It’s a great move but it does seem seem somewhat ironic that the first to receive discounts are those that work for the instrument that spent so many years denying cannabis to the wider public. But it’s only a quibble as long as the NJ govt intends over time to extend the same benefits to non-government workers.
Of course, it being the US system it’s all tied into the insurance business so it has less to do with government largesse and more to do with machinations of health policy economics.
NJ may not have a perfect cannabis set up but their thinking and progress is eons ahead of their cousins on the other side of the Hudson, who as yet haven’t really got out of bed when it comes to managing cannabis as a health benefit.
Gaetano Lardieri F.E.M – Future Entheogenic Medicines Special Executive Advisor and Minorities For Medical Marijuana N.J. State Director says,
NJ Com reports
A dozen years after New Jersey allowed the sale of medical marijuana for registered patients coping with pain, muscle spasms, nausea, anxiety and other conditions, medicinal cannabis products will be among the benefits available to government employees in some communities for the first time next year.
Employees of the city of Trenton and the Orange and Teaneck boards of education will have the opportunity to sign up for discounts on cannabis at participating dispensaries, as well telehealth appointments through a benefit add-on known as Bennabis Health.
A company that has brokered discounts between dispensaries and medical marijuana patients since 2020, Bennabis Health also is in negotiations with other local government entities to join, said John Agos, Bennabis Health’s CEO.
Bennabis’s goal is to help normalize cannabis as medicine, the company’s co-founder and President Don Parisi said.
The collaboration in Trenton includes Aetna, the insurance carrier, Leafwell, a telehealth company that will help patients get their state registration cards and obtain educational materials on cannabis, and the pharmacy benefits manager Broadreach Medical Resources, Agos said.
“Medical cannabis has to resemble health care from all aspects, physician, pharmacy, education – all the components of health care,” Agos said. “That is what this collaboration will do. It’s seamless. You will not feel any different from going to get an antibiotic versus cannabis, except your access point will be a dispensary.”
So far, the participating dispensaries are Camden Apothecary in Camden, The Cannabist in Deptford and Vineland, Elevated by the CannaBoss Lady in Maplewood, Holistic Solutions in Atco,URB’N in Newark, Valley Wellness in Raritan and Yuma Way in Garfield.
Agos said they intend to sign up more dispensaries, but won’t include competitors of those who are participating. “We don’t need 100 dispensaries, we only need those with access to the patient pool.”
Trenton Mayor Reed Gusciora, who was one of the prime sponsors of the statewide medical marijuana law when he served in the state Assembly, said he embraces Bennabis‘s mission and the city’s participation.
“We’re excited to support Bennabis’s initiative to provide insurance coverage for medical marijuana,” said Gusciora. “This forward-thinking plan not only makes treatment more accessible for patients but also acknowledges the growing body of evidence supporting the benefits of medical marijuana,”
“By offering discounts at dispensaries and facilitating telehealth appointments, we believe this approach will significantly alleviate the financial burden on patients while enhancing their overall healthcare experience,” Gusciora added.
