How to Get Marijuana Card in the US?

Updated on March 26, 2021

Despite the fact that the federal government of the United States deems marijuana as illegal, some states have sanctioned the therapeutic benefits of marijuana and have legalized medicinal use and others have allowed both recreational and medicinal practice.

As of 2019, 33 states and the District of Columbia have legalized the medicinal use of marijuana. Each approving state has its own set of rules and regulations it is important for a requester of a marijuana card to adhere to the legal framework to be granted one. If you need a card and don’t know how to get started, Green Health Docs provides patients with easy access to supportive, knowledgeable marijuana doctors nationwide, and they make it easier to obtain a medical marijuana card online or in person.

A medical marijuana card will exempt the holder from any violation from possession and consumption laws at the state level. There are different conditions before a request can be approved, and this varies from state to state. In case your state does not accept your medical condition, purchasing from another state is not an alternative. 

Consumers do not have to bother for a marijuana card in states that approve the use of recreational cannabis, however, they may not be eligible for the medicinal cannabis products that are accessible to patients.

States where Medical Marijuana is Legal

Here are the 33 states and DC that have legalized marijuana for its medicinal use.

NUMBERSTATEYEAR PASSED
1Alaska1998
2Arizona2010
3Arkansas2016
4California1996
5Colorado2000
6Connecticut2012
7Delaware2011
8Florida2016
9Hawaii2000
10Illinois2013
11Louisiana2016
12Maine1999
13Maryland2014
14Massachusetts2012
15Michigan2008
16Minnesota2014
17Missouri2018
18Montana2004
19Nevada2000
20New Hampshire2013
21New Jersey2010
22New Mexico2007
23New York2014
24North Dakota2016
25Ohio2016
26Oklahoma2018
27Oregon1998
28Pennsylvania2016
29Rhode Island2006
30Utah2018
31Vermont2004
32Washington, DC2010
33West Virginia2017

Source: https://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=000881

Click the state to know more details such as effectivity date, approved medical conditions, possession limit, requirements for medical use, how It passed, and many more.

How to Get a Marijuana Card?

Access to a marijuana card depends on the state where you reside. An applicant needs to undertake several key steps, and it is important to check off the items in this list.

Verify your State’s Restrictions and Legislation

It is important to know your state’s restrictions and legislation for marijuana medical use to get approval for a marijuana card. With this information, obstacles can be avoided and you will be able to navigate the application process in a fast and smooth way. 

For example, It is useful to know whether your state approves of your medical condition for a marijuana card.

STATE QUALIFYING MEDICAL CONDITIONS
Arkansas Cancer, glaucoma, HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis C, Crohn’s disease, Lou Gehrig’s disease, seizures, muscle spasms, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), cachexia (wasting syndrome), peripheral neuropathy, intractable pain, Alzheimer’s disease, severe arthritis, Alzheimer’s disease, Tourette’s syndrome.
Connecticut Cancer, glaucoma, HIV/AIDS, Parkinson’s disease, ,multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, cachexia, damage to the nervous system of the spinal cord, Crohn’s disease, PTSD, sickle cell disease, post Laminectomy syndrome, severe psoriasis and arthritis, Lou Gehrig’s disease, ulcerative colitis, complex regional pain syndrome, cerebral palsy, cystic fibrosis, irreversible spinal cord injury, terminal illness requiring end of life care, uncontrolled seizure disorder, intractable headache syndromes, facial pain, severe rheumatoid arthritis, spasticity, postherpetic neuralgia, osteogenesis imperfecta, and more conditions for underage patients.

You are fortunate if you live in Connecticut it has a long list of diseases covered which includes ulcerative colitis, sickle cell disease, terminal disease end of life care, herpetic neuralgia, osteogenesis emperfecta, among others, which Arkansas does not cover. In Connecticut, you may get covered for a medical card but in Arkansas, you are not qualified.

Check first with your doctor about your medical condition before applying for a marijuana medical card.

Gather your Required Medical Records

You will be required to provide medical records and the illness, injury, and disability that will be relieved by marijuana. Ask your marijuana medical doctor for a signed certificate stating his recommendation of marijuana use for your condition. Your physician will work with the staff of the state’s department of health and human services for the proper documentation. 

Be Wary of Expiration Dates

Most states have a validity period for the marijuana card like one year. Remember the expiration date and research the process to renew the card. Knowing this in advance will allow you to have a steady supply of medical marijuana to treat your ailment.

Provide Proof of Residency

States will require you to provide some proof of state residency. Be ready with your driver’s license, social security ID or passport without these you won’t be able to move onward.

Determine the Approved Medical Conditions 

Check with your state’s health and human services they have a list of medical conditions that are eligible for a marijuana card, typically these are:

  • Glaucoma
  • Cancer
  • Multiple sclerosis
  • Muscular dystrophy
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder
  • Epilepsy

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