How to Get a Medical Marijuana Card in New York
Having a chronic illness is not fun. Whether it is chronic pain or another issue, you might want to consider using medical cannabis. Some people choose to use this substance to avoid having to take opioids, which can be addictive.
What Is a Medical Marijuana Card?
Getting a medical marijuana card (or a cannabis card) allows you to enter a medical dispensary and get the right strain to try to treat a health condition or certain symptoms. You may be allowed to grow cannabis at home or use a cannabis delivery system.
The state will issue you the card, but you will need to get a recommendation from your physician to qualify for it. The doctor and the patient both need to agree on the fact that weed would work well to treat the condition. Your health condition has to be one that is approved by the state.
After getting the recommendation from your doctor, you will then need to create an application through your state and pay the required fee. Because the plant is still illegal on a federal level, the doctor can’t just prescribe marijuana to a patient. As the legalization of cannabis expands, the process of getting cannabis is also evolving.
The Medical Marijuana Program in New York
There is a medical marijuana program in New York, but the cannabis dispensaries still aren’t allowed to sell concentrates, topicals, edibles, or cannabis flowers, so many people are not getting theirs. However, if you want to access CBD or THC from the cannabis plant, you might be looking for something that is stronger. There are a few steps that you can take.
Determining If You Qualify
Before you go to your doctor, you should probably think about if your condition means you might qualify for getting a medical marijuana card in New York. You might be eligible for getting one if you have one of the following conditions:
AIDS or HIV
Cancer
Neuropathy
Spinal Cord Injury
Parkinson’s Disease
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
Chronic Pain That Degrades Your Functional Capabilities and Health
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD
Huntington’s Disease
Epilepsy
Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Seeing a Doctor Registered with the State
You can have either an in-person appointment or an online one. The fee will usually vary, and the cost can differ depending on the state you are in. In New York, the physician needs to be registered in the medical marijuana program with the state health department. You will usually talk to them about your condition, and they will decide whether to approve you for cannabis.
Registering Online
You will then register with the state’s health department on their website. You will likely need to create an account and enter some information from your recommendation letter. They may need to charge an application fee for this step.
But once you have done your online paperwork, you can then get your temporary card immediately. Your real card will arrive in the mail in a few weeks.
Visiting a Dispensary
You can go to an online or an in-person dispensary, depending on your needs. Depending on the dispensary you choose, you might choose from vape cartridges, tinctures, or capsules. Then, you can take your product home and try to relieve your symptoms.
Why Get a Medical Marijuana Card?
Getting a medical marijuana card has many benefits. From affordability to access to dosage, you can find lots of support when you get a card.
Lower Taxes and Costs
You can have a lower cost when you shop at a medical dispensary, which is vital if you use cannabis for medical reasons. Many patients are facing the fact that they can’t get cannabis to potentially improve their lives because of the cost. It is heavily taxed for recreational users. For example, there is a 10 percent retail tax for cannabis in Colorado for recreational users. With a medical marijuana card, you can get cannabis at a lower cost.
Higher Dosage
The dosage of your cannabis is vital when you have a health condition, and many patients find that they need to use higher-strength strains for their symptoms. While recreational stores need to follow the limits of potency, a dispensary might have a bit more wiggle room. Of course, your state will determine the potency limit.
Cannabis Users Under the Age of 21
Recreational shops are only allowed to sell to people who are 21 or older. This can make sense for those in the general population, but there are some children who are also medical cannabis patients. States like New York let those who are younger than 21 access their marijuana for such issues as epilepsy or cancer.
Each state that has a medical marijuana program lets minors use medical cannabis when they have a caregiver to help them. Of course, the type of cannabis and the cannabinoids that they can use will vary, as do the potency limits.
Growing Your Own
Some areas let patients grow their own cannabis for personal use. Recreational growers may not be allowed to have as many plants at home as medicinal users can. Growing your own can also cheaper than getting cannabis at a dispensary.
Choosing Stronger Strains
The strains that you choose will depend on your health condition. However, many medical users choose to use a stronger strain, which they believe may be more effective at treating their health conditions.
Many users go for Kosher Kush, which has a THC content of 20 percent. It has been around since 2010 and has crystalline resin around it.
Bruce Banner has a THC content of around 23 percent and is a hybrid with Strawberry Diesel and OG Kush as parent strains. It is a good choice for patients who need to try to relax.
Closing Thoughts
Getting your medical marijuana card in New York offers a variety of benefits. By meeting with a doctor, either virtually or in person, you can get a recommendation for marijuana, which may help improve your life.
