ASSEMBLY HEALTH COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

[First Reprint]

SENATE, No. 619

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  MARCH 5, 2020

      The Assembly Health Committee reports favorably Senate Bill No. 619 (1R).

      As amended by the committee, this bill permits patients to be authorized for medical cannabis and to have written instructions for medical cannabis issued to the patient using telemedicine and telehealth.

      Specifically, for a period of 270 days following the effective date of the bill, a health care practitioner may authorize a patient who is a resident of a long-term care facility, has a developmental disability, is terminally ill, is receiving hospice care from a licensed hospice care provider, or is housebound as certified by the patient’s physician, for the medical use of cannabis using telemedicine and telehealth.  Thereafter, a health care practitioner may initially authorize any patient for the medical use of cannabis using telemedicine and telehealth, provided that, except in the case of a patient who is a resident of a long-term care facility, has a developmental disability, is terminally ill, is receiving hospice care from a licensed hospice care provider, or is housebound as certified by the patient’s physician, the patient has had at least one previous in-office consultation with the health care practitioner prior to the patient’s authorization for the medical use of cannabis. 

      Following the initial authorization, the patient is to have at least one in-office consultation with the practitioner on an annual basis in order for the patient to receive continued authorization for the use of medical cannabis.  The practitioner may require more frequent in-office consultations if additional consultations are necessary to continue to authorize the patient’s use of medical cannabis.  The bill additionally allows written instructions for medical cannabis to be provided to or on behalf of a patient using telemedicine and telehealth.

     As reported by the committee, Senate Bill No. 619 (1R) is identical to Assembly Bill No. 1635 which was reported by the committee on this date.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

      The committee amendments provide that following the initial authorization, the patient is to have at least one in-office consultation with the practitioner on an annual basis in order for the patient to receive continued authorization for the use of medical cannabis.  The practitioner may require more frequent in-office consultations if additional consultations are necessary to continue to authorize the patient’s use of medical cannabis.