Qualifying medical conditions for medical marijuana card

Everybody living in New York does not qualify for a medical marijuana card. Are you wondering whether you are qualified for the card in New York? Highlighted below are some of the qualifying conditions that will determine whether you are eligible for the medical card in New York or not.

Residents of New York

You cannot apply for a medical marijuana card in New York unless you are residing legally in the State.

You must be an adult

Irrespective of your medical condition, you must be an adult before you could be considered for the card. All medical marijuana applicant cards must be at least 18 years as at the time of registering for the card. However, for a minor patient that requires medical marijuana, there must be someone, either the parent or the guardian, that will apply for the card on behalf of the minor patient. It is required that the person must apply as a caregiver for the minor patient.

Diagnosed with a medical condition

Several conditions require a medical marijuana card. Before you can get the card, you must be diagnosed with at least one of the medical conditions on the list. You should also get certified by a physician registered in New York.

Patients with certain medical conditions

Just like other states that have adopted the medical marijuana program, New York also permits patients that are suffering from certain medical conditions that are life-threatening to get a medical marijuana card. The good news is that the list of medical conditions has been increasing with time. Below is the list of all the medical conditions that qualify patients for the medical marijuana card in New York.

• HIV/Aids
• Cancer
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Parkinson’s disease
• Epilepsy
• Seizures
• Spinal cord injury with spasticity
• Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
• Chronic pain
• Neuropathy
• Huntington’s disease
• Multiple sclerosis (MS)
• Autism
• Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Dystonia
• Muscular Dystrophy
• Alzheimer’s Disease
• Substance Use Disorder
• Pains that degrade the functionality or the capability of the patient.

How to Apply for a Medical Marijuana Card in NY?

If you meet all the eligibility criteria highlighted above, the following are the steps you will follow for you to get a medical marijuana card in New York.

Book an appointment

The first step when you want to get the medical marijuana certificate is to book an appointment with a registered marijuana doctor in New York. You can then attend the consultation session with the doctor. It is the doctor that will certify whether you are eligible and also recommend you for treatment with medical marijuana.

Register as a patient

When your doctor’s physician has certified that you meet the necessary conditions, the next thing is for the physician to fill out the patient certification and then upload it to the Medical Cannabis Data Management System. You will then complete the registration online yourself with a copy of the doctor’s signed certification.

Complete the application process

Your application process for the medical marijuana card is in two phases. The doctor or physician will upload a patient certificate on your behalf, you will also need to create an account online where you will complete the application process. You will be required to upload a few documents alongside the signed certificate you got from the physician while you are registering for the card. Here are some of the documents you will need for registration.

• Proof of identity, which could be a New York driver’s license, vehicle registration, New York state identification number, or a United States of America passport. You can also upload a recent photo that shows your head and shoulder on a plain background if you do not have a valid proof of identity that you can upload.
• Evidence of residence in the U.S., which could be a recent utility bill, New York motor vehicle registration, or driver’s license.
• If you are registering on behalf of a minor, you will need the consent form as either the parent or the legal guardian. You will also need the birth certificate of the minor patient.                                                          

Get your certificate

The next step after successful registration and application for the medical marijuana card is to wait for approval. Once approved, you can print a temporary or digital card that you can use for all medical marijuana purchases in a month. However, you will need to use the temporary card with a government-issued certificate before you can make the purchase.

You will receive the hard copy of the permanent card in your mail within 7 to 10 days after a successful registration. Moreover, all registered medical marijuana patients in New York can register up to five caregivers who will be able to purchase medical cannabis and administer it on their behalf. Such caregivers will also need to get their medical marijuana cards.

Visit any dispensary

With the temporary card or the permanent medical marijuana card, you can visit any licensed dispensary in New York for your medical cannabis. You can buy medical cannabis that you can use for 2 months at once. If you are still using the temporary card, you should remember to visit the dispensary along with a government-issued valid means of identification.

Conclusion

Even if your condition is not listed in this article, you might still get the medical marijuana card, provided you are recommended by a registered marijuana physician in New York. However, if you are experiencing any life-threatening medical condition or adverse effects of medical marijuana, you should not hesitate to contact the emergency service.