Cannabis has transformed into a lifeline for quite a few people. But the usually progressive New York has been quite far behind in adopting this herb. As state after state legalizes cannabis, New York continues to push it to the next legislative year.
But it is not all dark and cloudy here in New York. There is a Medical Marijuana Program, but instead of cannabis flowers, they specialize in pills, tinctures, and vapes. Which is what we are going to be understanding today, how each one of these three methods works.
But first, we need to figure out how to get medical marijuana in New York.
Access To Medical Marijuana
In New York, the rules are pretty stringent regarding who can or cannot get a card. Which is also why you will not come across too many cannabis cardholders in the state. There is some amount of free will that products that contain CBD have, but even those have a sad story attached to them.
When CBD first got legalized in the state, the whole market saw an influx of CBD infused products. Drinks, chocolates, coffee, tea, you name it, and it was there. However, before that could come to fruition, the city swooped and banned all those products. CBD is still available in liquid form but in a much smaller spectrum of products.
How To Qualify
Before you make your way to a friendly physician, you should have a light idea if your condition qualifies for medical marijuana under the New York law.
So, if you want to qualify for a medical marijuana card, you need to have one or more of these conditions:
- Cancer
- HIV/AIDS
- ALS
- MS
- Parkinson’s
- Epilepsy
- Spinal Cord Injury
- Neuropathy
- PTSD
- Huntington’s Disease
- Chronic Pain
The New York laws are very clear about their qualifying conditions. A common disorder for which marijuana is commonly prescribed “anxiety” was not included in the list.
This is another reason why millennials aren’t very happy with the laws governing New York medical marijuana.
After you are sure that your condition is on the list as a qualifying condition, you can go down two paths. Either make your way to a doctor or apply online at one of the various portals. Be careful, the market in New York is relatively new, and so there are various caveats to the process of getting a license.
In California, anyone with a medical license has the ability to recommend cannabis. In New York, you need to be a physician registered in the state health department’s medical marijuana program.
Only after you get a card can you make your way to the dispensaries. Once you reach here, there are three options that you can avail of either tincture, capsules, or vape cartridges. These are the three options at your disposal.
So, where do you go from here? Let’s have a look.
Tinctures
Out of the many methods available for cannabis consumption. This is the one that provides the exact dosage. Tinctures have been around for years. Available in a glass bottle with a dropper, tinctures are perfect no matter who you are: a newbie or a seasoned cannabis user.
Tinctures use alcohol as the base. Manufacturers decarboxylate the cannabis and then soak it in alcohol to create a potent medicine. If you are an edibles person, then this is the closest you are going to get to them in New York. ( at least at the time of publishing)
There are three ways to consume tinctures.
- Orally
- Infuse them with meals
- Sublingually
They are faster acting than your standard edibles, so that is a good sign. If you compare tinctures to smoking, they are a better option as they are not coming in contact with your lungs. It is a discrete form of consumption. It is also the method of choice when giving minors cannabis.
Tinctures also have a great shelf life and are available in a variety of flavors and combinations. This directly targets your issue.
Vaping
This method has been getting a lot of negative coverage in recent months. For that, one should try and only buy from reputed sources and double-check all the seals before buying the cartilage.
Smoking is one of the most favored ways to consume cannabis. But New York does not allow users to smoke. So, the closest you can get to smoking is via vaping.
Vaping allows you to smoke without the potentially adverse respiratory effects of smoke. It is more than just a convenient way to consume cannabis. When cannabis combusts, it creates various carcinogens that can lead to lung infections. In the case of vaping in New York, you can only use oil to vape. That means you get an irritant-free inhale every time you vape. Vaping is also an easier way to get CBD in your system.
Pills and Supplements
This is an extremely convenient way to consume cannabis. You have it just like you would any other medicine. A pill eliminates all the respiratory side effects and keeps you safe from issues like bronchitis. They are usually reserved for an older audience as they prefer traditional channels of consumption, instead of the fancy vaping and tinctures that we so adore.
The pills and supplements work the same way edible works. Depending on the rate of metabolization of your liver, it can take anywhere from 45 minutes to 3 hours for the effects to set.
Another audience that prefers pills over smoking is the people who were previously smokers and now want to avoid any further damage to their lungs. Exact dosing and no smell are two of the most lucrative benefits of having a supplement.
These are all the ways you can consume in the state of New York. On the question of how to get medical marijuana card in New York. The process remains straightforward. Get a consultation, a card, and then make your way to a dispensary. Simple Enough.