TRENTON — New Jersey physicians have signed up 50 patients with serious chronic illnesses for the state's medical marijuana program since the registry launched Aug. 9, according to the state Department of Health.



The two-step registration process requires doctors who've alerted the state their intention to participate in the program, to submit patient names in an online application. Doctors then give patients a registration number that allows patients to submit an application form and purchase an identification card.



Some 50 patients names have been entered into the registry by their doctors, but only 21 patients have completed the application, state health department spokeswoman Donna Leusner said.



"Since the registry opened Thursday the Medicinal Marijuana page of our website has gotten 8,366 hits and the program has responded to 183 calls and 63 emails, mostly from patients asking if they qualify and how they register," Leusner said.



No marijuana is available yet, but the first dispensary, Greenleaf Compassion Center in Montclair, is expected to be the first to open in September, according to Greenleaf's operators and state health officials.



Despite some criticism that the state took too long to launch the program, state officials are not surprised there is a slow response to the registry. "The program is still new; registration is less than a week old The product is not yet available," Leusner said. "Based on the high volume of visits to the website and calls and emails to the program, patients are learning the registration process and contacting physicians to get appointments."



The law creating the program was signed in January 2010.



There are 148 physicians who have signed up to participate in the program.



The ID cards cost $200 and expire in two years. The fee is reduced to $20 if the patient is enrolled in Medicaid, food stamps, or temporary or permanent disability programs, according to the state website.

For more information: state.nj.us/health/medicalmarijuana/ or call (609) 292-0424 Monday through Friday from 8 am to 6 p.m.

Follow @NJ_News

Related coverage:

• After long wait, N.J. medical marijuana program registration begins Thursday

• Editorial: Get moving on medical marijuana dispensaries