New Jersey Medical Marijuana Program

New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission (NJ-CRC) officials are touting a new user-friendly, comprehensive platform debuting on Sept. 12, noting it enables patients to better manage their care.

New Jersey regulators fined five marijuana multistate operators a total of $360,000 for allegedly making nearly 3,200 adult-use sales in April during hours that were to be set aside for medical cannabis patients.

Bloomberg News reported the fines, based on state cannabis commission documents obtained through an Open Public Records Act request.

The enforcement action shows that New Jersey regulators were serious when they said they intended to fine marijuana companies in the state $10,000 a day if they didn’t prioritize MMJ patients.

Curaleaf Holdings Inc. and four other dispensaries with locations in New Jersey processed almost 3,200 recreational sales during hours that should have been reserved for medical patients, according to state cannabis commission documents obtained through an Open Public Records Act request.

Patient advocates filed complaints with the state Division of Consumer Affairs earlier this month to accuse medicinal marijuana operators of price-gouging, charging as much as $480 for an ounce of cannabis.

A state investigator replied promptly to say there was no legal recourse.

New Jersey is getting more medical marijuana dispensaries. The Cannabis Regulatory Commission has awarded provisional licenses to 30 companies located throughout the state. That will double the number of the state’s retail locations.

New Jersey’s more than 112,000 medical marijuana patients can continue seeing their physicians virtually or by phone to maintain their enrollment in the state’s program, thanks to a new law signed by Gov. Phil Murphy on Thursday.

Murphy conditionally vetoed the bill in April and asked lawmakers to broaden it. Initially, it would have allowed the most vulnerable patients to seek authorization for medical marijuana using tele-health appointments.

The cost of New Jersey medical marijuana, among the highest of any state in the country, would be covered for patients enrolled in four different financial assistance programs meant to help children, seniors, crime victims and those with disabilities, under identical bills already approved by the Senate and Assembly health committees.

The bills, sponsored by Sen. Joseph Vitale, D-Middlesex, and Assemblyman Herb Conaway, D-Burlington, could be voted on as soon as this week. 

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.

Jamal Campbell filed his lawsuit against the refinery company, Watco Companies and Watco Transloading LLC, in U.S. District Court in April claiming the firm violated New Jersey’s medical cannabis law and state anti-discrimination laws.

According to the lawsuit outlined by NJ.com, Campbell injured his back on the job in 2016 and became a medical cannabis patient in 2018 for pain related to a bulging disc. The lawsuit contends that Campbell never used cannabis at work or came into work under the influence.

When the pandemic started, medical cannabis dispensaries were deemed "essential businesses" in New Jersey. Green Thumb Industries, which operates two Rise medical marijuana dispensaries in the state, said the categorization of these cannabis businesses as "essential" pushed the industry forward.

The shift from illicit to essential business helped destigmatize the industry, which is now set to expand into recreational cannabis after New Jersey voters chose to legalize marijuana in November.