In January 2010, outgoing Governor Jon Corzine signed the Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act, which permits the use of marijuana for use by people with certain qualifying conditions. Legislators cited advances in modern medical research, which discovered beneficial uses of marijuana in treating and alleviating pain for those suffering from debilitating medical conditions.
Once this law was enacted, it effectively made it legal under state law for qualifying individuals to use marijuana. However, there are numerous restrictions and criteria that you must meet in order to qualify for and legally use medical marijuana.
As it stands, Somerset County only exempts medical marijuana from criminal prosecution. If you or a loved one has questions about medical marijuana laws in Somerset County, contact a dedicated local defense lawyer for more information. A knowledgeable Somerset County medical marijuana lawyer could answer your questions and protect your rights.
Qualifying Conditions for Medical MarijuanaIn 1999, the National Academy of Sciences' Institute of Medicine reported that marijuana had some medical benefits and offered relief for a variety of conditions. The report claimed that medical marijuana can help those individuals suffering from nausea, vomiting, anorexia, headache, and pain.
In the same vein, New Jersey’s medical marijuana law provides a specific list of conditions that qualify a person to use medical marijuana, and generally uses the term “debilitating medical condition.” However, many of these conditions have a caveat. For example, a person may be entitled to use medical marijuana if they suffer from a seizure disorder, epilepsy, or skeletal muscular spasticity provided that these conditions have proven to be resistant to conventional medical therapy.
Other conditions such as nausea or vomiting, cachexia, or wasting syndrome often result from the condition or treatment of positive status for human immunodeficiency virus, acquired immune deficiency syndrome, or cancer. However, these conditions need to cause severe or chronic pain in order to make the person suffering from them eligible for medical marijuana treatments.
Other conditions such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, multiple sclerosis, terminal cancer, muscular dystrophy, or inflammatory bowel disease, including Crohn’s disease do not come with a caveat.
In addition, if a doctor determines a person is suffering from a terminal illness—as explained as a condition for which a physician has determined a prognosis of less than 12 months of life—that patient may qualify for medical marijuana treatment. How to Get Medical MarijuanaAs a Somerset County medical marijuana lawyer could explain, in order to obtain medical marijuana, a New Jersey resident must have and maintain an ongoing relationship with a qualified doctor. This patient’s doctor must have the responsibility to continually assess, provide care, and treatment for their debilitating condition. A bonafide doctor-patient relationship can be further evidenced by:
While New Jersey’s Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act was passed to help those who suffer from serious injuries, the process of obtaining and maintaining a medical marijuana card can be confusing. If you have questions about these medical marijuana laws, contact a Somerset County medical marijuana lawyer for assistance and advice today.