If you live in New Jersey and would like to purchase medical marijuana, you’ll need to apply for a medical marijuana card from the New Jersey Division of Medicinal Marijuana.

Here’s how to get a medical marijuana card in New Jersey, plus everything else you need to know about the program from how much it costs to whether or not you can grow your own cannabis at home.

While it is not yet legal to purchase marijuana in New Jersey, you can apply for and be approved for a medical marijuana card, which will allow you access to your medicine through participating dispensaries. If you’re suffering from one of more than ten qualifying conditions, or if you suffer from chronic pain due to any condition, then you may qualify for medical marijuana. 

The goal of medical marijuana is not to get you high but rather, it is meant to help treat your condition. There are several different strains of marijuana and several ways that you can consume it. You may be able to choose between edibles, tinctures, topical creams or vaping liquids. It’s important to discuss these options with your doctor before making a decision on which method will work best for you. The consultation fees will be $200-$300.

List Of Qualifying Conditions For a Medical Marijuana Card in New Jersey

To obtain a medical marijuana card, a patient must be diagnosed with at least one of these qualifying conditions:

• Cachexia
• Chronic pain
• Cancer,
• HIV/AIDS positive status,
• Muscular dystrophy,
• Intractable skeletal spasticity,
• Migraine or multiple sclerosis.
• Epilepsy and glaucoma,
• Opioid Use Disorder,
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD),
• CSeizure disorder,
• Terminal illness
• Tourette Syndrome

Cancer patients with severe or chronic pain that have already been treated with chemotherapy or radiation treatment; and any of these conditions (in which case you will also need proof from your physician)

Crohn’s disease, lupus, and rheumatoid arthritis. A card is issued for one year from the date of approval by a physician and then automatically renews each year thereafter as long as there is no change in condition. Inflammatory bowel disease, including Crohn’s disease

 

Should I Join the New Jersey Medical Marijuana Program?

If you live in NJ and have been looking for information on how to get a medical marijuana card in New Jersey, you’ve come to the right place. Like many other states, medicinal marijuana is now legal in New Jersey (only after being approved by your doctor).

The program has very limited coverage so far, but that doesn’t mean it won’t expand soon. If you are an epileptic patient who has not seen results from conventional treatment, then marijuana may be a viable option for you. And if you aren’t an epileptic patient, there are still plenty of reasons why you should consider joining up.

Even if you don’t meet one of these strict requirements, there are some cases where a doctor can recommend marijuana use. Any patient dealing with PTSD or muscle spasms as a result of multiple sclerosis could be eligible for a recommendation from their doctor.

Even if you do qualify for medical marijuana in NJ, there are still plenty of reasons not to sign up for it. For example, it may take weeks before your card arrives, meaning you would have no legal way to obtain medical cannabis during that time. So even though more than 22000 patients have been approved so far, fewer than 6000 ID cards have been issued by state officials.

 

How to Get a Medical Marijuana Card in New Jersey

With new legislation going into effect later next year, it’s more important than ever for medical marijuana patients in New Jersey to learn how to get a medical marijuana card in New Jersey.  You’ll just need to have one of the NJ-qualifying medical conditions and a valid photo ID to get started, it’s safe to say that many people will be learning about cannabis for therapeutic purposes for the first time soon.

Step 1 – Visit a Physician

First, schedule a consultation with a medical marijuana doctor who will review your medical history and help you decide if medical cannabis is right for you. A licensed physician can prescribe medicinal cannabis and issue a recommendation, or Form 1 (recommendation) or Medicinal Marijuana Card. The recommendation or card is used as evidence of your eligibility for purchasing medicinal marijuana.

For more information on how to get a medical marijuana card in New Jersey. Once you have received your recommendation or Medicinal Marijuana Card from a licensed physician, you need to submit that document along with additional documentation listed below to receive an official Medical Marijuana Identification Card from the NJ Department of Health. 

Step 2 – Follow-Up Visit

After your first appointment, your doctor will most likely suggest a follow-up visit. This is usually scheduled two weeks later and gives you another opportunity to ask questions, address concerns and ask for clarification on certain points of information.

The meeting will be online or in-person for 10-15 minutes to evaluate your ailments and ask any questions you may have about medical marijuana treatment. After the appointment is complete and if you are approved, the doctor will fill out a recommendation form for medical marijuana. Remember: if there’s something you don’t understand or want to be clarified, don’t be afraid to ask!

Step 3 – Register with the New Jersey Medical Marijuana Program

To get a New Jersey medical marijuana card, you’ll need to register with your county’s Medicinal Marijuana Program (MMP). Once you get approved, you will get register with the state, pay the additional state fee which is $100, and submit your application.

The state will process your application and notify you of your approval and mail your card. Once you have your card in hand, you can begin purchasing from dispensaries. You’ll also need to find out what documents you’ll need to bring along with you—some counties require proof of residence and other ID documentation.

Step 4 – Visit Your Physician Again

Once you get the card and you get started using the marijuana, you need to visit again to the doctor to measure the progress and if needed they decide to change the doses. The doctor will then submit your information electronically through NJ MMJ Online.

Make sure your ID is up-to-date and available on your smartphone, as well as your doctor’s contact information. You should also carry a copy of your patient registration card with you at all times. Your medical marijuana provider will give you a registration number for identification purposes; keep it handy for when you are buying from dispensaries or other cannabis businesses that require proof of registration.

You may also want to consider getting a wallet-sized document holder so that you can store your ID, registration cards, and business cards all together. When traveling out of state with medical marijuana make sure that it is legal where you are going before leaving home!

How Long Does It Take to Get a Medical Marijuana Card in NJ?

Once you get registered by paying fees, the time it takes for you to get a card depends on your doctor’s office and how many patients are already on that physician’s schedule. Most physicians have three slots per day, with morning, afternoon, and evening appointments. Mostly it takes 7-10 business days to get a medical marijuana card in NJ.

 After you register, your doctor’s office will call you to schedule a date and time for your evaluation. The office will either fax or scan your application and supporting documents to a licensed physician who evaluates whether or not they believe you have been diagnosed with a qualifying condition that would warrant cannabis therapy.

If approved, your physician will sign off on their recommendation and submit it back to the state program for processing. Once processed, then NJMMCC sends out another letter with instructions about how soon you can expect to get your card by mail.

Other Information on the New Jersey Medical Marijuana License Process

To get a medical marijuana card, you must first take part in a medical evaluation. To do so, schedule an appointment with a doctor who is registered with MMJ NJ.

 While MMJ NJ requires patients with a valid medical marijuana card, these recommendations can be as simple as stating that you suffer from a debilitating condition. The doctor will then evaluate your condition and determine whether you qualify for cannabis treatments.

Each patient’s evaluation is different based on their diagnosis, but most of them last less than five minutes. If you are approved for medical marijuana use, you’ll need to pay your doctor for their services before moving on to the next steps.

Where Can I Find a Physician to Recommend Me for MMJ?

First and foremost, be sure you’re actually going through a legitimate physician. Not just any doctor can prescribe medical marijuana; if you really need to get medical cannabis treatment then your physician will provide you with medical marijuana recommendation you can use in your state.

Because medical marijuana is a Scheduled 1 drug, doctors do not prescribe it they will provide you a recommendation and the recommendation is most important to purchase medical marijuana at dispensaries           

Where Can I Purchase MMJ in New Jersey?

Medical marijuana dispensaries in New Jersey are known as “Alternative Treatment Centers,” or “ATCs.” New Jersey is strict in allowing only the most desperate medical patients to obtain marijuana.

There is also Marijuana Delivery Service available in New Jersey. ACT employees deliver marijuana at your doorstep, Each delivery car is outfitted with a GPS tracking system and a lockbox, preventing it from deviating from its route.

How Much Cannabis Can I Buy & Possess?

Once you get your medical marijuana card, you’ll be able to purchase cannabis legally from licensed dispensaries. But where are those dispensaries? And how much can you buy? Well, that depends on which state you live in, of course. The amount of medical cannabis one can purchase varies wildly depending on whether it’s a recreational or medicinal state, and if it falls under California’s Proposition 215 law or not.

In some states, there are no limits at all! It is up to the doctor in New Jersey to determine how much marijuana can be purchased for medical patients. New Jersey also imposed a 3-ounce limit per 30-day period.

Where Can I Use MMJ in New Jersey?

Under New Jersey’s current medical marijuana laws, patients who have been diagnosed with one of a select group of qualifying conditions are able to access cannabis products with a physician’s recommendation, and if you have your medical card, or are at least 21 years old, you can walk into any licensed dispensary and purchase medical cannabis.

According to New Jersey dispensary laws, you must have your medical card or proof of identification to make a purchase

Can I Register a Caregiver?

Yes, you can register a caregiver or multiple caregivers if you would like assistance. Caregivers must be at least 18 years old and cannot have any prior felony convictions. Additionally, caregivers must take all steps necessary to ensure that neither they nor their patients are endangering themselves or others.

This includes ensuring patients’ medications stay out of reach of children, pets and other people who might accidentally consume them.

Does New Jersey Have a Reciprocity Program?

Yes, New Jersey has a reciprocity program. New Jersey now recognizes the MMJ cards of other states.  This means that if you have a valid medical marijuana card from another state (with qualifying conditions), you will be able to purchase cannabis products at any dispensary in New Jersey.

You must bring your medical marijuana card with you when visiting a dispensary. In addition, patients must have their ID on them as well as their medical marijuana card for identification purposes.

Final Thoughts on How to Get a New Jersey Medical Marijuana Card

While residents are still waiting for recreational cannabis legalization, obtaining a medical marijuana card is an easy way to get a hold of legal weed and cannabis-derived products without breaking state laws. All you need is a qualifying condition or condition; that’s it! You can begin your application right away at any time. We’ve done all of our research and listed every step on how to get a new jersey medical marijuana card below.

Before you go ahead and apply for a new jersey medical marijuana card, make sure you have one of these qualifying conditions: HIV/AIDS, cancer, glaucoma, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), hepatitis C, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Crohn’s disease, agitation of Alzheimer’s disease, multiple sclerosis and other disorders characterized by muscle spasticity.

If you are suffering from any of these conditions, then congratulations! You may be eligible for a new jersey medical marijuana card! Once your application is submitted and approved, your physician will provide you with documentation that proves your condition(s). This document will be used to obtain your official state-issued identification card. The process can take anywhere between 3 weeks to 4 months. We recommend following up with your doctor at least once every 2 weeks so they can keep track of your progress and remind them if you haven’t heard back yet.