What is the NJMMP? Learn about New Jersey’s medical cannabis program
While the Garden State recently became one of 18 states to legalize adult-use cannabis, the NJ medical marijuana program (NJMMP) has been in service for more than a decade.
The Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act, signed in 2010 by former Gov. Jon Corzine, set the stage for a functioning online patient registration portal and the establishment of a medical cannabis system to better assist patients and regulate the market. Today, the NJMMP – now called the New Jersey Medical Cannabis Program (NJMCP) – has expanded beyond its original scope, but it still serves the same purposes. This overview will take you on a tour of the New Jersey medial cannabis program and how it works.
In this blog, you will learn:
What the NJMMP is and what it’s for
The history of New Jersey’s medical cannabis program
How the medical cannabis program functions today
How to become a medical cannabis program in New Jersey
What is the NJMMP?
The NJMMP is New Jersey’s medicinal cannabis program, which was established to help registered medical cannabis patients safely access medicine from compliant and licensed medical cannabis dispensaries, initially called alternative treatment centers, or ATCs for short.
Anyone looking to obtain medical cannabis in New Jersey must register within the medical cannabis program by meeting various standards and requirements for access, including a pre-registration referral from a doctor validated by the NJMCP.
What does the NJMMP do?
The New Jersey medical cannabis program began with issuing licenses for vertically integrated ATCs, allowing for the cultivation, processing, and dispensing of medical cannabis products to qualified patients. The program also established the rules for applying for a medical cannabis identification card, including the qualifying conditions eligible for the NJMMP. This was initially under the auspices of the New Jersey Department of Health (DOH).
In addition to safeguarding patient access to medical cannabis in New Jersey, the medical cannabis program was initially responsible for safety and regulatory measures within the industry as a whole. Once New Jersey Gov. Philip D. Murphy signed the legalization of adult-use cannabis into law, this triggered the creation of the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission (NJCRC), which has taken over responsibility for the medical cannabis program from the DOH.
History of the NJMMP
The NJMMP was formed after the legalization of medical cannabis in New Jersey in January 2010. Created to regulate the state’s program, the formal creation of the NJMCP – what was then called the NJMMP – included rules governing taxes, restrictions on caregiver requirements, and limiting patient monthly acquisition limits, among other responsibilities.
In July 2019, Gov. Murphy signed the Jake Honig Compassionate Use Medical Cannabis Act to reform the original NJMMP. According to NJ.gov, that law expanded patient access through a variety of measures, including:
Raising the monthly limit from two to three ounces: Before the Jake Honig Act, patients were limited to purchasing two ounces of usable cannabis every 30 days. The bill increased this limit to three ounces. Additionally, terminally ill and hospice patients are no longer subject to any monthly limit.
Expanding authorization period: Prior to 2019, physicians could only authorize patients to receive up to a 90-day supply of medical cannabis, prompting patients to renew their certifications four times per year. Today, authorized health care practitioners can issue patients up to a one-year supply.
Phasing out of sales tax: Reform on the medical cannabis program made it possible to incrementally reduce sales tax on medical cannabis products over two years, from 6.625% down to 0%. This lowered sales tax amount took effect July 1st, 2022.
Protection of employment for patients: The Jake Honing Act altered the medical cannabis program to ensure that employers cannot take action against employees based on their status as medical cannabis patients.
Expansion of caregiver regulations: Patients registered under the program can now have two designated caregivers simultaneously.
Reciprocity inclusion: Those registered under medical cannabis programs in other states will be considered qualified patients in New Jersey for up to six months.
Access to home delivery: To improve access, ATCs in New Jersey can deliver products to medical cannabis patients.
How are the NJMMP and the NJCRC connected?
The establishment of the NJCRC was a significant part of NJ medical cannabis program reform that occurred in 2019. With the adoption of the Jake Honig Act, the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission was established, and was charged with assuming responsibility over the state’s medical marijuana program with the objective to further expand access for patients. The NJCRC was formally put in place in the spring of 2021, once the chair and chairpersons were nominated and appointed.
Consisting of three members, an executive director, a chair, and a vice chair, the NJCRC is now the primary regulatory body overseeing both the state’s medical and adult-use cannabis markets. In addition to issuing licenses for medical and recreational cannabis businesses in the state, the NJCRC creates rules and restrictions for health and safety standards for cultivation, manufacturing, compliance testing, and sales to ensure that all cannabis products are safe for sale.
How can a New Jersey resident qualify for a medical cannabis card?
To qualify for certification under the New Jersey’s medical cannabis program, there are a few requirements that you must meet during the application process. The following are some of the regulations for NJ cannabis patients:
Age requirement: Anyone registered in the program must be 18 years old. Minors who wish to obtain a medical cannabis card must have a registered caregiver apply on their behalf.
Doctor referral: All potential medical cannabis patients must present a referral from a doctor participating in the program.
Proof of residency: All patients must prove that they are a resident of New Jersey to obtain a medical cannabis card. The program will only accept a form of utility bill, cell phone bill, or a document from the IRS/NJ State Tax Office as valid proof of residency. Patients will also be required to prove their identity with a government-issued photo ID.
Payment of fees: All New Jersey medical cannabis patients must pay a $100 fee to cover the cost of the application process. Those utilizing state assistance programs, such as permanent disability, can get their card at a reduced rate.
For more information on the New Jersey Medical Cannabis Program and obtaining a medical cannabis card in New Jersey, visit njmmp.nj.gov.