, according to the press release.
After the initial authorization, practitioners may decide whether to continue authorizing the medical cannabis via telehealth/telemedicine or to require an in-person consultation.