Medical Marijana is now legal in New York. The Compassionate Care Act passed in 2014, making medical marijuana legal for people with certain qualifying conditions to purchase from a licensed dispensary. This makes New York the 23rd state to legalize medical marijuana and the eighth most populous state—meaning that it’s one of very few places where you can legally use cannabis to treat your symptoms without breaking the law.
However, there is a big difference between what’s legal at the state level and what is legal at the federal level: At this time, cannabis is still illegal under federal law (although some states are seeking waivers). This means that while you can use medical cannabis as prescribed by your doctor or via compassionate care centers (the dispensaries) once you’ve obtained a card or recommendation letter from them, it’s still illegal for doctors or caregivers to prescribe or recommend using marijuana as medicine under federal law—even if they live in states where doing so would be legal!
You must have an approved medical condition.
You must have an approved medical condition. The list of conditions that qualify you for a medical marijuana card in New York is long, but it’s not all-inclusive. Here are some common conditions that will allow you to obtain a MMJ card:
- Chronic Pain (including migraines)
- PTSD
- Cancer
- Parkinson’s Disease
- Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
- Epilepsy
- HIV/AIDS
- Crohn’s Disease and other inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) can also qualify. In addition, if you have ALS or Huntington’s disease—both degenerative nervous system disorders—you may be able to get your hands on weed legally too.
You must be certified by a medical practitioner.
When you’re ready to get your medical card, the first thing you’ll need is a certification from an approved medical practitioner. These are doctors and other health care providers who have completed at least 30 hours of coursework on the use of medicinal cannabis for their patients. If you’re interested in seeing if your doctor is qualified, here’s a list of all current certified practitioners in New York State.
Once you’ve found one, make an appointment with them and bring any relevant paperwork with you—such as proof of residency and a copy of your driver’s license or ID card (if applicable). You’ll also want to let them know what conditions are currently affecting your life so that they can determine if cannabis might be able to help improve them.
During the appointment itself, the practitioner will discuss how marijuana could benefit specific areas related to your health: pain management; mental health issues; physical limitations caused by injury or illness; etcetera. The idea is not only for them to understand what symptoms are being treated but also where they’re coming from so that they can offer insight into potential causes behind those symptoms without having direct access to patient information like test results or medical history outside this one session alone! This way both parties get more time together than just 15 minutes spent filling out forms before leaving again without really knowing anything new about each other yet either–so share freely!
Leafdoc provides cheapest Medical Marijuana Card in New York.
The doctor will certify you for medical marijuana.
Once you’re approved by a doctor, she or he will certify you for medical marijuana. This means they can sign a form that allows you to get a card and purchase medical marijuana legally in New York.
If your doctor has certified you, but not recommended one of the approved conditions above, here are some common conditions that doctors have recommended:
- Anxiety
- Arthritis pain
- Chronic pain (besides cancer-related)
In addition to those conditions, many doctors also recommend medical marijuana for patients who suffer from Crohn’s Disease and Parkinson’s Disease.
Register for the Medical Marijuanna Program and get your card.
The next step is to register for the New York State Medical Marijuanna Program. To do this, you’ll need to visit the NYS Department of Health’s website and fill out the Patient Registration Form. You’ll need to upload a copy of your certification and proof of identity (such as a passport or driver’s license). For this step, there is no fee; however, you will have to pay $50 when your card arrives in the mail after it has been approved by staff members at NYSDOH.
Getting a medical marijuana card is easy if you have one of the approved medical conditions and a state-certified doctor.
Getting a medical marijuana card in New York is easy if you have one of the approved medical conditions and a state-certified doctor.
Getting your card is just like getting an ID or driver’s license: You need to register with the state, then visit your doctor to get certified.
The good news is that registering with the state only takes about two minutes online.
Leafdoc makes it super easy for New Yorkers and you can apply here.
