Medical Marijuana Certification - Get a Medical ID Card

 California is well known for being the first state to legalize medical marijuana in 1996. Since that time individuals with a qualifying condition for medical cannabis have been able to apply for a consultant certificate from a qualified medical professional allowing them to legally purchase and possess cannabis for medicinal use.

If you qualify for medical marijuana You can apply for a recommendation from a medical marijuana doctor online today and get your medical cannabis certification in minutes. With the recommendation, you can then apply for the department of health's medical cards.

The Medical Marijuana Identification Card Program (MMICP) was established following California Senate Bill 420 also known as the medical marijuana program act. This bill set out a number of measures and clarifications relating to the compassionate use act. The department of health services was required to create a medical marijuana registry and allow patients to voluntarily register with the MMICP as a simple way for law enforcement to identify those with medical marijuana consultant certification.

Qualified patients are also able to nominate a designated caregiver who can also receive a marijuana card allowing them to legally carry, purchase and grow cannabis on the patient’s behalf.

Since passing the Adult Use of Marijuana Act in 2016 it has been legal for all adults over the age of 21 to purchase, obtain, possess, transport and give away to other adults up to an ounce of cannabis which may lead some patients to wonder if they still need medical marijuana certification and an id card.

Why Get Medical Marijuana Certification

Despite the fact that any adult with ID can now legally purchase cannabis in California from licensed recreational retailers there are still a number of reasons why medical marijuana patients would wish to carry MMJ cards.

For a start if you have a condition for medical marijuana both patient and caregiver are allowed to possess, grow and transport larger quantities of the plant depending on the medical condition and how much cannabis they need to provide relief.

Marijuana dispensaries are also licensed as either medical, recreational or both. If you have medical marijuana certifications you are able to access both types of marijuana dispensary as well as receive home deliveries from medical dispensaries which is particularly useful in counties or cities that have chosen not to license recreational retail.

On top of greater access to dispensaries and the ability to carry and grow more with fewer restrictions, having a medical ID card can also save you huge amounts of money on taxes which could save you up to 40% on every purchase.

How To Get a Medical ID Card

In order to legally qualify for medical use of marijuana you must have a qualifying medical condition and receive a recommendation from a licensed physician to use medicinal cannabis as part of your treatment plan.

You can choose to visit a physician in person or access an online medical marijuana consultant who can access your medical records to determine if you have a qualifying condition that would benefit from cannabis or CBD products interacting with your endocannabinoid system.

Once you have your physician certification you are able to access medical cannabis products from your local dispensary and enjoy the health and wellness benefits of medicinal cannabis.

You will also have the necessary patient certification to apply for a state Medical Marijuana ID card (MMIC) as part of the California medical marijuana program. As well as your doctor’s recommendation you will also need identification such as a driver's license or government-issued photo id card and proof of residence.

To obtain an MMIC and appear on the register you will need to fill out an application form and schedule an appointment to apply in person. This card is not required to access medical cannabis.

If you need more information there is lots of patient information as well as frequently asked questions and answers on the California Department for Public Health website.

Qualifying Medical Conditions

There are a large number of qualifying medical conditions and physicians are permitted to prescribe cannabis for “any other illness for which marijuana provides relief.

Senate Bill 94 defines the following serious conditions:

• AIDS
• Anorexia
• Arthritis
• Cachexia (wasting syndrome)
• Cancer
• Chronic pain
• Glaucoma
• Migraine
• Persistent muscle spasms (e.g., spasms associated with multiple sclerosis)

Seizures (e.g., epileptic seizures)

• Severe nausea
• Or any other chronic or persistent medical symptom that either substantially limits a person's ability to conduct one or more of major life activities as defined in the federal Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, or if not alleviated, may cause serious harm to the person's safety, physical, or mental health.

Cannabis is well known through both studies and patient testimonials to improve patient quality of life in many ways including helping combat stress and anxiety, pain management, and increasing appetite which can, in turn, support sleep nutrition and physical activity.

As well as the above list cannabis is commonly recommended for Crohn’s disease, post-traumatic stress disorder and other stress disorders, the pain associated with sickle cell anemia, anxiety disorders, inflammatory diseases and insomnia.

Getting Medical Marijuana

The first step in getting medical marijuana is to get a doctor's recommendation for medical cannabis use. You can do this via an office visit with your regular physician or apply online here and talk to one of our specialist marijuana doctors.

Once you have your recommendation you can buy from any medical dispensary in the state or have your supply delivered to your door by one of many cannabis delivery companies.