Qualifying Conditions for Medical Marijuana Cards in New York
Because of the Compassionate Care Act, New Yorker residents have been able to use medical marijuana since 2014. In 2019, it was decriminalized to possess 2 ounces of medical marijuana, and now it is simply a violation. However, you might find that the list of qualifying conditions to get a medical marijuana card in New York is stricter than in some other states. You might only qualify if you have a debilitating or life-threatening condition.
Being a Resident of New York State
The first step is to be a resident of New York and meet the residency requirements of its medical marijuana program. You will have to show proof that you are a current resident. There are a few things you might need to show to prove that you live there.
First, you might need to have the ID number from your driver’s license. If you do not have one, you will need to have the non-driver ID card. You may also need to have another form of ID issued by the government that shows your New York address.
If you are only a temporary resident of New York who is getting treated for a qualifying condition, you can show some documentation that is approved by the Department of Health. That might include a lease, hospital bill, or a utility bill.
The Qualifying Medical Conditions
To qualify for your card, you should have a condition and be experiencing the symptoms associated with it.
Parkinson’s Disease
HIV/AIDS
ALS
Huntington’s Disease
Substance Use Disorder
Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Spinal Cord Injury
Cancer
Neuropathy
Chronic Pain
Epilepsy
Multiple Sclerosis
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Cancer
If you have cancer, you are eligible for a medical marijuana card. Some people believe that it may help them with vomiting and nausea from chemotherapy. Others believe that it may help to ease pain related to cancer by binding to your brain’s cannabinoid receptors. They believe that it might ease inflammation, helping with pain. Since cannabis tends to make people feel hungry, it might help to reduce the effects of weight loss.
Neuropathy
Neuropathy is a numbness, weakness, or pain that happens because of nerve damage. Chemotherapy or other medical treatments can cause it. Some people think that smoking cannabis may help reduce the pain associated with this condition.
Chronic Pain
This is one of the main reasons that people choose to use medical marijuana. People can have chronic pain for any number of reasons, but it is often not a curable condition. For many people, cannabis is an attractive treatment alternative to opioids, which can be addicting and come with their own side effects.
Epilepsy
This is a condition that causes recurring, unpredictable seizures. It might be caused by an infection, brain tumors, or an injury, but the causes of it are often unknown. Cannabis may have anticonvulsant effects, but it is still unknown exactly how it can work to reduce seizures. Some animal studies have suggested that it may activate the CB1 receptor in the brain.
It may also be because of the chemical in the brain known as GABA. This can decrease the excitement of brain cells. The way that many seizure medications work is by increasing the levels of GABA in the brain.
Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a condition that affects your nerves, spinal cords, and brain. The cannabis plant has chemicals, such as cannabinoids, that can affect both your body and your mind. Some people believe that using medical marijuana may help when it comes to easing muscle spasms and stiffness associated with MS. They believe that the cannabinoids in the plant may also help with their sleep issues and allow them to get a better night’s rest.
PTSD
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a type of anxiety disorder. It may be caused when someone experiences highly traumatic events, such as abuse, car accidents, or combat. The symptoms can include nausea, depression, fear, and dizziness. If the symptoms last for several weeks, the patient may be diagnosed with PTSD.
Cannabinoid receptors are located throughout your body, including the brain. Because of this, medical marijuana users include patients who are trying to deal with both physical and mental symptoms. When the cannabinoid receptors are active, they may suppress your memory and also lower your anxiety. That may help patients to forget scary things in their lives. But if the receptors do not function well, the fearful memories stay. Cannabis may help to activate these receptors.
Getting Your Card
Once you have provided details about your New York residency and your condition, you will get a patient certification. You should be honest about your health needs when you are talking to a doctor about why you think cannabis might benefit you. Then, the patient certification form will get submitted.
The Patient Application
Once you have gotten the patient certification, you will need to go to the website of the New York state medical marijuana program. You will create an account on the site and get to the online application by going under the health applications portion. You will fill out the form with your personal information and then get your medical marijuana card emailed to you. A few weeks later, you will get the card in the mail.
Having Caregivers
When you are a medical marijuana patient, you can have as many as two caregivers. These are people who you trust to make purchases at cannabis dispensaries on behalf of you if you can’t get there yourself. They will also need to register with New York’s online system after your own application has been processed and approved.
Closing Thoughts
Once you have your own medical marijuana card, you can then purchase cannabis products at approved dispensaries in the state of New York. You can choose which ones will best meet your needs. Don’t be afraid to experiment with the products to see which ones might offer you the best relief.
