Getting a Medical Cannabis Card in Massachusetts

Medical marijuana patients in Massachusetts were wondering when they could legally purchase the drug. It finally happened in 2016. That was almost eight years after voters approved the decriminalization of possessing small amounts of cannabis. Essentially, voters in Massachusetts shouted, ‘LEGALIZE IT!’ In 2018, recreational dispensaries opened up as well, and several people were asking how to get a medical cannabis card in Massachusetts.

Medical Cannabis in Massachusetts

The state is well on its way into becoming the East Coast’s Colorado. That said, the laws concerning marijuana in the state are a bit confusing. Even with the numbers of recreational and medical dispensaries opening up in Massachusetts, it can be difficult to understand exactly what it is all about.

For example, how do you find a doctor to prescribe medical cannabis to you? Where can you light it up? What do you need? There are even more questions about how medical toking works, considering that it is now legal.

How to Get a Medical Cannabis Card in Massachusetts

If you reside in Massachusetts and suffer from a qualifying medical condition, you can apply for a medical marijuana card. The medical cannabis program in the state registers personal caregivers, patients, RMD agents, and registered cannabis dispensaries.

How to Register

To register for a medical cannabis card in Massachusetts, the first thing you need to do is get a doctor’s recommendation. It is important to be open about your health condition when speaking to your doctor. You also need to explain why you believe that medical marijuana will be beneficial to you.

Your doctor will then need to submit a patient certification to the state’s Medical Use of Marijuana Program. It is important to seek certification from a physician signed up with the program. However, you can still get certification from an uncertified doctor by following certain instructions.

• Book an Appointment With a Medical Marijuana Doctor

The first thing you need to do is schedule an appointment with a certified medical cannabis doctor. If you are a bit apprehensive about the consultation process, you need to know that it will not take more than 20 minutes. The doctor will evaluate your conditions and ailments and answer any questions you may have about medical cannabis therapy.

• Get Your Approval

If your doctor approves your application, he or she will give you a temporary recommendation. This will allow you to purchase medical cannabis at a dispensary. You will then use the temporary recommendation number to register with the state’s Medical Use of Marijuana Program. You can do so online to complete your application.

• Get Your Medical Marijuana Card

Once you get approval and register with the state’s program, you simply need to wait for two to three weeks to receive your card. One thing about the state’s program is that you do not need to wait for your card in the mail. This is because of the temporary recommendation that allows you to purchase the drug in the meantime.

As a medical marijuana patient in Massachusetts, however, you need to understand that you must go for an annual re-certification. Fortunately, you only need to visit a licensed doctor to get one. This is a win for medical marijuana patients in Massachusetts. Opponents of this initiative suffered an embarrassing defeat on the ballot in 2012. Time will tell whether it was a good choice.

Sources:

https://www.veriheal.com/massachusetts/

Photo by Morgan Sessions on Unsplash