PO Box 360
Trenton, NJ 08625-0360

For Release:
August 13, 2012

Mary E. O'Dowd, M.P.H.
Commissioner

For Further Information Contact:
Office of Communications
(609) 984-7160

Patient Registry Now Open for New Jersey’s Medicinal Marijuana Program

 

The Department of Health opened the Medicinal Marijuana Program (MMP) Patient Registry on August 9, allowing qualified patients and their caregivers to apply for identification cards.

 The registration process is available on the Department's new Medicinal Marijuana webpage, which includes a checklist on how to register, answers to frequently asked questions and a way to submit questions via the website to customer services representatives.

 "The Department has made every effort to make the process as user friendly as possible," said Health Commissioner Mary E. O'Dowd. "Registered physicians have had access to the system since July to become familiar with it and have their questions answered."

 Participating physicians enter their patients into the registry by creating a patient record and attesting that the patient has one of the approved debilitating medical conditions and may benefit from the use of medicinal marijuana to relieve symptoms. Only physicians registered with the MMP can authorize their patient's use of medicinal marijuana.

 Patients can find registered physicians-by county-on the MMP website http://www.nj.gov/health/medicalmarijuana/, which has been publicly available since April.

 Approximately 150 physicians in 20 counties have registered with the program.

 Registered physicians complete and submit their patient's "Attending Physician Statement" to the MMP. Once the doctor submits this information, they receive an identification number for their patient. The patient then uses that number to register on-line with the program.

 If a patient designates a caregiver to assist in the delivery of the medicinal marijuana from the Alternative Treatment Center (ATC), the caregiver must be a New Jersey resident, 18 years of age or older, and may not serve as a caregiver for another patient. Caregivers are required to register with the program.

 In order to get an identification card, a patient must submit a photograph, proof of current New Jersey residency, proof of identification by providing a copy of government-issued photo identification and, if applicable, documentation of receipt of certain state and federal assistance programs. The MMP will verify this information and if the applicant is approved, the patient will be instructed on steps for payment of the registration fee and completion of registration.

 A caregiver is required to submit a photograph, proof of current New Jersey residency, proof of identification, documentation of receipt of certain state and federal assistance programs if applicable, and submit to a caregiver criminal history background check in order to be approved as a caregiver.

 The registration fee for patients and caregivers is $200 and is valid for two years. Patients and caregivers who qualify for certain state and federal assistance programs can pay a reduced registration fee of $20. If a patient or caregiver is applying for a reduced fee, they will need to show proof they are a recipient of one of the following: New Jersey Medicaid Program, Supplemental Food Nutrition Assistance Program (Food Stamps) benefits, New Jersey Temporary Disability Insurance benefits, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits or Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits.

 Once the registration process is completed and payment has been submitted, the program issues a MMP Identification Card, which is forwarded from the program to the patient's ATC of choice for distribution.

The MMP physician, patient and caregiver registration is an online application available at https://njmmp.nj.gov/njmmp/index.html

 In order to streamline the process, payment is also an online process and is incorporated in the registration application. A patient may submit their application from their personal or any publicly available computer. The MMP has enlisted the assistance of physicians registered with the program to assist their patients with the registration process. Additionally, two ATCs have established sites around the state to conduct patient registration. A list of available ATC registration sites is available at nj.gov/health/medicalmarijuana.

 The Department has established a Customer Service Unit to assist patients, caregivers and physicians in the registration process. The customer service line, (609) 292-0424, is open from 8 am to 5pm Monday through Friday.

 For answers to frequently asked questions, please visit http://www.state.nj.us/health/medicalmarijuana/faqs.shtml  

Last Reviewed: 8/14/2012