Starting Thursday July 18, the important changes are taking effect that are a part of New Jersey’s newly expanded medical marijuana law. These changes should help patients save money and, if the doctor recommends it, be able to buy more cannabis each month.
Before this new law was signed, patients were only allowed to purchase up to two ounces, according to the original 2010 law. Two ounces of cannabis weren’t enough for many patients. One example is Jake Honig. He was a seven year old boy with cancer and would run out of cannabis oil halfway through the month. This caused his nausea and pain to return. This new law is named for Jake, who passed away last year.
This new law that Gov. Phil Murphy signed July 2, will allow patients to buy up to three ounces of dried flower every month. Patients who have been diagnosed with terminal diseases will be able to purchase as much cannabis as they need, said Assistant Health Commissioner Jeff Brown.
This new law also ends the requirement that patients have to see their doctor every three months to reaffirm their eligibility in the program.
“Prior to the change in law, physicians were required to see patients every 90 days and patients were limited in a maximum of 2 ounces per month – a restriction that was overly burdensome on patients,” said Brown in an email to patients and physicians in the program.
The number of registered patients within the medical marijuana program has reached the 50,000 mark and with only six alternative treatment centers (ATCs) growing and selling, there have been supply shortages. These ATCs are getting better accustomed to the inventory needed and the health department approved six new licenses in December and are actively seeking applicants for up to 24 new medical marijuana businesses this year.
Frank T. Luciano is a highly successful and experienced drug crime attorney operating in multiple areas throughout Northern New Jersey, including Hackensack, Jersey City, Elmwood Park and Fort Lee. In nearly 40 years as a criminal defense attorney, there is almost no legal situation that Mr. Luciano has not seen and successfully navigated his clients through.
Give yourself the best chance at a positive legal outcome by contacting Frank T. Luciano’s New Jersey law office immediately at 973-471-0004.