Medical Marijuana in NJ: How to Apply for an Alternative Treatment Center Permit

by | Jun 5, 2019 | Uncategorized

As of June 3, 2019, New Jersey has 47,500 patients enrolled in its Medical Marijuana Program prompting the New Jersey Department of Health to announce that it is seeking new applicants to operate up to 108 additional medical marijuana Alternative Treatment Centers (ATCs). Permits will be awarded to up to 38 in the northern region of the state, up to 38 in the central region, and up to 32 in the southern region. Three types of endorsements (designation set forth on the permit of an ATC that authorizes the ATC to cultivate, manufacture, or dispense medicinal marijuana for the benefit of qualifying patients) will be available for ATCs: up to 24 cultivation, 30 manufacturing and 54 dispensary. The six currently operating ATCs and awardees from the July 2018 RFA are eligible to participate in this application process.

New Jersey’s surge in patient enrollment is due to its addition, in March 2018, of five new conditions that are eligible to be treated by medical marijuana.  The new conditions are: Opioid Use Disorder, two types of chronic pain, anxiety, migraine, and Tourette’s syndrome.

Important Deadlines

  • On July 1, 2019 applications will be released. Applications are due August 15, 2019. According to the Department’s recent press release, the length of time required to review applications and the timeline for announcing awards will depend on the volume of applications received.
  • The Department will accept written questions up to July 5 to be reviewed at its pre-application webinar.
  • On July 16, 2019 the Department will host a pre-application webinar. Additional details for the webinar have not yet been released. Following the webinar, the Department will post a set of Frequently Asked Questions and responses to those questions.

For further guidance and to learn more about New Jersey’s ATC permitting process, call Cannabis Law PA at 717-703-0804.