Qualifying Medical Conditions Under the New Jersey Medical Marijuana Program
Wednesday, March 31, 2021
Every U.S. state has legislation on the use of marijuana. More than two-thirds of the United States, including the District of Columbia, actually legalized marijuana for medical use. Others are considering bills to legalize it for medical use, as well. If you live in New Jersey, you no longer need to live in fear of getting arrested for possessing amounts of marijuana for personal use. In a way, the Garden State is getting a bit greener, especially for people with qualifying medical conditions under the New Jersey medical marijuana program.
Legalization in this densely populated state will probably encourage other states on the East Coast of the U.S., such as Pennsylvania and New York, to follow suit. This, in turn, may pressure Congress to end the war on marijuana. That said, as a New Jersey resident, it is still illegal for you to grow your own marijuana at home in any amount.
Medical Marijuana in New Jersey
In New Jersey, as of Jan. 1, 2021, you can consume marijuana for both recreational and medical purposes. The state’s Governor signed this legalization amendment on Feb. 22, 2021. This followed unsuccessful efforts to legalize it through 2018 to 2019 legislative session. However, on Nov. 3, 2020, the referendum on legislation passed with an impressive 67 percent approval.
What Is Medical Cannabis?
Medical marijuana uses the cannabis plant and the chemicals contained in it to treat certain conditions or diseases. In reality, for the most part, it is the same thing as recreational marijuana, but patients take it for medical purposes. According to experts, the cannabis plant contains hundreds of chemicals known as cannabinoids.
Each of these chemicals has a different effect on the body. In terms of medical benefits, CBD and THC are the most important compounds. However, you need to understand that THC is the compound that produces the ‘high’ people feel when they consume foods, oils, or liquids containing it.
How to Determine Whether You Qualify for Medical Marijuana in New Jersey
If you suffer from certain life-threatening, debilitating, or severe health conditions, the state of New Jersey affords you some legal protection when it comes to using marijuana. To determine whether your medical condition qualifies under the NJ medical marijuana program, you need to consult a licensed medical marijuana doctor.
Fortunately, you can talk to a licensed MMJ doctor online or in person. Getting started will only take you a few minutes, and all you will need to do is sign up, answer a few questions, and then book an appointment. The doctor will evaluate your medical condition and determine whether you qualify for medical marijuana therapy. Some of the qualifying medical conditions under the New Jersey Medical Marijuana program include:
· Terminal cancer.
· Anxiety.
· Migraines.
· Opioid dependence.
· ALS.
· Chronic pain.
· Tourette’s Syndrome.
· Multiple Sclerosis.
· Crohn’s Disease.
· Terminal illness.
· Inflammatory Bowel Disease.
· Muscular Dystrophy.
If you are intolerant or resistant to conventional therapy, conditions such as seizure disorder, PTSD, intractable skeletal, muscular spasticity, and glaucoma also apply. Those with an HIV-positive status, AIDS, and cancer will also qualify for the program in certain situations.
However, the state’s medical marijuana laws are the first of all states in the U.S. with legal cannabis to prohibit the cultivation of the plant at home. The NJ medical cannabis law also requires patients to purchase a limited amount of marijuana from state-approved and monitored dispensaries.
Sources:
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/new-jersey-marijuana-legalization-bill_n_5cdc30f2e4b0337da4abc51e