Bill > S1955

Introduced Session

This bill revises certain requirements concerning patient access to medical marijuana. Specifically, the bill provides that alternative treatment centers may make medical marijuana available to patients in oil form, removes a restriction that made edible forms of medical marijuana available only to qualifying patients who are minors, and removes the current two ounce limit on the quantity of medical marijuana that may be dispensed in a 30-day supply. The patient's physician may authorize the patient to be dispensed a 30-day supply of medical marijuana in any quantity; if the physician does not specify a quantity, the amount dispensed will be at the discretion of the alternative treatment center, based on the patient's qualifying medical condition and an assessment of the patient's treatment needs. This bill is designated "Jake Honig's Law" in honor of Jake Honig, a seven-year old Howell resident nicknamed "Jake the Tank" who, at the age of two, was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of brain cancer with a rare genetic mutation. After undergoing dozens of rounds of chemotherapy, proton radiation therapy, and surgery, his tumor went into remission for four years, until follow-up scans determined that the tumor had returned and spread to other parts of his body. Jake's doctors advised his parents that there was nothing more to be done, and he was released to hospice care in his own home, where, despite being prescribed six different medications to treat his various symptoms, medical marijuana proved to be the most effective way of stopping his nausea, vomiting, agitation, and acid reflux, and improving his mood, stimulating his appetite, and restoring his mental well-being. Although medical marijuana proved to be an effective treatment for Jake, his parents noted the difficulties they encountered with the cost, quantity limits, and issues related to producing their own cannabis oil to administer to Jake. In honor of Jake, who passed away on January 21, 2018, this bill seeks to remove certain restrictions on access to medical marijuana in order to reduce the suffering experienced by, and improve the quality of life of, New Jersey patients, like Jake, seeking treatment for a debilitating medical condition.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Jim Beach (D)*,  Vin Gopal (D)*, 

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee (on 02/22/2018)