The Garden State recently expanded the legal use of marijuana. In 2021, the CREAMM Act* planted the seed for adult residents and visitors over 21 to purchase recreational cannabis. But medical use has been allowed for certain New Jerseyans for over a decade (since 2010).
Even with the new law in effect, there are still many benefits to becoming a medical marijuana cardholder in New Jersey. We’ll explain those advantages below. Or, if you already know you’re looking for where to get a medical cannabis card in NJ—we’ll cover that, too.
In this guide, My Virtual Physician lays out the steps to get your medical cannabis card as a New Jersey resident.
With two modes to choose from to get your marijuana, why would you pick the medical route when you can simply walk up to the counter and purchase adult-use marijuana?
We can think of a few reasons, including:
Check out more differences between medical cannabis and recreational use in New Jersey in the table below.
| Medical Marijuana Cardholder | Recreational Use (Adult Use) | |
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| Quantity Allowed in Possession |
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| Home Cultivation |
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| Price and Taxes |
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| Age Requirement |
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Clearly, it can be advantageous to pursue medical marijuana patient status. Plus, if you’re using marijuana to treat symptoms of an underlying illness, you’ll want the medical knowledge, guidance, and support of your doctor to help monitor your condition and treatment.
Not everyone will qualify for a medical cannabis card in NJ. There are only specific medical conditions approved for using marijuana to manage symptoms. Before you apply, check the list to make sure you have a qualifying medical condition, such as:
Do you have one of the above debilitating medical conditions that you would like to treat with medical marijuana? If so, you are one step closer to getting your medical cannabis card in New Jersey.
Before you apply with the state of New Jersey, there are some things to know about how to get your medical cannabis card. First, you’ll need a bona fide relationship with your doctor authorizing the use of marijuana as a treatment for your diagnosis.
In New Jersey, that means that you need one of the following from the doctor who signs on the dotted line to get your card:
My Virtual Physician is an affordable online healthcare provider who can help you manage your debilitating medical condition and we’d be happy to establish a bona fide relationship with you to assist in getting your card. If you’d like to begin establishing this relationship today, click below to start.
Once you’ve met one of the above criteria with your doctor, the rest of the process to get a medical cannabis card in New Jersey is simple and requires only three steps.
A doctor’s evaluation is required in order to qualify for medical cannabis in New Jersey. During your visit, your healthcare provider will determine whether your medical condition meets the criteria in the law and whether medical cannabis is a good treatment option.
After your visit with your bona fide doctor, your provider will submit your physician certification to the New Jersey Medicinal Cannabis Program (NJMCP). This must be done before you apply for registration with the state.
If you’ve already established a bona fide relationship with our doctors and would like to start the process of getting your medical cannabis card, simply fill out our online intake form here to get your card now.
After you’ve been established with your doctor and he has completed your certification, it’s your turn to submit your information to the Medicinal Cannabis Program. To do this, you’ll need to set up an online account through the patient portal. Here, you can do the following:
My Virtual Physician (or another bona fide doctor of your choosing) will provide a reference number and registry ID number that you’ll need to begin the registration process.
The cost of getting a cannabis medical card in New Jersey varies greatly, depending on the provider you choose to establish your bona fide relationship with. My virtual Physician’s standard charge for medical marijuana consultations is $115.
Since New Jersey may require up to four visits to establish that relationship, the cost of your medical visits will likely increase. Review our current pricing for standard visits to determine your up-front physician costs for these additional appointments.
The state of New Jersey also charges for its registration services. When you register online with the New Jersey Medicinal Cannabis Program, you’ll be prompted to make your payment in the state portal. The current fees are $50 per applicant, and your card will be good for two years.
Discounts are available for residents who meet one of the following, reducing fees to $20 per application:
That puts your total cost for a NJ medical cannabis card at between $165 to $315 for a two-year period, depending on your situation.
Start the process to get your medical card for cannabis in New Jersey by setting up your first visit with My Virtual Physician to establish a bona fide patient-doctor relationship. If you’ve already got that, fill out our intake form to complete your final physician consultation today.
*Cannabis Regulatory, Enforcement Assistance, and Marketplace Modernization Act
