How To Get A Medical Marijuana Card In New Jersey? 2024

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New Jersey becoming a medical marijuana state in 2010 was a huge push in favor of the medical marijuana drive running throughout the country. The state is known for its strict stance on marijuana use in past years so finally getting access to medical marijuana was a huge thing.

But things didn’t stop there as Garden State finally allowed sales of recreational marijuana for its adult population in April 2022. Since then, the state laws have been constantly updated and revised.

Since the state of New Jersey now allows both medical and recreational marijuana, some people do question the potential benefit of having a medical marijuana card in the first place. Well, let’s discuss that in detail along with how to get a New Jersey medical marijuana card in 2023 if it’s beneficial.

Possible Benefits Of Having A Medical Marijuana Card In New Jersey

Even when both recreational and medical marijuana are now legal in New Jersey, some benefits are solely limited to medical marijuana users. These benefits include,

• Medical marijuana users enjoy tax exemption on every purchase. This significantly decreases the cost of products when recreational marijuana users have to pay around 6.625% in sales tax.
• Medical marijuana users also enjoy higher possession limits than recreational marijuana users. A person having a valid MMJ card can possess up to 30 days of products while recreational marijuana users are only allowed to possess one ounce of dried flower, five grams of concentrates, and one gram of THC in edible products.
• Medical marijuana users also enjoy a separate check-out line, access to a wider range of products, and fewer purchasing limits when visiting a state-authorized marijuana dispensary in New Jersey.

Eligibility Requirements

Unlike many other US states, the eligibility requirements set by the state of New Jersey to determine whether or not you can apply for a medical marijuana card are pretty basic. The state requires you to be 18 years or older, must have a valid medical marijuana recommendation, and must be a permanent resident of New Jersey state.

It is important to note that the state does allow minor patients to apply for a medical marijuana card if they are accompanied by a designated caregiver. The caregiver will have to separately apply for a license at the relevant department.

Qualifying Medical Conditions

As per the state law, a patient must be diagnosed with the following qualifying medical conditions to become eligible for a medical marijuana recommendation in New Jersey,

• AIDS/HIV
• Crohn’s Disease
• Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
• Anxiety, Panic Disorders
• Tourette Syndrome
• Cancer
• Chronic Pain, Muscle Pain, and Other Types of Pain
• Addiction Treatment
• Epilepsy
• Post -Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
• Glaucoma
• Headache & Migraine
• Muscular Dystrophy (MD) and Myotonic Disorders
• Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBDs)
• Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
• Palliative Care (Admittance Into Hospice)
• Parkinson’s Disease (PD)
• Seizures and Seizure Disorders

How To Apply? A Step-By-Step Guide

1. The state of New Jersey requires you to have a medical marijuana recommendation before applying at the relevant department. This means that the first step is to book your medical marijuana evaluation appointment with a certified medical doctor. Don’t worry if you don’t know how and when to book an appointment, the Kif is going to help you with that.
2. Once you have got your medical marijuana recommendation, the next step is to gather all the documents and apply for the New Jersey medical marijuana card at the relevant authority. Don’t forget to pay any non-refundable application fee as well.
3. Now, the only thing you can do is wait. Once approved, you’ll be further notified regarding how and when to receive your medical marijuana card.

What To Expect During Your Kif Appointment?

The Kif is a telemedicine-powered platform that allows you to book your medical marijuana appointment completely online. Once you log in to your Kif account, you’ll get the chance to select the time and date of your appointment as and when you prefer. During your appointment, we expect you to answer the questions asked by the medical doctor to the best of your knowledge. Plus, the Kif also offers a money-back guarantee in case you don’t get a medical marijuana recommendation from us.

Potential Cost

Apart from the medical marijuana recommendation fee paid to the doctor, the state will charge you a $50 non-refundable application fee as well. But in case you are registered with the SSD, SSI, SNAP, NJ Medicaid, or the NJ Temporary Disability Benefits, you’ll have to pay the reduced fee of $20. Senior citizens (over the age of 65) and military veterans are also eligible for the reduced fee.

Medical Marijuana Reciprocity

The state of New Jersey has signed medical marijuana reciprocity agreements with other states allowing out-of-state medical marijuana cards to be valid in the state for about six months. Following is the list of US states that accept a New Jersey medical marijuana card,

• Alaska ^
• New Mexico * (recreational cannabis is legal in NM)
• New York ^
• California ^
• Colorado ^
• Hawaii *
• Pennsylvania (minors only)
• Illinois ^
• Maine
• Connecticut ^
• Arkansas *
• Michigan (qualifying state must also have reciprocity with Michigan)
• Missouri ^
• Montana
• Nevada
• New Hampshire
• New Jersey *
• Oklahoma *
• Oregon ^
• Puerto Rico
• Washington ^
• Washington D.C.
• Maryland ^ (as of July 2023)
• Massachusetts
• Rhode Island
• U.S. Virgin Islands *
• Utah (max. 45 days, after which the patient must apply for a Utah MMJ card)
• Vermont ^
• Virginia ^

States marked with * require visitors to complete a visiting patient application for the duration of their stay.
States marked with ^ have adult use programs but do not accept out-of-state cards.

Applying As A Caregiver

The state of New Jersey does allow medical marijuana patients (minors in most cases) to be accompanied by registered caregivers. As per state law, a caregiver must be 18 years or older, have a clear criminal record (no past drug-related felonies), and must be a permanent resident of the state of New Jersey.

How & Where To Buy Medical Marijuana In New Jersey?

The state of New Jersey has a licensed and very well-organized network of marijuana dispensaries throughout the state from where medical marijuana patients can purchase the required products on a priority basis.

Is ‘Cultivation’ a better option?

No, cultivation of cannabis is not a great option as cannabis cultivation is illegal in New Jersey, even for registered medical marijuana patients.

New Jersey Medical Marijuana Laws That You Should Be Aware Of!

• Both recreational and medical marijuana are now legal in New Jersey.
• Medical marijuana users enjoy additional benefits such as higher possession limits, exemption from sales tax, and priority service.
• Cannabis cultivation is illegal throughout the state in any capacity regardless of your legal status as a medical marijuana user/caregiver.

FAQs

Are there specific medical marijuana doctors in New Jersey who can recommend the card?

• Yes, as per the state law, only licensed medical marijuana doctors can recommend a medical marijuana card in New Jersey.

Can I use my Medical Marijuana Card from another state in New Jersey?

• Yes, the state of New Jersey does allow out-of-state cards within the state. The validity of these cards for in-state purchases or possession protection will be six months.

How long is the Medical Marijuana Card valid in New Jersey?

• The New Jersey medical marijuana card is valid for two years.

Where can I purchase medical marijuana after obtaining my card in New Jersey?

• The state of New Jersey has a network of licensed medical marijuana dispensaries from where registered medical marijuana users can purchase the required products on a priority basis.

Are there any restrictions on the amount of medical marijuana I can possess in New Jersey with the card?

• As per the law, a person having a valid New Jersey MMJ card can possess up to 30 days of required marijuana products in possession.

Can I grow my cannabis plants if I have a Medical Marijuana Card in New Jersey?

• No, cannabis cultivation is illegal throughout the state for all state residents.

What should I do if I lose my Medical Marijuana Card in New Jersey?

• In such a case, we will advise you to contact the relevant department as soon as possible and apply for a duplicate card.