The Cannabis Regulatory Commission expanded the state’s medical cannabis program to include licensed physician assistants and nurse practitioners among the health care professionals who can enroll patients and write the recommendations needed for patients to buy cannabis at alternative treatment centers.
“Nurse practitioners and physician assistants are an integral part of medical practices and are involved in patient care, diagnosis, and prescribing medicine,” said Executive Director Jeff Brown in a prepared statement.

Brown
“We are excited to implement the process for them to participate in the program to provide greater access to patients and to make the process more efficient for care provider offices,” Brown said.
To participate in the medical cannabis program physician assistants and nurse practitioners must meet the same requirements as physicians, including being licensed and in good standing in New Jersey, and being part of a physical practice in the state.
There are currently more than 119,000 patients in New Jersey’s medical cannabis program, supported by 1,306 doctors and 4,619 caregivers.