On October 16, 2014, the New Jersey Department of Health (DOH) received a petition from the Executive Director of the Coalition for Medical Marijuana of New Jersey to amend certain New Jersey Medical Marijuana Program Rules.
The request sought the elimination of a $200 fee required for the issuance or renewal of a primary caregiver’s identification card as well the elimination of the sales tax on medical marijuana.
Additional changes requested included the elimination of a requirement that physicians register with DOH prior to recommending medical marijuana as a treatment for qualifying patients. The petitioner also sought to eliminate the current requirement that physicians take a course in pain management prior to recommending medical marijuana to qualifying patients.
The current rules requiring physicians to inform patients that there exists a lack of general scientific agreement to the benefits of medical marijuana as well as the requirement of disclosure of patient’s diagnosis were also asked to be deleted from the program rules.
Likewise, the petitioner sought to add post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to the list of “debilitating medical conditions,” while also asking for the removal of a requirement that parents obtain three licensed physicians to approve medical marijuana for children.