Apply for a Medical Marijuana Card in California

California Medical Marijuana Card Qualifying Conditions

To be eligible for a California MMJ card, you must have been diagnosed by a doctor with one (or more) of these qualifying medical conditions:

Patient Qualifying Conditions

• HIV/AIDS
• Cancer
• Multiple sclerosis
• Glaucoma
• Side effects of radiation therapy
• Arthritis
• Chronic pain
• Anxiety
• Migraine headaches
• Severe nausea
• Cachexia, or wasting syndrome
• Multiple sclerosis
• Anorexia
• A persistent or chronic medical symptom causing serious harm to the patient’s mental or physical health if not treated

General Guidelines

Next, we will outline how to renew your California medical marijuana card and provide you with important information regarding caregiver rules.

Medical Marijuana Card Renewal in California

California MMJ cards are valid for one year; therefore, you must renew it before it expires. Fortunately, completing the process online is extremely simple. It involves pretty much the same steps as getting your card for the first time. Again, schedule an online consultation with a licensed physician to expedite the evaluation process. Remember, MMJCardOnline can help you with this.

Some companies will let you renew your MMJ card for as little as $39. Once you have the physician’s certification, you can resubmit the Medical Marijuana Program Renewal/Application Form to the California Department of Public Health.

Please keep in mind that renewal can take up to 30 days, so start the process at least one month before your MMJ card expires. However, with MMJCardOnline and its partners, you could receive your card within 3-5 business days when you apply online.

Caregiver Rules

You can assign a caregiver to assist you with your MMJ needs, but they must be over the age of 18. However, there are exceptions, such as they are an emancipated minor or they are the parent of a qualified patient who is a minor.

Caregivers who care for more than one patient must live in the same Californian county as you. They can possess up to eight ounces and are subject to the same growing regulations as qualified patients.

Primary caregivers have to apply in person with the patient and present valid identification.

Finally, according to the Department of Cannabis Control’s website, you can appoint a primary caregiver who is the owner or operator of one of these California-licensed facilities:

• A hospice
• A clinic
• Home health agency

History of Cannabis in California

California was the first state in the modern era to legalize medical marijuana. The Golden State eventually authorized MMJ via Proposition 215 in 1996 after a lengthy battle by cannabis activists that saw numerous setbacks. However, the program did not establish an ID card system for medical marijuana patients until Senate Bill 420 was passed in 2003.

Despite being the first American state to legalize medical marijuana, California remained firm on recreational marijuana for the next two decades. Finally, in 2016, Proposition 64 became law, allowing adults over the age of 21 to buy and possess up to 1oz of marijuana, with sales starting on January 1, 2018.

California Medical Marijuana Laws and Rules

Just because California has legalized adult-use marijuana, it doesn’t mean that the state is a free-for-all with no consequences. It’s legal to possess up to one ounce of cannabis without an MMJ card if you are 21 or older; however, carrying 28.5 grams or more is a misdemeanor punishable by a six-month jail sentence. The penalty is the same whether you have more than 8g of concentrate, grow more than six plants, or sell any amount of marijuana without the necessary licensing.

If you’re over 18 and sell marijuana to someone under the age of 17, you’ve committed a felony. If you wish to buy and possess additional cannabis and have one of the qualifying medical conditions for medicinal cannabis, you should seriously consider getting a California MMJ card.