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New Jersey's medical marijuana program could soon double in size as Gov. Phil Murphy's administration on Monday called for up to six more marijuana providers to address supply problems that have escalated since the expansion of the program earlier this year.

Murphy made the move himself after the Legislature failed to pass a bill expanding the program before the end of June. The call for more providers comes as New Jersey's medical marijuana program is growing rapidly since the governor made several changes, including adding conditions like chronic pain and anxiety.

"We look forward to the opening of six new dispensaries so we can ensure that all qualifying patients who want access to medicinal marijuana can have it,'' Murphy said in a statement Monday.

The Department of Health says it is adding about 500 patients to the program each week and now has more than 25,000 registered patients, up from about 16,000 at the end of 2017.

The patient influx has led to long lines at the existing dispensaries and limited availability of some strains.

"As supply limitations impact patients' accessibility to medicine, then the body that's empowered to act on the patient's behalf should act," said Hugh O'Beirne, president of the New Jersey Cannabis Industry Association. "If that person is the governor, then the governor should act."

"We've got people suffering. We've got children suffering for crying out loud."

But even if six new medical marijuana providers are added to the state's program, they wouldn't be able to increase supply for months. Applications are due by the end of August, and the winning applicants wouldn't be chosen until Nov. 1, meaning the new entities wouldn't be able to bring marijuana to market until the spring of 2019 at the earliest. By then, New Jersey's program could have close to 50,000 patients, if current growth continues.

The six new medical marijuana providers would follow the formula of the existing six, according to the people familiar with the plan. They will be vertically integrated, meaning they grow, process and sell cannabis, and there would be up to two new providers each in the northern, central and southern regions of the state.

The new dispensaries would join operations in Bellmawr, Cranbury, Egg Harbor Township, Montclair, Secaucus and Woodbridge.

Murphy calling for more vertically integrated medical marijuana providers signifies at least a partial step away from his previously stated goal of diversifying the program by issuing separate licenses for growers, processors and retailers. Marijuana advocates, however, say the governor is putting patients first.

"The earlier objective of breaking up the licenses into different categories is objectively what is best for New Jersey and any developing market," said Scott Rudder, president of the New Jersey Cannabusiness Association. "But since it's taking so long to get that accomplished, patient access and supply and medication always has to come first."

More licenses are still being considered. The Department of Health proposed regulations last month that, among other things, would allow the state to issue separate licenses for growing, processing and retailing.

The public has until mid-August to comment on those proposed changes, but if the rules are adopted, the state could start accepting applications for the separate licenses shortly after applications for the six new providers.

In a statement, the Health Department said it plans to request applications for separate cultivators and processors in the fall, and for more retailers in the winter of 2019.

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Payton Guion may be reached at PGuion@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @PaytonGuion. Find NJ.com on Facebook.