New Jersey Assembly Bill A3248

New Jersey 2022-2023 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/7/22
• Refer: 3/7/22
• Refer: 5/26/22

Caption

Allows costs of medical cannabis to be reimbursed by Catastrophic Illness in Children Relief Fund, PAAD, Senior Gold and VCCO.

Impact

The proposed legislation addresses a gap in financial support for those eligible for state-funded medical aid who also require medical cannabis. Should the bill pass, it would authorize the aforementioned assistance programs to include costs for medical cannabis in their reimbursement structures. This would provide eligible individuals with substantial financial relief, particularly for vulnerable populations, such as children suffering from catastrophic illnesses and elderly individuals relying on medical assistance programs.

Summary

Assembly Bill A3248, introduced in the New Jersey Legislature, aims to expand the financial resources available for individuals utilizing medical cannabis by allowing reimbursement for its costs through several existing assistance programs, including the Catastrophic Illness in Children Relief Fund, PAAD, Senior Gold, and the Victims of Crime Compensation Office (VCCO). This bill represents a significant move toward integrating medical cannabis expenses within public health funding frameworks, indicating long-term support for alternative treatments in state law.

Contention

A point of contention surrounding A3248 involves concerns about the eligibility criteria and the potential administrative burden on the Cannabis Regulatory Commission, which may need to set limits on the quantities of medical cannabis eligible for coverage. Additionally, the requirement for individuals to pay a copayment, which may be waived in certain conditions, raises debates regarding accessibility for low-income patients. Critics might argue that while the bill aids in financial coverage, it does not fully address the systemic barriers many patients encounter in accessing medical cannabis.