“Many people face financial barriers when it comes to treatment, such as paying for doctors’ visits and cannabis.”
By Sophie Nieto-Munoz, New Jersey Monitor
To prevent the enrollment of medical marijuana patients continuing to decline, the state cannabis agency lowered registration fees to only $10 every two years. This is down from $50, which was previously charged to most patients.
The Cannabis Regulatory Commission reported at its meeting on Thursday that the number of medical marijuana patients has declined since April 2022 when the state began recreational marijuana sales. State data shows that the number of medical cannabis patients has fallen to less than 94,000 from 128,000 at the time recreational cannabis sales began.
Jeff Brown, executive director of the commission, stated that while medicinal sales are declining, adult sales continue growing at a rate of about 10% each quarter. The commission reported that consumers spent approximately $206 million in the third quarter 2023 on cannabis, including nearly $177 in recreational sales. The third quarter of 2023 saw a decrease in medicinal sales, which totaled $29 million. This is down from $61 millions at the same period last year.
Brown stated that the decision to eliminate the registration fee for the medicinal program would “hopefully encourage patients.”
Many patients are unable to afford treatment, such as paying for doctor visits and cannabis. NJ-CRC does everything it can to remove as many barriers as we can to ensure that those who could benefit from cannabis treatments remain in the program,” Brown stated in a press release.
NJ-CRC announced the reduction of fees and eventually elimination for Medical Cannabis Patients. Read more: https://t.co/QOE0HFNneN pic.twitter.com/zbDqZH8fmz
New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission December 8, 2020
The new price was effective immediately. To remain in the program, patients must re-register at least every two years.
Historically, medical users used physical cards at dispensaries. These cards will be digitalized in 2024.
Medical marijuana users enjoy some advantages over recreational users. These include parking and hours reserved for patients, separate menus featuring different strains and deals, priority in product inventory, and tax-free purchases. New Jersey’s marijuana prices are among the highest and its taxes among the lowest in the nation. This leaves people with little incentive to stay in the program.
On the menus for recreational and medical use, an eighth of Ozone marijuana costs $65 at Ascend Fort Lee. ZenLeaf, in Lawrence offers the eighth for $42.50 medicinal users and for $45 recreational.
Registration cost $200 every two years when medicinal marijuana sales began in 2010. The agency reduced the registration fee to $50 for most patients, and to $20 for seniors.
The cheapest eighth of medicinal marijuana in Pennsylvania is $18 and the lowest price for New Jersey patients is around $40.
Goldstein stated, “We are talking about patients that will be expected to pay up to four times more than the companies across the river for the same product.” “Consumers don’t think that they are stupid.” Look at the menus in different states .”
This article was originally published by New Jersey Monitor.
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The article New Jersey Reduces Cost of Medical Marijuana registration as enrollment declines first appeared on Marijuana moment.
