This bill mandates the establishment of a program by the Cannabis Regulatory Commission (CRC) to subsidize up to 20 percent of the purchase price of medical cannabis and related products for registered qualifying patients enrolled in the State Medicaid or NJ FamilyCare programs. The subsidy will be applied at the point of sale after any other discounts, effectively reducing the price as listed on dispensary websites. The CRC is tasked with creating a verification system to confirm patient enrollment in these programs, in coordination with the Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services. Medical cannabis dispensaries are required to inform patients and caregivers about the subsidy program through signage and other communication methods, but they can only verify enrollment at the request of the patient or their caregiver.

Additionally, the bill includes provisions for the CRC to reimburse medical cannabis dispensaries and clinical registrants for the subsidies applied. This reimbursement will be funded through the Cannabis Regulatory, Enforcement Assistance, and Marketplace Modernization Fund. The bill also amends existing law to include a new section that allows for these subsidies, ensuring that the financial assistance is effectively integrated into the current cannabis regulatory framework. The act is set to take effect 90 days after its enactment.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 24:6I-50