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Researchers, clinicians and patient advocates push CRC to expand medical research, clinician education and patient access
Summary
University researchers, clinicians, advocacy groups and patient representatives urged the Cannabis Regulatory Commission to create a dedicated research program, expand clinician education on the endocannabinoid system, add registries and patient surveys, and address barriers for veterans and people with disabilities.
An invited panel of clinicians, researchers and advocates told the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission on June 17 that the state should strengthen clinical research, clinician education and program access for patients.
Drexel University neuroscientists and clinical researchers told the Commission there is a pressing need for better‑designed clinical trials, clearer dosing data and stronger links between research and medical education. "We need to better understand how much, dosing wise, each participant in a clinical study is consuming," Dr. Jennifer Ross said, urging the Commission to consider pharmacologic monitoring and higher‑resolution testing as research tools.
Panelists recommended building a registry of current practices, conducting randomized controlled trials where feasible, and expanding clinician training across professions from pharmacists to medical residents. Dr. Robert Sterling said randomized controlled trials are the "sine qua non" of evidence‑based medicine but argued also for pragmatic, real‑world data collection to guide practice in the near term.
Patient advocates and social‑equity groups called for a CRC‑led research division that would include scientific and community advisors, explicit inclusion of minority and underserved populations in trials, and transparent public reporting of findings. Gaetano Lardieri urged a "state‑of‑the‑art research program" that keeps social equity central, while Nisha Elle Santos proposed insurance‑integration steps such as developing CPT billing codes and exploring ways to make medical cannabis a reimbursable benefit.
Speakers urged steps to restore trust among patients: patient surveys of experiences, posted Certificates of Analysis (COAs) for product batches, and stronger privacy protections for dispensary‑collected data. Chris Goldstein, an advocate, noted that New Jersey’s medical program enrollment has fallen sharply and said pricing and limited product menus have deterred patients: "We have had a shrinking medical cannabis program... it's gone down from 124,000 to 76,000 today."
Veterans and disability advocates asked the CRC to coordinate with state veterans' committees and to address institutional barriers to access. Leo Bridgewater recommended outreach to the state Senate military and veterans committee in anticipation of federal rescheduling, and Edward "Lefty" Grimes urged the CRC to mandate — not merely encourage — wheelchair accessibility at dispensaries and to preserve virtual testimony options for patients who cannot travel.
Commissioners asked clarifying questions about registry design, data collection and how to encourage more clinicians to participate. The Commission did not adopt policy changes at the meeting but repeatedly signaled interest in pursuing follow‑up work, including potential focus groups and registry planning.
The agency invited written comments through its public portal and said staff will share submitted materials with commissioners for further consideration.
