A New Jersey Assembly bill that would add sickle cell anemia to the list of qualifying medical marijuana conditions has passed its second committee.
The Assembly Appropriations Committee approved the legislation, Assembly Bill 913, today in a unanimous 9 to 0 vote. The proposal would explicitly allow patients with sickle cell anemia—a painful and chronic blood disorder—to use medical marijuana as a treatment option.
New Jersey’s medical marijuana program was established in 2010 and currently includes conditions such as chronic pain, PTSD, cancer, and multiple sclerosis. Although recreational marijuana is also legal in the state, medical authorization still offers key advantages, including tax exemptions, higher possession limits, and prioritized access to products.
With today’s vote, the bill now heads to the full Assembly for consideration. If approved and signed into law, it would provide sickle cell anemia patients with guaranteed access to the state’s medical marijuana program.
