Change In New Jersey Marijuana Law

This year marked a historic moment for New Jersey drug law. In January, the governor signed a law legalizing the use of marijuana as a medicinal treatment. This makes New Jersey the fourteenth state to legalize the drug for medical reasons. With regard to who can use medical marijuana, the scope of the law is very narrow.

Under the new law, patients with various terminal diseases will be eligible to use medical marijuana in New Jersey. For example, patients suffering from Crohn's disease, cancer, and Lou Gehrig's disease, may be eligible to use marijuana legally is their doctor has given them a prognosis of a year or less. This list many be expanded once the Dept. of Health is able to come up with some rules to implement medical marijuana for additional medical conditions.

While use of marijuana for certain medical treatments is legal under the new law, growing marijuana is not legal. This is to make sure that legal medicinal marijuana is regulated and monitored through various treatment centers. This way, the government can monitor the amount and location of marijuana distributed legally throughout the state. It is also worth noting that those that provide care to users of medicinal marijuana are required to go through a criminal history check.

Just because you may be legally allowed to use medical marijuana, doesn't mean that you may not be arrested for possession. There are several possible scenarios that an individual who can legally use marijuana medicinally may still face an arrest situation. In these situations, it is essential to get advice from an experienced New Jersey criminal defense attorney. Especially one with experience handling marijuana possession legal matters.

Criminal possession in New Jersey can lead to a permanently tarnished record, heavy fines and even years in jail. Every decision you make today could affect your life for years down the road. Don't speak a word to the police, and choose your New Jersey marijuana defense lawyer carefully.

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1. NJ: Support grows for John Wilson medical marijuana pardon – Examiner.com
2. Dr. Edward Langston on New Jersey Approving Medical Marijuana – Vitals Spotlight
3. FAQs on the NJ Legislature-approved bill that would legalize medical marijuana – The Star-Ledger – NJ.com
4. New Jersey Marijuana Defendants Held On $200,000 Bail
5. NJ: Judge allows John Wilson to mention MS at marijuana trial – Examiner.com