The Medical Marijuana Program Patient Registry begins today in New Jersey, as the Department of Health allows qualified patients and their caregivers to apply for identification cards.
“The Department has made every effort to make the process as user friendly as possible,” said Health Commissioner Mary E. O’Dowd in a news release. “Registered physicians have had access to the system since July to become familiar with it and have their questions answered.”
The department has a list of more than 100 physicians, including three in Ocean County, authorized to recommend medical marijuana to patients.
All three are in Toms River:
- Dr. Anselm Igbanugo, 54 Bey Lea Road, Toms River
- Dr. James Morales, 1868 Hooper Avenue, Toms River
- Dr. Ashok Patel, 20 Hospital Drive, Suite 12, Toms River
Patients and their doctors can register through the Department of Health medical marijuana registration website.
Doctors can register patients by attesting the patient has one of the "debilitating diseases" on the on the website, which lists diseases that have symptoms proven to be alleviated by marijuana.
According to the release, "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."
Patient identification cards are obtained by including a patient photograph, proof of residency, a government issued ID, and if applicable documentation of receipt of certain state and federal assistance programs.
The registration fee for patients and caregivers is $200, valid for two years. Patients and caregivers who qualify for certain state and federal assistance programs can pay a reduced registration fee of $20. Payment can be made online.
Ocean County is not the only county with authorized doctors. Three more are in Monmouth, where . Members of the board wanted decisions on medical marijuana growth to rest with local governing bodies.
An , and denied in November of last year.
New Jersey’s medical marijuana law was signed more than two years ago by then-Governor Jon Corzine. Advocates have criticized delays in implementing the program and releasing the list of doctors.
Medical marijuana has been said to ease symptoms associated with debilitating medical conditions including cancer, multiple sclerosis, AIDS and muscular dystrophy.
And one of the doctors listed for Ocean County (on the big list, see link) is telling people who call that he will not be taking on any new patients for Med. Marijuana. He will only prescribe that to 'existing patients' already seeing him. Real nice. How helpful and medically conscientious.
I don't give a crap about the doctor deciding not to take on "new patients"... you missed MY point. My point was that Christie has set up more restrictions and so-called 'safe guards' than any other state has (with MM programs) and limiting the doctors, and/or by making them paranoid because of requiring 'registration' on some government list to prescribe A MEDICATION, is killing the program before it even gets off the ground. I was not attacking the doctor personally for not accepting new patients. Did you not get the gist that I blame CHRISTIE??
http://www.philadelphiaweekly.com/news-and-opinion/New-Jersey-Medical-Marijuana-Law-Comes-With-a-Slew-of-Restrictions.html
As far as us "stoners" are concerned we have easier access so we don't mind not having cards it's not like all of us go out and visit john doe on the corner to get something most of us get delivery and never even have to leave our homes lol and quite a majority of us "stoners" will pay less for it then the sick folk who are going to line up at the dispensary. MM is not new to Ocean Co, It's actually been available through the back channels for over a year, As long as you know who to call.
Even if we all agreed that the medical condition list should be somewhat trimmed down, (and I don't agree, but let's just pretend) there is/could be a happy medium instead of just GUTTING the criteria like Christie has. He's waaaay over and beyond the 'reasonable' line.
#2...my back hurts!
In 2010, the Veteran's Administration finally agreed that medical marijuana is a legitimate mode of treating several Service Connected illnesses and symptoms suffered by American vets. BUT, the VA docs can't prescribe MM for their vets because they can't 'go against' federal rulings about class I Controlled dangerous substances. Which is odd, because they certainly don't have any issues with VA doctors prescribing all sorts of opiates/pain killers freely. But yeah.... right? OK, so the VA won't prescribe it, that means the vet must establish himself with one of the very few doctors statewide who are registered to Rx MM. What if the vet has no health insurance because the VA takes care of his health needs as they arise? How could he afford to find a new doctor and pay for visits for the next year or so until that doctor can write an Rx for MM? (IF he will) The other issue is, the VA lists several medical illnesses/symptoms that can be treated with MM. However, NOT ONE of their PTSD, depression, or anxiety related symptoms are on Christie's list of acceptable medical conditions. Screwed again. There has also been more than a few cases of Vets being denied their regular pain meds once they start using MM, and are forced to choose one or the other -- for no legitimate medical reason. Yet Christie is insisting on limiting the THC percentage in all MM to just 10% and no more than 3 strains available- No better than the crappiest street pot. It's BS
She was probably the doctor's wife..... [rolls eyes]