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Even as Gov. Phil Murphy sets about doubling the size of the state's medical marijuana program, there's still one segment of New Jersey's population without any access: The four-legged.

While physicians can recommend medical cannabis for human patients, New Jersey's veterinarians are legally prevented from giving pet owners advice or recommendations regarding its use, despite the growing availability of cannabidiol, or CBD, products for animals.

"There's a tremendous future in them, and I believe as time goes on, they will serve a great use. But, at this point, we're handcuffed," said Dr. George Cattiny, a veterinarian in Pompton Lakes.

"No one wants to take any risk. You don't want to be the pioneer and risk your license."

In January 2017, the DEA moved to define any extract of cannabis plants as Schedule 1 drugs under the Controlled Substance Act, putting those who prescribe or recommend it in legal peril.

Dr. Jeffrey F. Powers, the chair of the American Veterinary Medical Association's subcommittee on cannabinoids, said the nation's largest veterinary professional organization will address the conundrum of being blocked from recommending legally-available CBD products at its October meeting. His comments were first reported in NJ Cannabis Insider.

While he said it's the hot topic among veterinarians, his organization has been wary of taking any position that might put vets' licenses at risk.

"Clients have historically gone to the veterinarian to be the source of knowledge about their animal's health," Powers said. "And (so) the vet is left in a precarious position. ... It needs to be that we can talk freely."

This all may be changing -- in both cannabis-legal states and New Jersey.

Medical marijuana went legal in California in 1996, but vets weren't included in that legislation.

Now, a bill in the California Assembly that would "protect state-licensed veterinarians from disciplinary action for discussing the use of cannabis on animal patient clients," is headed to that state's Senate.

The idea of expanding medical cannabis beyond medical doctors to veterinarians has caught the attention of lawmakers and officials in New Jersey, too.

"Conceptually, I cannot see the difference," said Dr. Alex Bekker, the chair of New Jersey's Medical Marijuana Review Panel. "It sounds like the reasonable thing to do."

Assemblywoman Nancy Munoz, R-Union, herself a registered nurse, said that while she's still learning about CBD and pets, she firmly opposes the DEA's move to shackle veterinarians from discussing CBD pet supplements with clients.

"I have always been of the belief that we should move cannabis from Schedule 1 to Schedule 2," Munoz said. "The best way to do this is to do medical research."

Munoz said she also is exploring whether legislation could shield New Jersey's veterinarians.

In the meantime, Bekker says Garden State pet owners hoping to let their animal doctors off the chain should take action themselves.

"The right way would be to petition for that," said Bekker. "It should be petitioned for review. If enough people petition, I am pretty sure our panel has to respond."

EDITOR'S NOTE: Interested in the marijuana business industry? NJ Cannabis Insider is a new premium intelligence briefing that features exclusive weekly content geared toward entrepreneurs, lawyers and realtors. View a sample issue.

Claude Brodesser-Akner may be reached at cbrodesser@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @ClaudeBrodesser. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.