For decades, medical marijuana has offered patients across the country relief from chronic pain, anxiety, and other health challenges. But now, New Jersey is leading the way in normalizing it as a healthcare option by becoming the first state to include medical cannabis as part of employee benefits for public workers. This development sets a historic precedent—not just for New Jersey but for the nation.
New Jersey Medical Marijuana as an Employee Benefit
Starting next year, public employees in Trenton, Orange, and Teaneck, New Jersey, will gain access to medical marijuana benefits. This marks the first time an employer outside of the cannabis industry is offering programs of this kind. Eligible workers will enjoy discounts on cannabis purchases at participating dispensaries and access telehealth support through partnerships with Bennabis Health and other healthcare providers as first reported by NJ.com.
Through this program, employees will receive a minimum 15% discount on medical marijuana products, helping to ease the steep cost of treatment.
The initiative is made possible by a collaboration led by Bennabis Health and supported by organizations such as Aetna (as the insurance carrier), Broadreach Medical Resources (a pharmacy benefits manager), and Leafwell (a telehealth platform offering cannabis consultations and education). Together, these groups streamline access to cannabis products, making them just as easy to obtain as traditional prescription medications.
Why Is This Important?
New Jersey is one of 39 states with legal medical marijuana, yet the cost of cannabis remains a significant barrier for many patients. Even after the state legalized recreational cannabis in 2022, access for medical patients has been complicated by high prices and dispensary prioritization of recreational products.
This initiative is a direct response to those challenges. With the integration of medical marijuana into employee benefits, New Jersey is taking a major step toward making cannabis both more accessible and more affordable for employees who rely on it for therapeutic reasons.
Trenton Mayor Reed Gusciora, a longtime advocate for medical cannabis, describes the program as “a forward-thinking plan” that balances accessibility with an evolving healthcare landscape.
The Mechanics of the Program
How does this program actually work? Participating employees will have access to the following benefits, seamlessly integrated into their healthcare plans:
Discounts at Select Dispensaries
Workers can save at least 15% at dispensaries that have joined the Bennabis Health network, including locations like Camden Apothecary, The Cannabist (in Deptford and Vineland), and more.
Telehealth Medical Consultations
Through Leafwell, employees can book telehealth appointments to obtain New Jersey medical cannabis registration cards and receive guidance on appropriate treatment options.
Educational Resources
Leafwell and Bennabis Health also provide online educational tools, including webinars, podcasts, and articles to help patients better understand cannabis and its medical applications.
Medical Marijuana Patients’ Needs Take Center Stage
Since New Jersey legalized recreational marijuana, the number of registered medical patients has declined. According to the state Cannabis Regulatory Commission and NJ.com, the patient count dropped from 128,548 in April 2022 to 70,544 by October 2023, which typically happens after a state legalizes cannabis for recreational use.
Advocates emphasize that the needs of medical patients often differ significantly from recreational users. Patients require consistent access to specific strains and product types that work for their conditions—a necessity that is sometimes overshadowed by the profit-driven recreational market.
This program helps rebalance priorities, putting patient needs back at the forefront of the conversation around cannabis accessibility.
Bennabis Health’s CEO, John Agos, sees this landmark partnership as only the beginning. “This collaboration normalizes cannabis as medicine while making it just as accessible as any traditional healthcare treatment,” Agos explains.
The organization has plans to work with additional New Jersey municipalities and expand to other states where medical marijuana is legal. By creating a healthcare model that integrates cannabis into mainstream insurance offerings, Bennabis Health aims to eliminate the stigma and logistical barriers that have long hindered medical cannabis use.
One of the biggest obstacles to integrating medical marijuana into healthcare is the stigma—both among physicians and the general public. Former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Kenneth Moritsugu, now a board member of Bennabis Health, highlights the importance of education in this effort.
Moritsugu and other experts at Bennabis Health aim to bridge knowledge gaps by providing accessible educational resources for patients and providers alike. These efforts not only improve patient outcomes but also encourage more physicians to consider cannabis as a legitimate therapeutic option.
What This Means for the Future
With New Jersey paving the way, could we see other states following suit? Offering medical cannabis as an employee benefit has the potential to transform how patients access this treatment. It could also create ripple effects for federal cannabis policy as discussions about rescheduling the drug progress.
For now, all eyes are on New Jersey, where the innovative program serves as both a local milestone and a national model for cutting-edge healthcare.
One thing is certain—this initiative sets a new standard in removing barriers and fostering equity for medical cannabis patients, creating hope for similar advancements in healthcare nationwide.
