When terms like get your New York Medical Marijuana Card appear in the day-to-day jargon, most people start thinking that it’s a loophole people use as an excuse to get high.
Little do they know that marijuana has come a long way from stigmatization.
There are real-life examples, and not just anecdotal evidence suggesting that people use medical marijuana for pain management.
Needless to say, most people won’t believe it.
But we have scientific research to back facts such as cannabinoids have anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties.
The only problem is that because cannabis is still in its infancy, and its federal status makes it difficult for people to navigate through the nuances associated with medical marijuana, people often get caught up in the loopholes, and end up purchasing cannabis from the black market.
So, to help you safely navigate through these loopholes, we have a step-by-step guide that will help you understand how to get a medical marijuana card in New York.
Read on to find out more.
Steps to Get Your New York Medical Marijuana Card
Before we get into the nitty and gritty of getting your New York medical marijuana card, you need to keep in mind that New York has stringent laws.
Unlike California or Colorado, where a doctor’s recommendation is enough to get you medical cannabis, New York, requires you to register as a patient under the state medical marijuana program.
Not only this, but even the laws and procedures vary.
So, as a New York patient, you have to first understand the laws and then get on with the steps we will mention below.
Step 1 – Check Your Eligibility
Only patients with a qualifying condition can get a medical marijuana card in New York.
In other words, if you have a severely debilitating condition, cancer, Parkinson’s disease, chronic pain, or any of the qualifying conditions mentioned in the state list, you can easily get a medical marijuana card.
The state list for qualifying conditions looks something like this:
- Crohn’s Disease
- Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS)
- Cancer
- Chronic Pain
- Severe Forms of Epilepsy
- Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
- Huntington’s Disease
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease
- Parkinson’s Disease
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Neuropathies
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Opioid Alternative and;
- Spinal Cord Injury
If you have one of the medical conditions mentioned here, you can move ahead and proceed with step two.
Step 2 – Find a State-Registered Medical Marijuana Doctor
It’s very easy for a New York resident to find an actual doctor who helps provide medical cannabis prescriptions.
All you have to do is visit the New Medical Marijuana Program online. You will come across a list of registered doctors who can help you get a prescription.
From licensed health physicians to clinical social workers, nurse practitioners, and other medical health professionals, you will find everyone here.
And the best part is that you can get your prescription both online and in-clinic, here’s how.
How to Get a New York Medical Marijuana Card Online?
To get a New York medical marijuana card online follow the steps mentioned below:
- Sign up and fill a simple form.
- Talk to a state-certified doctor through a HIPAA-compliant telemedicine platform
- Receive your prescription via email in PDF format.
After your doctor has determined your eligibility and helped you receive a medical marijuana prescription, your written document will something like this:
- Your doctor will mention the medical condition for which you’re getting a prescription.
- Type of marijuana (product)
- The dosing pattern
- Consumption method
- Your name, medical details, and date of issuance.
- The prescription will also have the doctor’s license no, signature, and it will be printed on the doctor’s letterhead.
If you have a prescription that consists of the aforementioned details, you’re good to proceed with the next and most important step.
Step 3 – Register Under the New York Medical Marijuana Program
Before you register make sure that you have all the documents intact. You will need your New York ID, driver’s license, or a utility bill as proof of residency and identity.
You can use Chrome to visit the New York Medical Marijuana Program website.
As soon as you enter the official website, create an account or sign in.
You will be required to fill a form with details such as your name, date of birth, address, and the patient certification number on your marijuana prescription.
The only exception, in this case, is that you have to ensure that everything tally’s with the details on your doctor’s paperwork with no room for typos.
Once a typo occurs, your application will remain in limbo, until you rectify the mistake and repeat the process of registration.
Unfortunately, re-registering can take months.
So, make sure that you follow the instructions carefully, type everything clearly, and upload necessary documents along with your photographs against a white or off-white background.
In addition to this, you will also come across the supporting documentation section.
This section is for patients who do not have a New York ID.
They can upload a utility bill or a rent agreement as proof of residency.
Step 4 – Print Your Temporary Medical Marijuana Card
If everything goes well and the state program approves your application, you will receive a prompt right at the end of the application process.
It will enable you to download the New York Medical Marijuana Card.
You can print a few copies, in case you lose yours.
Once you have a copy of the card, you can enter any state-licensed dispensary and purchase medical marijuana.
Note: Make sure you have both the certification and the card before you head out to purchase medical marijuana from state-licensed dispensaries.
Step 5 – Wait for Your NY Medical Marijuana Card to Arrive
It will not take more than two or max three weeks for your NY Medical Marijuana Card to arrive.
To be precise, your card will arrive through state postal services.
You can check your mail to see whether it arrives or not.
In most cases, the card arrives one or two weeks after registration and you can use this card to purchase medical marijuana for at least one year from the date of issuance.
Once the card nears its expiration date, get it renewed at least a month before. And most vitally, don’t forget to educate yourself about everything related to medical marijuana in New York.
