In a landmark move aimed at improving the quality of life for thousands of residents, the New Jersey Legislature has passed a bill adding sickle cell anemia to the list of qualifying conditions for medical cannabis use in the state.
The bill, A913, received bipartisan support and passed both the Senate and Assembly earlier this month. Governor Phil Murphy is expected to sign the legislation into law in the coming days. Once enacted, it will allow patients suffering from the painful, inherited blood disorder to obtain medical marijuana cards and access cannabis-based therapies legally under New Jersey’s medical marijuana program.
Sickle cell anemia, a condition that disproportionately affects African American and Hispanic communities, causes red blood cells to become misshapen, resulting in chronic pain, frequent hospitalizations, and increased risk for stroke and organ damage. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 100,000 Americans live with the disease, and advocates say access to alternative treatment options is long overdue.
“This is a huge step forward for the sickle cell community in New Jersey,” said Dr. Michelle Pierre-Louis, a hematologist at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center. “We’ve seen countless patients who struggle to manage their pain with traditional opioids. Having cannabis as an option not only provides relief but can reduce the need for habit-forming narcotics.”
The legislation was championed by State Senator Troy Singleton (D-Burlington), who has worked closely with medical professionals, patient advocates, and community leaders to highlight the necessity of expanding access.
“Sickle cell patients have suffered in silence for too long,” Singleton said in a statement following the bill’s passage. “With the inclusion of this debilitating disease in our state’s medical cannabis program, we’re giving people more control over how they manage their health and pain.”
The bill comes at a time when more states are reevaluating the role of medical cannabis in treating chronic illnesses. While 38 states and Washington, D.C. have legalized some form of medical marijuana, qualifying conditions vary widely. New Jersey has maintained one of the more comprehensive lists, including conditions such as cancer, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, and chronic pain.
Adding sickle cell anemia aligns with recommendations from health experts and patient testimony presented during public hearings. Many individuals living with the disease described years of inadequate pain relief, stigma surrounding opioid use, and a lack of alternative options.
“I’ve been in and out of hospitals since I was a child,” said Latasha Greene, a 29-year-old patient from Jersey City who testified before lawmakers in support of the bill. “Cannabis helps me function. It helps me sleep through the night. I’m grateful the state is finally listening.”
The New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission (CRC) has announced it will begin working immediately to integrate sickle cell anemia into the patient registry, with full implementation expected by early summer 2025. Physicians registered in the program will be able to recommend cannabis therapy to patients as part of their treatment plan.
Advocates say this expansion reflects a growing understanding of how cannabis can be effectively used in medicine, especially for conditions that cause chronic, non-cancer pain.
“This is about compassion, science, and equity,” said Singleton. “We’re proud to support those who need real solutions—not just prescriptions.”
Once signed by the governor, New Jersey will join a small but growing number of states that formally recognize the potential of cannabis in managing sickle cell disease—offering new hope for relief and dignity to those who need it most.