New Jersey's registered medical cannabis patient count has dropped significantly since the launch of adult-use sales, falling to 51,776 as of mid-December 2025 from nearly 130,000 in June 2022. Despite the decline, patients still receive benefits like higher purchase limits, tax exemptions, and specialized dispensary access, and the Cannabis Regulatory Commission recently reduced the medical cannabis card price from $200 to $10.

Medical Cannabis Patient Counts Down Significantly in New Jersey Since Adult-Use Sales Launch

Dec 30, 2025

TG Branfalt

Ganjapreneur

[image: wv-medical cannabis]

About 14,000 certified medical cannabis patients in New Jersey allowed
their registration to lapse in 2025, according to Cannabis Regulatory
Commission (CRC) data outlined by the New Jersey Monitor. As of
mid-December, the state counted 51,776 registered medical cannabis
patients, which is down from the nearly 130,000 counted in June 2022.

New Jersey’s medical cannabis market launched in April 2022, and a drop in
patient counts commonly follows the rollout of adult-use cannabis sales.

In New Jersey, dispensaries hold patient-only hours, have special parking
for patients, and patients are allowed to skip ahead of recreational users
in dispensary lines. Patients also avoid paying excise taxes and
can purchase up to three ounces of cannabis per month, while non-patients
are limited to one ounce.

Last year, the CRC reduced the price of a medical cannabis card from $200
to $10 and added a free digital version. Medical cannabis program
registration in New Jersey is valid for two years.

As of December 15, the state counts 3,388 registered medical cannabis
caregivers and 1,545 physicians registered to recommend patients to the
program.