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Monmouth County Medical Marijuana Lawyer

Recent medical science has indicated that marijuana can have significant medicinal benefits for people with all sorts of conditions, including stress reduction, pain relief, and decreasing inflammation. Still, marijuana remains controversial and different states have different laws affecting its legality. On top of that, many of these laws are also in conflict with the federal laws prohibiting marijuana in all its forms.

Despite this conflict, New Jersey recently expanded its laws allowing the purchase and use of marijuana for medicinal purposes. Eligible conditions now include anxiety, chronic pain from musculoskeletal disorders, and migraines. If you wish to take advantage of these new options, it is essential that you understand the rules and what marijuana activities are still illegal.

An experienced criminal attorney could help you understand the medical marijuana laws in Monmouth County. A Monmouth County medical marijuana lawyer could assist you with knowing how to obtain medical marijuana in a legal fashion and to keep apprised of changes in the law.

Eligibility to Obtain Medical Marijuana

Marijuana is still illegal in New Jersey. Unlike many other states that have decriminalized the possession of the drug for personal use, New Jersey still treats marijuana possession as a disorderly person offense.

However, the state has passed a law known as the Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act (CUMMA) that makes marijuana possession legal for people with bona fide medical conditions. These people can obtain a prescription from their doctor that allows them to purchase two ounces per month.

These prescriptions must specifically prescribe the drug for the treatment of diseases such as:

  • Anxiety
  • Migraines
  • Multiple sclerosis
  • Inflammatory bowel disease
  • Glaucoma
  • Cancer

People who are given a valid prescription must obtain the drug from a licensed dispensary. The list of dispensaries located closest to Monmouth County includes the alternative treatment center located in Egg Harbor Township.

Rules Governing the Use and Possession of Medical Marijuana

Preapproved patients are only allowed to purchase marijuana in the amount of two ounces a month. They cannot transfer any amount of the drug to other people, even to other valid patients.

All patients will be given a Medical Marijuana Patient (MMP) card that identifies them as a valid medical marijuana user and which they should keep on their person at all times in addition to another form of state-issued identification. If the police suspect that someone is carrying marijuana, they can request to see both these items.

Medical marijuana is intended for use in a patient’s home. People should avoid transporting the drug, as using marijuana in public is still illegal. Even if a person is on their private property, if the police smell the drug in either its raw form or being burned, they can legally search the property.

Patients are encouraged to confine their marijuana use to inside their homes. If they are ever forced to transport their marijuana, they should be certain that they have their MMP card on their person. To learn more, seek the services of a well-trained medical marijuana lawyer in Monmouth County.

A Monmouth County Medical Marijuana Attorney Could Help

Although the possession of marijuana is still illegal under both New Jersey and federal law, New Jersey does allow people to purchase and use up to two ounces of the drug every month for medical purposes. However, this only applies to people who have a valid doctor’s prescription. Furthermore, you must purchase the drug at approved sales centers and must confine their use to their homes. Additionally, all patients have issued ID cards that identify them as permitted users.

Any violation of these laws is a criminal offense for which you could face serious consequences. A Monmouth County medical marijuana lawyer could help you better understand the medical marijuana laws. Contact a local lawyer today to learn more.