Ohio and New Jersey are two states that have recently taken measures to reduce or eliminate the fees associated with obtaining a medical marijuana card. These actions are aimed at providing financial relief and increasing access to medical cannabis for patients and caregivers.
Ohio Reduces the registration fee to One Cent
Starting March 4, 2024, the Division of Cannabis Control (DCC) in Ohio has implemented a nominal one-cent registration fee for medical marijuana patients and caregivers. This is a drastic drop from the previous annual fee of $50 for patients and $25 for caregivers.
The DCC has submitted a proposal to the Common Sense Initiative to eliminate the fee, but it is still awaiting the necessary technological updates to the Medical Marijuana Patient & Caregiver Registry. The DCC expects to remove the fee completely by late spring.
The DCC said in a statement that it understands that a one-cent charge is not ideal, but it is appropriate and necessary to provide immediate financial relief for patients and caregivers in the short term. The reduction applies to both new registrations and renewals, but it is not retroactive or refundable.
New Jersey Offers Free Patient IDs
Meanwhile, in New Jersey, the Department of Health (DOH) has announced that it will waive the $100 fee for medical marijuana patient identification cards for the next two years. This is part of the state’s effort to implement the Jake Honig Compassionate Use Medical Cannabis Act, which was signed into law in July 2023.
The DOH said that the fee waiver will benefit about 94,000 patients who are currently enrolled in the state’s medical marijuana program, as well as new applicants. The fee waiver will also apply to caregivers, who can assist up to two patients with their medical cannabis needs.
The DOH said that the fee waiver is intended to remove barriers and increase access to medical cannabis for patients, especially those who are low-income, disabled, or veterans. The DOH also said that it will continue to expand the program by adding more qualifying conditions, increasing the amount of cannabis that patients can purchase, and allowing home delivery.
Benefits of Staying in the Medical Marijuana Program
Both Ohio and New Jersey also legalized recreational marijuana in the November 2023 election, but the DCC and the DOH encourage patients and caregivers to remain in the medical marijuana program for several reasons.
First, staying in the program ensures that patients are consulting with their physicians and receiving appropriate treatment for their qualifying conditions. Second, staying in the program provides patients with access to discounts and special offers that may be available at dispensaries. Third, staying in the program exempts medical marijuana sales from the excise tax that is levied on recreational marijuana sales.
These states are among the few that have taken steps to ease the cost of medical marijuana for patients and caregivers, who often face financial challenges due to their medical conditions. By reducing or eliminating the fees, these states hope to improve the quality of life and well-being of their medical cannabis community.