An Essential Guide to Medical Marijuana in New York

Under New York legislation, people suffering from certain chronic conditions may acquire and use medical cannabis to treat the implications of these illnesses.

To acquire marijuana for medicinal purposes, the applicant should meet the following strict guidelines.

• Should be a legal resident of New York or undergoing treatment in the State
• Should have at least one "severe condition" qualified for medical marijuana NY, as specified by the law
• Should be eligible to receive medical marijuana from a doctor who is legally registered to grant certifications

Commonly, a person approved for medical marijuana will not have over 30 days' worth of supplies. The law allows patients to receive a renewed 30-day stock within the last seven days of their initial supply. Throughout the process of patient certification, the doctor will decide the quantity of medication required by the person within 30 days.

The physician will also recommend the type and procedure through which the patient will take the medication. Today, licensed forms of medical marijuana in NY are oils and liquids with a vaporizer and tablets for oral dosage.

Remember that the legislation does not allow smoking medical marijuana under any conditions and that edible items are also illegal. Patients licensed for medical marijuana can appoint up to two caregivers to receive and deliver medical marijuana items on the patient's behalf.

Applying for a Medical Marijuana Card

The first step in registering for a medical marijuana card (MMJ) is to receive sufficient approval from a doctor. They should be licensed to certify patients for medical marijuana and authorized to diagnose and treat the qualifying condition of the person.

After obtaining a physician's signed certification, the patient should apply for a registry ID card online on the New York State Department of Health website. The application fee is $50 and is waived when a patient has financial issues.

When a patient is underage, or an adult lacks the capacity to provide consent, an eligible person over 21 years old should apply for the medical marijuana registry card instead.

Specific information on how to apply and obtain an MMJ card is searchable on the New York State Medical Marijuana Program webpage. If the application is approved, the card will then be shipped to the applicant.

Medical Marijuana Card Renewal

All cards expire one year after the date the practitioner signs the certification document. However, there are exceptions.

First, the doctor should indicate in the certification that the person will benefit from medical cannabis only until a specific date, and the card expires on the date approved. Second, there is no formal certification expiry once the doctor decides that the person has a terminal illness. Within this situation, the patient's MMJ card shows that the patient is gravely ill so that the card will remain valid for the rest of their life. In other cases, the patient will need to get a new medical certification to renew the card after one year.

Buying and Using Medical Marijuana

When a patient has a MMJ card, they may buy legal, medicinal cannabis products from an authorized dispensary, as prescribed by the certifying doctor. The patient should have their registry ID card and the health certificate at the time of purchase.

After purchasing medicinal marijuana, the person should preserve the medication in the original container in which it was delivered, except the part omitted for immediate consumption.