How to Get Medical Cannabis In 5 Easy Steps

   If you are reading this article you are probably wondering, “How do I get medical marijuana?”. This article will help you with the steps to acquire medical marijuana. But what disorders qualify you for medical cannabis? Let us take a closer look. 

Disorders That Qualify You for Medical Cannabis

   To qualify for medical cannabis, you must have a condition that marijuana will help with. Although it will vary by state, below is a list of common medical conditions that will make you eligible for a state issued medical cannabis card. 

•    HIV/AIDS
•  Eating disorders
•  Cancer
• Chronic Pain
• Seizures
• PTSD
• Parkinson’s
•  Arthritis
• Glaucoma

States That Offer Medical Cannabis

   Currently, many states are pushing to legalize marijuana for recreational use, although it is still considered illegal by the Federal Government. Below is a comprehensive list of states that allow medical marijuana. Note that some of these states also offer recreational cannabis use well. 

Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia
Florida
Hawaii
Illinois
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Missouri
Montana
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
Utah
Vermont
Washington
West Virginia

1.     Determine if you are eligible

   Sit down on your own or with your health care provider and determine if you have one of the qualifying conditions for medical cannabis. If you do, follow the next steps to obtain medical marijuana.

2.     Talk to a doctor

   Talk with your doctor and express your needs to them for medical marijuana to see if it is a good fit for you. Find out what drug interactions can occur with your current medication, the dose you should be using with medical cannabis, and other pertinent information. You should also find out what forms of medical cannabis to use. There are several forms such as flower, vaporizer, edibles, topicals, and concentrates.  

3.     Gather medical documents

   Now that you have talked to your doctor and determined what qualifies you for medical marijuana, you need to gather all medical documentation that will support your case for the need of medical cannabis. You will have to provide these documents to a certifying doctor. Note that not all doctors are able to certify you, so you will have to find a list of doctors in your state that certify for medical cannabis. 

4.     Get certified

   It is finally time to get certified. You have done your research, talked to a doctor, and gathered all information that you need to get certified. In some states you are required to register with a state website. For example, in Pennsylvania, you need to register with the state before you are certified. Once you go to a doctor and get certified, you must log into the state site and pay a $50 fee for your card. Once this is done, your card will be mailed to you and you will be able to visit a dispensary. 

5.     Visit a dispensary

   Now that you have finally received your certification and card in the mail, it is time to visit a dispensary. As stated before, there are many forms of cannabis to choose from. The most popular being flower and the second most being vaporizer. Shop around different dispensaries to get a good price and see what variety each has to offer.