QUALIFYING PATIENTS IN NEW JERSEY

 To obtain a registration ID card, you must be certified as having a qualifying debilitating medical condition by a physician who has been approved by the MMP and has ongoing responsibility for your treatment of that condition. Only physicians who are registered with the Medicinal Marijuana Program (MMP) can certify you as eligible for registration in the program. Ask if your current doctor is registered; if not, speak with him or her about registering so you can obtain a medical cannabis recommendation. If you are already medicating with cannabis on your own, tell your doctor specifically what condition or symptoms you treat with cannabis. Honestly describe the amount of cannabis you use, how often, and by what delivery method. If your doctor is not registered with the MMP and declines to do so, you will need to visit a physician who is. The MMP website has a tool to find a registered physician in your area.

Once you have a doctor's certification, you will need to fill out your patient application found on the MMP Website to complete the online registration process. You must supply all the required information, including the Patient Reference Number your doctor provided. Once you have completed the Patient Registration page, including choosing an Alternative Treatment Center where you will obtain your medicine, you will be required to upload scanned photographs and documents. If you do not have a scanner, your local library or copy center should be able to assist you. On you application you must provide:

  • Patient photograph (similar to a passport photo - white background, no hat or sunglasses, face must be 70% of the picture) in JPEG format
  • Proof of Identification-Government Issued Photo ID
  • Proof of current New Jersey residency
  • Caregiver photograph (if applicable)
  • Caregiver government issued ID (if applicable)
  • Caregiver proof of NJ residency (if applicable)

Your government ID must be one of the following:

  • Current NJ digital license
  • Current NJ digital non-driver ID card
  • NJ County ID card
  • [US passport, current or expired less than 3 years
  • Current US Passport card
  • Valid active duty US military photo ID card
  • US military photo retiree card]

Proof of New Jersey residency is required and must be one of the following:

  • Utility or credit card bill issued in the past 90 days that shows your name at your current address
  • Checking or savings account statement from a bank or credit union, issued within the past 60 days
  • Property tax bill, statement or receipt from the past year
  • Any letter or correspondence (including tax bills) received from the IRS or state tax office in the last year
  • First-class mail received from any federal, state or local government agency within the past six months

The fee for registration is $200 unless you are on a state of federal assistance program, in which case you may qualify for a reduced fee of $20. If you receive government assistance, you may also qualify for a reduced registration fee of $20. To qualify, you will also need to submit proof of government assistance.

  • NJ Medicaid
  • Food Stamp Benefits
  • NJ Temporary Disability Insurance benefits
  • Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits
  • Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits

Eligible conditions:

If you are diagnosed with one of the following conditions, you may be eligible for physician certification as a patient in New Jersey:

  • Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig's Disease)
  • Multiple sclerosis
  • Terminal cancer
  • Muscular dystrophy
  • Inflammatory bowel disease, including Crohn's disease
  • Terminal illness, if the physician has determined a prognosis of less than 12 months of life
  • Any other medical condition or its treatment that is approved by the NJ Department of Health and Senior Services by regulation

The following conditions apply if resistant to, or if the patient is intolerant to, conventional therapy:

  • Seizure disorder, including epilepsy
  • Intractable skeletal muscular spasticity
  • Glaucoma
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

The following conditions apply if severe or chronic pain, severe nausea or vomiting, cachexia or wasting syndrome results from the condition or treatment thereof:

  • Positive status for human immunodeficiency virus
  • Acquired immune deficiency syndrome
  • Cancer

Benefits of Being a Patient:

As a registered patient in New Jersey, you will have an affirmative defense in court if you are arrested for the possession of cannabis.

Becoming a Caregiver:

New Jersey's medical cannabis laws protect patients and their primary caregivers from prosecution for cannabis law violations. By state law, a designated caregiver is allowed to possess, obtain, and provide cannabis for the patient. The caregiver is not allowed to use this cannabis for his or her personal use, nor provide this medicine to unqualified patients.

A caregiver must be at least 18 years of age and a New Jersey resident. A caregiver can be designated by the patient at any time on the MMP website. Once the caregiver is designated, the caregiver must complete the MMP application form and agree to a criminal background check. Caregivers cannot have been convicted of possession or sale of a controlled dangerous substance unless it was a federal conviction for marijuana sale or possession that was authorized by New Jersey medical cannabis law. The Department of Health website has more information and required forms.

Out-of-State Patients:

New Jersey recognizes Out-of-State patient registrations. For more information about traveling as a medical cannabis patient, check out our Travel Guide.

Home Cultivation:

Growing cannabis at home is not legal in New Jersey.

Cannabis Expungement:

In 2019, S4154 established the expungement of low-level cannabis crimes and set up an “automated clean slate process” to seal certain records. For more information refer to the website of the New Jersey Courts.

Medical cannabis patients can find additional resources here

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