While regulation varies across different states, medical cannabis cards in New York are not permanent. The implication of this is that medical cannabis patients must renew their card annually before you or their caregiver can legally buy medical cannabis.
Do you have a cannabis card and you are on the fence about whether you should renew it? Or do you want to know the benefits of renewing the card?
If you do not renew your medical marijuana card in New York, you are missing a lot of benefits. Check out this article for more information.
Advantages Of Getting A Medical Cannabis Renewal In New York
Having a medical marijuana card as a patient has a lot of benefits. Highlighted below are some advantages of renewing medical marijuana cards in New York.
You will extend your legal protection
Though the medical consumption of marijuana is legal in New York, you should, however, remember that its sales, possession, and consumption are regulated. This means that you are breaking the law if you have medical marijuana or grow it but don’t have a valid medical marijuana card.
If you have a valid medical marijuana card, you can buy and use medical marijuana in New York without getting in trouble for it. This is because nobody will prosecute you for buying your drug from an accredited state dispensary.
But in order to have medical marijuana, either the person who needs it or the person who helps them must have a valid medical marijuana card.
Low price
You will likely pay more when you buy marijuana for recreational purposes because it has a higher tax. However, when you have a New York medical marijuana card, you will save money on marijuana purchases throughout the validity period of the card.
When your card expires and you purchase marijuana often, you will discover that you are spending more money. The reason why you will pay less for marijuana at state dispensaries is that the tax on medical marijuana is low when you compare it to recreational marijuana.
Buy more marijuana
There is a strict regulation on the quantity of cannabis that can be legally purchased. Unlike recreational marijuana users, patients with medical marijuana have higher purchase and consumption limits, provided they have a valid card. If you go to the dispensary as a medical cannabis patient, you have a higher chance of going home with more cannabis than someone who is buying cannabis for recreational purposes. As a medical marijuana patient, you can even buy one that could last you up to two months.
Grow more
Not only will you be able to buy and possess more marijuana, but you can also cultivate your medical cannabis at home in New York as a patient if you have a valid card and are up to 21 years of age.
The good news is that you can cultivate up to six plants without any restrictions, unlike the cultivation of recreational cannabis, which is now prohibited. But only three of the six medical marijuana plants that can be grown can grow at the same time in a private home. Caregivers can also cultivate medical marijuana on behalf of their minors.
Check: Medical Cannabis Home Cultivation Guide
Reduced age limit
The age restriction for recreational marijuana in New York is higher than that for medical marijuana. Patients who are 18 years of age or older can register and collect the medical marijuana card. This will make it legal for them to purchase medical marijuana.
Younger patients under the age of 18 can still get medical marijuana through proxies. The proxies are known as caregivers. They could be the parents or the legal guardians of the minor. So, if you want to continue to enjoy cannabis as medicine, you need to renew your card.
Enjoy marijuana that is better than the recreational marijuana
One of the things you will enjoy as a medical marijuana patient with a valid card is unhindered marijuana, which is more potent than recreational marijuana. This is because dealers of recreational marijuana will adhere to the legislation on the limit of THC and CBD, while medical marijuana patients can get medical marijuana with higher THC and CBD content based on the symptoms they show.
Freedom to access the state dispensary
If you have a valid New York medical cannabis card, you can go to the state dispensary to shop for cannabis. You will even have access to different products and likely receive support from the personnel. You will not be restricted when you want to access the only medical marijuana dispensary.
How To Renew Your New York Medical Marijuana Card
Renewing your medical marijuana card is easy in New York. Nevertheless, be reminded that you will be paying the exact amount it costs to get the first card when you are renewing it. Here are the steps you should follow.
Sign in to your account
You do not need a physician’s recommendation when you are applying for the renewal of your card. All you need to do is go online between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m. any day of the week, log in to your account, and then answer some questions. You will then be connected with a doctor within a few minutes.
Get your renewed card
The doctor will ask you some simple questions, which you are expected to answer truthfully. If the doctor approves you, you will receive your new card within two days of the approval. If you are renewing the card before the expiration date, the card will remain valid for the next 12 months.
Legally buy your drug
Once you’ve renewed your medical marijuana card, you can legally buy and keep any medical marijuana in New York. You are also free to grow and take advantage of all the other benefits that have already been mentioned.
Conclusion
There are many differences between medical and recreational marijuana. The benefits of having a valid medical marijuana card are greater than the risks of buying marijuana without a card. You should consider renewing your card before it expires.
