Murphy conditionally vetoes medical cannabis telehealth bill

Gov. Phil Murphy on April 19 conditionally vetoed a bill that would have allowed telehealth to authorize patients for medical cannabis, on the grounds that the bill placed overly restrictive and unnecessary limitations on the use of telehealth in this context.

“For example, the bill would immediately, and for a period of nine months, disqualify many patients who have been successfully utilizing telehealth and telemedicine services in accordance with the authorization provided by the Director’s Administrative Order,” Murphy wrote April 19.

“These patients would subsequently be required to submit to mandatory in-person office visits when their eligibility resumes. I do not agree with resurrecting old barriers to access, particularly as the pandemic continues,” he said.

Murphy’s recommended revisions authorize telehealth and telemedicine for all patients and also allow medical practitioners to require in-person visits either as part of the initial consultation or the continued authorization when he or she deems necessary.

I do not agree with resurrecting old barriers to access, particularly as the pandemic continues.
– Gov. Phil Murphy

Jessie Gill, a nurse and cannabis activist, said she applauds the conditional veto, and that Senate Bill 619 and Assembly Bill 1635 would have taken New Jersey’s medical cannabis program backward.

“At the start of the pandemic, Murphy’s move to expand telehealth for medical cannabis aptly increased accessibility for countless N.J. patients. Telehealth makes patients’ lives easier and safer,” she said. “[S-619/A-1635] would have once again required many patients to have in-person visits to obtain a medical cannabis recommendation. Many of the qualifying conditions, like chronic pain and anxiety, cannot be confirmed or refuted by one in-person visit.

“Requiring patients to risk their lives with an in-person visit just to obtain medication is absurd. We need legislation that permanently allows telehealth for ALL medical cannabis patients,” Gill said.