FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Do I Qualify for a Medical Marijuana in My State?
If the medical marijuana laws pass State legislatures, then patients who live in the state and have been diagnosed with a qualifying condition will have the opportunity to get approved for medical marijuana.
If you have been diagnosed with one of your State's recognized underlying qualified medical conditions, the next step will be to talk to a marijuana doctor, who has been trained in the use of cannabis to treat symptoms and conditions that can benefit from plant medicine.
Why do I need a Medical Marijuana Card?
A Medical Marijuana Card shows that your name has been added to the Medical Marijuana Registry by a Licensed Physician. With this card, you can:
1. Buy marijuana from dispensaries in your State
2. Possess Marijuana and Marijuana Products in your home State
3. Consume Marijuana and Marijuana Products in the State in accordance with State Law
A Medical Marijuana Card is a personal identification card that shows the patient is a legal registered Medical Marijuana Patient.
How do I get a Medical Marijuana Card?
To obtain your Medical Marijuana card, you need to have a Medical Marijuana Doctor confirm that you suffer from one or more of the qualifying conditions and recommend medical marijuana to you. Once the program is fully in place, our staff will be here to direct you through the process, connecting you with a certified doctor and filing all your necessary paperwork!
You must visit a state-licensed physician (or a nurse practitioner or physician’s assistant, depending on each state's regulations) to obtain a physician certification. You will then apply for an identification card from the Department of Health and Human Services or other designated State agency.
Am I guaranteed to get approved for Medical Marijuana after visiting a Marijuana Doctor office?
We can’t guarantee approval for anyone, as the doctor is the only person that makes the determination whether or not a patient qualifies. To make it more likely that you receive approval from the doctor, we recommend that you bring as much information as possible to your appointment regarding your medical condition and past treatments. However, you do not have to worry as the entire cost of an appointment will be a nominal flat fee if you, for whatever reason, are not approved by the doctor.
What conditions make a patient eligible for Medical Marijuana in Your State?
Individual State legislation may amend required diagnoses; however, a “qualifying patient” must have a condition or symptom of, or side effect related to the treatment of:
CANCER
EPILEPSY
HIV/AIDS
ALS
CROHN'S DISEASE
SICKLE CELL ANEMIA
PARKINSON'S DISEASE
PTSD
MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS
CACHEXIA or wasting syndrome
SEVERE OR PERSISTENT NAUSEA (for hospice patients):
How do I get a Medical Marijuana Card?
Our team specializes in helping patients obtain their medical marijuana cards. We’ll have locations in all major cities, and our doctors will be here to help you through the process.
What is the cost for a Medical Marijuana Card?
The exact cost and rules around medical card issuance remains pending legislative direction and each State's regulation. Some doctors charge an exorbitant amount of money just for an initial examination. We feel strongly that if you qualify for Medical Marijuana, you shouldn't have trouble accessing it due to cost. As such, we work with doctors to offer a variety of payment methods, including discounts for veterans, as well as referral discounts to those who spread the word about our services.
If my registry identification card expired and I didn’t submit my renewal application before the deadline, am I still eligible to purchase Medical Marijuana?
No. When your card expires, the legal protection offered by your State's Medical Marijuana Act is expired. You may still submit your renewal application.
Where can patients purchase Medical Marijuana?
Once you have obtained a recommendation from a certified doctor and received your Medical Marijuana card, you'll be able to purchase medical marijuana at any of the licensed dispensaries located throughout the state. Since each State's programs continue to be develop, it is unclear where cannabis dispensaries will be located. However, in most states with an established medical marijuana program, there are several throughout the state.
Do I have to buy my marijuana from one of the dispensaries?
Yes. To be protected under your Medical Marijuana act, your marijuana must be labeled from one of your State regulated dispensaries.
Can I grow my own Medical Marijuana?
This depends by State law; however, most State's which only have medicinal marijuana statutes do not currently have provision for allowing residents to grow their own medical marijuana. However, there is always the opportunity for this to change in the future.
Where will the dispensaries be located?
We do not know the exact number of approved dispensaries or where they will be located at this time. This will vary by State. We suggest you research local dispensary locations in your immediate area.
How much Medical Marijuana can be purchased from the dispensary?
Each State's Medical Marijuana Program will set caps on the amount of marijuana that can be purchased by a patient.
Will my insurance or Medicaid pay for my marijuana?
We encourage you to contact your insurance provider or Medicaid official for an answer; however, we are not aware of any insurance providers that cover the costs of Medical Marijuana at present.
How much will Medical Marijuana cost?
The cost of Medical Marijuana will be set by each dispensary. At this point, it isn’t clear what those prices will be exactly. With competing dispensaries located throughout each State, we hope that the competition will keep prices low and affordable.
Do some States have reciprocity with other states?
At this time, reciprocity has not been established.
What is a Designated Caregiver, and how many can I have?
A designated caregiver is a person who is selected by a qualifying patient as the person authorized, on the qualifying patient’s behalf, to possess, obtain from a certified Medical Marijuana dispensary, dispense and assist in the administration of Medical Marijuana.
It is not legal for caregivers to consume, by any means, Medical Marijuana that has been dispensed on behalf of a registered qualifying patient.
How do I apply to be a designated caregiver?
Check with local State laws; however, in most states, after the person in your care receives a recommendation for medical marijuana from a certified marijuana doctor, caregivers will submit an application to the Medical Marijuana Control Program to purchase medical marijuana on behalf of the patient.
Do I need a caregiver card to purchase Medical Marijuana for my child?
Yes. Qualified patients under 18 years of age cannot purchase medical marijuana from a dispensary. The legal guardian or parent will be required to register as a caregiver to buy medical marijuana for a minor.
Can a caregiver have more than one patient?
Yes. Typically, a caregiver may serve more than one patient. A caregiver must apply for a registry card for each patient.
Can a caregiver also be a registered qualifying patient?
Yes. A caregiver may be a registered qualifying patient.
Can my employer still drug test me for marijuana if I am a registered patient?
Yes, they can. Individual States typically do not provide protection to medical marijuana patients from employee drug testing. It will be left to the discretion of each employer whether they wish to recognize an employee's medical marijuana approval as an exemption to company drug testing policies. However, employers are prohibited from discriminating against an individual in hiring, termination, or any term or condition of employment based on an individual’s past or present status as a caregiver or a qualifying patient.
Is my personal information kept private?
Although we do not collect HIPAA information at this time, the privacy of our registrants is a top priority of ours, so we make sure all information is kept confidential in compliant file storage systems.
How do I get a Marijuana Card?
We specialize in helping patients obtain their medical marijuana card, and our doctors will be happy to help you obtain your card. However, some states are not yet issuing medical marijuana cards. Although in those States, we anticipate a program to be up and running in the near future once legislation is completed. You may register on our site if you'd like to be notified when medical marijuana cards are available in your State.
Am I guaranteed to get approved by the Marijuana Doctor?
No. We specialize in helping patients obtain their medical marijuana card, and our doctors will be happy to help you obtain your card if you meet the state requirement for underlying medical conditions. However, the state isn't yet issuing medical marijuana cards.
What is the cost for a Medical Marijuana card?
Once you've been approved by a certified doctor and received a medical marijuana recommendation, you will need to submit an application, along with the application, to the Department of Health and Human Services (or applicable State agency) in order to receive your marijuana card. This card will expire after 7-12 months typically, although this varies by State. They will establish their own state fees for this.
Are there limits on how much Medical Marijuana can be purchased from a dispensary?
Based on the laws in other states that have Medical Marijuana programs, there most likely will be specific limits as to how much marijuana can be purchased by a patient.
Are approved patients allowed to smoke Medical Marijuana?
It is unclear which medical marijuana formats will be accessible in each State as the regulations vary by legislation. However, there may be products available that can be vaporized or inhaled. Doctors and dispensaries will be the best source of information for your particular medical requirement.