Friday, August 5, 2011

How Does A Patient Receive A Medical Marijuana Card?

By Lawrence Greene, MD


Despite the simple fact that marijuana remains federally illegal, 17 jurisdictions in the US have made it legal for medicinal usage. How do patients know if they are eligible for a medical marijuana ID card and then go about getting one?

Arizona represents a good example for the process. Medical Marijuana in AZ was passed with Prop 203 in 2010 for 12 conditions and diseases. They include cancer, vomiting, nausea, spasms, chronic pain, HIV, and others. the legal disease states and conditions are not consistent between the legal states, so the first step is to understand whether your condition qualifies.

The next step is to undergo a visit with a doctor to review your case. The specific kind of doctor that is acceptable to see varies between the legal jurisdictions. In Arizona for example, one can see an MD, DO, Naturopathic Doctor (ND), or a homeopathic doctor.

During the doctor's visit, an in person physical examination is performed along with a detailed history being obtained. In Arizona and numerous other states, doctors must review medical records for the qualifying condition from the previous 12 months.

If the doctor thinks the patient is appropriate to receive a marijuana card, the doctor writes a medical marijuana certification. The word "certification" really refers to a recommendation. The word "prescription" is not used since marijuana is federally illegal.

The person then submits the paperwork to the agency in charge of producing the marijuana ID card. In AZ, that is the AZ Dept of Health SErvices with an online only process. Other states have walk up windows for paperwork submission. Patients typically need to sign a paper stating they will not divert marijuana to an unauthorized person(s).

Within weeks, the medical ID card shows up. Individuals in some states may grow their own plants for personal use up to a certain amount, and in other states there are legal dispensaries where folks may obtain marijuana up to a certain amount. In Arizona that amount is 2.5 ounces every two weeks. The medical marijuana ID card needs to be renewed every year with another recommendation taking place.




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