A bill to allow those with sickle cell anemia to become medical cannabis patients passed the NJ Assembly Health Committee recently.
Sickle cell anemia is an inherited blood disorder where you often have anemia where there aren’t enough red blood cells to go through the body along with periodic pain.
The New Jersey Assembly Health Committee held a very brief hearing before the bill’s passage.
Mike Burry of the UFCW Local 360 labor union was said to be in favor but did not testify.
“Andrea Raible of the NJ Homegrow Coalition in favor. No need to testify,” Committee Chair Carol Murphy (D-7-Burlington) noted from her slip.
“Are there any questions?” she asked.
No one had any questions.
The bill passed the Assembly Health Committee with little debate in an 8-1 vote.
The bill A913 is sponsored by Verlina Reynolds Jackson (D-15-Mercer), William Spearman (D-5-Gloucester/Camden), and Joe Danielson (D-17-Somerset).
In the NJ Senate, the necessary companion bill S2392 is sponsored by Senators Shirley Turney (D-15-Mercer) and Angela McKnight (D-31-Hudson).
It still needs to pass the full Assembly, the NJ Senate Health Committee, the NJ Senate, and be signed by the Governor to become law.
Medical Cannabis for Sickle Cell Anemia Bill Reactions
“Adding sickle cell anemia to the list can be life-changing for patients who are seeking to discuss options beyond opiates, especially any patients under the age of 21,” Raible said in a statement to Heady NJ.
“Pain management and a sense of agency can have a profound impact on quality of life for patients,” she noted.
“Fifteen years since legalizing medical cannabis, it is time for the program to mature. Institutional caregivers and home cultivation are essential to meet the fundamental needs of patients,” Raible declared. “Permitting physician’s discretion to determine qualifying conditions and exploring options like insurance coverage could enable the medical program to thrive alongside the growing adult-use market.”
“These patients deserve the support of a robust medical cannabis program. Unfortunately, our program is in shambles right now. Five years without progress on institutional caregivers, no timeline for NJ hemp products, ongoing market safety concerns, less than twenty qualifying conditions, plus some of the highest prices in the nation. It is no surprise that patient and doctor registrations are plummeting,” she exclaimed.
Supporting the Needy
“Working-class families deserve access to plant-based medicine. We’re grateful that our state is continuing to prioritize the medical cannabis program. We are hopeful that this legislation will lead to an increased focus on medical cannabis patient’s rights,” Burry said in a statement.
“We sincerely hope these patients will enjoy a better quality of life through medical cannabis (as I certainly do) and will be able to use their medicine far into the future without the risk of policing or adverse employment action,” he added
“Currently, New Jersey only has 5 dedicated medical dispensaries left open for business. So, it is vital to expand the program by granting medical permits to more stakeholders, including existing adult-use businesses,” Burry argued.
Ongoing Medical Cannabis Issues
He said the lack of convenient medical cannabis dispensaries also likely leads some to not renew their patient cards.
The NJ Cannabis Regulatory Commission (NJ-CRC) has reported there are only about 66,000 registered medical cannabis from a high of about 130,000.
Many other state medical cannabis programs have reported similar drops when they began allowing legal adult-use recreational cannabis sales.
“Patients amongst our own membership have spoken openly to us about how the NJ medical program doesn’t offer them enough incentives. Prices are high, quality is irregular, and access is limited,” Burry noted.
“This is why it is vital to continue pushing for legislation to add more qualifying conditions, prevent price gouging on patients, and to allow for insurance coverage to defray costs,” he argued.
“New Jersey should guarantee all medical patients the right to grow their own medicine. Currently, New Jersey criminalizes the possession of a single plant as a felony. Neighboring legal states allow their citizen to grow 6 plants for personal use. These laws will have a negative impact on Sickle Cell patients entering this program,” Burry declared.
He noted they may not be able to find the strain best for them in the commercial market.
So, being allowed to grow a specific strain for a unique health condition makes sense.
NJ-CRC Medical Cannabis Town Halls Next Week
The NJ-CRC is holding virtual Medical Cannabis Town Halls to collect feedback “to enhance patient benefits” on:
- “Wednesday, March 19, 2025, at 6 p.m. Zoom link The town hall meeting on March 19, 2025, is fully booked for speaker registrations.
- Tuesday, March 25, 2025, at Noon. Zoom link Register to speak here. Deadline to register to speak at the March 25th meeting will be Friday, March 21, at 5 p.m.
- Wednesday, March 26, 2025, at 6 p.m. Register to speak here. Deadline to register to speak at the March 26th meeting will be Monday, March 24, at 5 p.m. Zoom link.”
“You may also submit comments in writing to the Commission.”
NJ Medical Cannabis Issues
Generally, when you go to the doctor and explain a serious problem, they give you a prescription for a specific medication at a specific dose.
However, a medical cannabis prescription often does not come with specifics.
Many former medical cannabis patients have continued consuming cannabis. Having been educated on the plant, they seem to feel they can find the specific sort of weed they need in cannabis dispensaries, smoke shops, or underground legacy markets.
But while there are many options, industry experts note that legal adult-use recreational weed products are not designed for medical use.
Instead, they are grown for their THC potency since it is widely known to get you high.
Most consumers are not familiar with the other cannabinoids and the terpenes, which also contribute to a good high and healing.
