Medical professionals recommending medical cannabis must hold an active New Jersey medical license in good standing issued by the NJ Board of Medical Examiners, possess an active controlled dangerous substances registration issued by the NJ Division of Consumer Affairs that is not subject to limitation, and practice within the State of New Jersey.

Physicians must have a bona fide physician-patient relationship with a patient in order to register them with the program. A bona fide physician-patient relationship means a relationship in which the physician has ongoing responsibility for the assessment, care and treatment of a patient's debilitating medical condition whereby:

  • The physician-patient relationship has existed for at least one year; or
  • The physician has seen and/or assessed the patient for the debilitating medical condition on at least four visits; or
  • The physician assumes responsibility for providing management and care of the patient's debilitating medical condition after conducting a comprehensive medical history and physical examination, including a personal review of the patient's medical record maintained by other treating physicians reflecting the patient's reaction and response to conventional medical therapies.

Only physicians that are registered with the Medicinal Marijuana Program (MMP) can certify patients to receive medicinal marijuana. You can register on the New Jersey MMP website. A physician must initiate a patient registration for the program.

Qualifying conditions include: amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, multiple sclerosis, terminal cancer, muscular dystrophy, inflammatory bowel disease, including Crohn's disease and terminal illness, if the physician has determined a prognosis of less than 12 months of life.