NJ Governor Phil Murphy today signed an Executive Order directing the New Jersey Department of Health and the Board of Medical Examiners to review the state’s existing medical marijuana program. The goal of the review is to eliminate barriers to access for patients who suffer from illnesses that could be treated with medical marijuana.
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| NJ Governor Pat Murphy |
“We need to treat our residents with compassion,” Governor Murphy said. “We cannot turn a deaf ear to our veterans, the families of children facing terminal illness, or to any of the other countless New Jerseyans who only wish to be treated like people, and not criminals. And, doctors deserve the ability to provide their patients with access to medical marijuana free of stigmatization.”
A New Jersey Workers’ Compensation Judge, Ingrid L. French, ordered that a marijuana prescription was the responsibility of a workers’ compensation insurance company. The Judge stated, “While the Court is sensitive to the controversy surrounding the medicinal use of marijuana, whether or not it should be prescribed for a patient in a state where it is legal to prescribe it, is a medical decision that is within the boundaries of the laws in the State of New Jersey. In this case, there is no dispute that all of the credible evidence presented confirms that this Petitioner is an appropriate candidate for New Jersey’s medical marijuana program.” Watson v 84 Lumber CP 2009-15740 (NJ DWC 2016) Decided: 12.15.2016
“One of the primary benefits under the Workers' Compensation Act is that of medical benefits. Medical benefits are mandated by the Act, and require the employer to furnish the injured worker with medical, surgical and other treatment and hospital services as are necessary “to cure and relieve the worker of the effects of the injury and to restore the functions of the injured member or organ” if possible.” N.J.S.A. 34:15-15. Gelman, Jon L, Workers Compensation Law, 38 NJPRAC 12.4 (Thomson-Reuters 2017).
Currently, New Jersey limits marijuana prescriptions only to those who have certain state-approved conditions. Further, due to administrative barriers put in place by the Christie administration, New Jersey’s highly stringent rules have means countless residents who could benefit from medical marijuana are left out of the program. Current enrollees, more than 15,000, have access to only five dispensaries in operation in the state.
To combat lack of access, the Executive Order mandates that the Department of Health and Board of Medical Examiners complete the review of New Jersey’s medical marijuana program within 60 days. The Order also requires that the review’s findings are submitted along with recommendations for new rules and regulations – or for the elimination of existing ones.
Another goal of the Executive Order and subsequent review is to eliminate the stigma that many doctors feel when prescribing medical marijuana. That issue is exacerbated by state law requiring medical professionals to publicly register in order to become certified prescribers of medicinal marijuana.
“Many aspects of New Jersey’s medical marijuana program are written in statute,” Governor Murphy said. “But our law is eight years old. Since it took effect, significant medical research has been conducted. Our goal is to modernize the program in New Jersey, bring it up to current standards, and put patients first.”
The current law was approved by the Legislature and enacted in January 2010.
Governor Murphy said he remains committed to working with the New Jersey Legislature to pass comprehensive marijuana reform.
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Jon L. Gelman of Wayne NJ is the author of NJ Workers’ Compensation Law (West-Thomson-Reuters) and co-author of the national treatise, Modern Workers’ Compensation Law (West-Thomson-Reuters).
