You may have heard about the recent expansion of the medical marijuana program in New Jersey. If you are interested in using marijuana to help with a medical condition, it is important to understand that the plant is still federally illegal.
In order to legally use medical marijuana, you must register through the state. The first thing you will need to do, however, is make an appointment with a doctor who can decide whether or not to recommend medical cannabis for you.
Health conditions that qualify
While you may have a debilitating condition, that does not necessarily mean you qualify for a medical card. The list of qualifying conditions in New Jersey is, however, much more general than in some other states. For instance, as the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws points out, you may be able to get a recommendation to use medical marijuana for chronic pain or anxiety.
As far as more specific conditions go, you will most likely qualify for a recommendation if you suffer from Tourette’s Syndrome, seizures, PTSD, muscular dystrophy, epilepsy, cancer, HIV/AIDS, multiple sclerosis or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. You also may be able to use medical marijuana to help treat opioid dependence.
What having a medical card looks like
If you get a doctor’s recommendation and register through the state of New Jersey, you will then receive an ID card that verifies your status as a medical marijuana patient. With this card, consumption in public is still illegal, but you will be free to use marijuana on your private property and to possess as much as three ounces.
