A slew of changes to New Jersey’s medical cannabis program were signed into law by Governor Phil Murphy earlier this week.
The governor’s signing of the Jake Honig Compassionate Use Medical Cannabis Act will expand and improve access through changes including:
- Increasing the monthly limit patients can receive from two ounces to three ounces, with the level to be reviewed after 18 months. The exceptions to this limit are in the cases of terminally ill and hospice care patients, who will not be subject to any limit.
- Extending the physician authorization period from 90 days to one year.
- Edibles will be available for adults.
- Phase-out of the state’s medical marijuana sales tax over a period of three years.
- Physician assistants and advanced practice nurses will be permitted to authorize the use of medical marijuana.
- Employers banned from taking adverse employment actions against employees who are registered patients based on this status.
- A registered patient will be able to have two caregivers at any given time.
- Those registered as qualifying patients out-of-state can be considered qualifying patients in New Jersey for up to six months.
- Dispensaries required to post accurate prices on their web sites relating to all medical marijuana products.
- Dispensaries permitted to offer home delivery services.
“I am proud to stand with my legislative partners as we break down barriers to ensure this life-changing medical treatment is affordable and accessible for those who need it most,” said Governor Murphy.
About “Jake Honig’s Law”
The legislation is named the Jake Honig Compassionate Use Medical Cannabis Act, also known as Jake’s Law, after a young boy who passed away last year after battling cancer for much of his life. Jake Honig’s parents were a driving force behind the push for change in the state’s medical marijuana laws and a review was ordered by Governor Murphy in January last year. While Jake is no longer with us, his legacy will live on and help many others bypass the challenges Jake and his parents faced.
“Jake Honig’s Law will impact tens of thousands of patients in New Jersey immediately!!” said a post on Jake’s Facebook page. “Thank you to our state’s law-makers for working so many hours on this initiative, all our friends and family for your love and Governor Murphy for signing this into law!”
