How To Get A Medical Cannabis Card In Your State

Although the exact format of the conversation will be different depending on your doctor, expect to be asked about any other health conditions, any other medications you might be taking, and any concerns you might have about using cannabis in this way.

“It’s important to understand what the patient’s symptoms are and what time of day they want to take their medication,” Dr. Niles says. The timing is especially key because that will help the doctor give recommendations about different cannabinoids and cannabinoid ratios to look for in products. For example, some may give a more uplifting, energetic feeling that can be taken during the day while others provide a relaxing effect that’s better suited to nighttime.

During this evaluation, the doctor should also give you a heads-up about any side effects you might experience. Those could include an increased heart rate, nausea, and dizziness.

You should walk away from this evaluation with a solid idea of what to get at a dispensary, but no doctor in the country is allowed to actually legally prescribe cannabis. That means you won’t get a specific prescription that a dispensary is required to fill exactly the way you might get a prescription for an antibiotic filled at a pharmacy, Dr. Tishler says. But your doctor should give you as much guidance as possible to get what you need.

4. You may need to register with the health department, depending on your state. Each state has its own rules. Processes for medical cannabis patients. In some states, such as Connecticut and New York, patients need to register with the state health department on their own before getting their card, which can be an annoying bureaucratic step but isn’t usually a huge hurdle.

Ultimately, though, these requirements will depend on which state you’re in. “In California you don’t have to do anything,” Dr. Niles says. “Once the doctor approves you, they push a button and send you your recommendation instantly through email, and you’ll get a hard copy in the mail.” If you have any questions about what you need to do after getting certified, talk to your doctor or check your state’s health department website for instructions.

“For most people, getting the card isn’t a big deal,” Dr. Tishler says. “I always suggest that people try it themselves, but if they get stumped then we can help. If we can’t help, we have access to the state cannabis commission so that their service people can get involved if they need to.”

5. Once you have your card, you can use it at a dispensary.

You will likely have to wait a few weeks for your physical card to arrive from your state health department. In the meantime, you may receive a temporary medical cannabis card that you can take to a dispensary and use to purchase medical cannabis according to your doctor’s recommendations.

The staff at the dispensary, a.k.a. your budtenders, can also help answer questions about the specific products they carry. You should be prepared to go in with your doctor’s recommendations, but know that different dispensaries carry different products, so yours they may not have exactly what your doctor has suggested (which is why Dr. Tishler sometimes recommends specific dispensaries).