NJ Governor OKs Telehealth Prescriptions for Medical Marijuana

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy has signed into law a bill that allows healthcare providers to prescribe medical marijuana via telehealth.

Murphy’s signature on SD 619/A 1635 follows his conditional veto of the bills in April, when he criticized the legislation for including a 270-day waiting period before enactment. The revised bill eliminates that delay and is effective immediately.

The new law allows for telehealth prescriptions for people who face barriers to in-person care, including children in long-term care facilities and patients who are developmentally disabled, housebound, terminally ill or in hospice care.

The amended bill also eliminates requirements that provider and patient have an in-person exam prior to using connected health platforms and that they have in-person meetings at least one annually.

“A health care practitioner may initially authorize any qualifying patient for the medical use of cannabis using telemedicine or telehealth, provided that the use of telemedicine or telehealth, rather than an in-person visit, is consistent with the standard of care required for assessment and treatment of the patient’s condition,” the new law reads. “Following the initial authorization, the practitioner may provide continued authorization for the use of medical cannabis via telemedicine or telehealth if the practitioner determines that an in-person visit is not required, consistent with the standard of care. The practitioner may require in-office consultations if additional consultations are necessary to continue to authorize the patient’s use of medical cannabis.”

The bill’s sponsors issued statements praising the new law.

“Many medicinal marijuana patients suffer from conditions that limit mobility, making frequent visits to the doctor’s office a significant barrier to the medicine they need,” State Assemblywoman Pamela Lampitt said in a press release. “The pain relief, muscle relaxation, nausea prevention and anxiety reduction of medical marijuana are too important to the people suffering from severe medical conditions to be hindered by in-person doctor visitation requirements. This law will utilize today’s technology to help provide easier access to this beneficial medication on behalf of the people who need it the most.”

“Digital authorization will enable qualified medical cannabis patients who are medically fragile and homebound to mitigate their suffering,” State Senator Declan O’Scanlon said in a separate release. “Telemedicine is the healthcare of the future, and the pandemic demonstrated its value. Technology that has significantly changed the medical industry can help improve the everyday health and wellness of New Jersey residents who rely on medical cannabis to alleviate pain and treat medical conditions.”