How Do I Get an Indiana Medical Marijuana Card?
Find a Licensed Physician
Your first step will be contacting a clinic to find a cannabis-friendly doctor in Indiana. The state will likely have relatively few physicians willing to provide certification at first, so it could be a challenging search.
Book an Appointment
Given Indiana’s resistance to MMJ thus far, it seems improbable that the state will permit online consultations. Therefore, you will probably need to visit the doctor in-person for the appointment. In other states with medical marijuana programs, the process lasts 10-15 minutes.
It involves the physician performing a physical check and asking questions about your use of marijuana. You will need to show that you have tried other forms of medication that have not worked.
If the doctor believes you are a good candidate for MMJ, they will provide a written certification. You will need it to complete the next step.
Register with the State’s Medical Marijuana Program
In most other states with MMJ programs, it is necessary to complete an online application, although some allow applicants to send the documents by mail. You must wait to see whether the state will approve your application. If it does, you should receive your MMJ card in the mail. At this point, you can visit a licensed dispensary to purchase medical marijuana.
How to Apply for a Medical Marijuana Card in Indiana
- A Step-by-Step Guide
- Check to ensure you have one of the qualifying medical conditions
- Find a licensed doctor within your state
- Book a consultation and discuss your usage of MMJ with the doctor
- If approved, apply to the state program online
- Once you receive your card in the mail, visit a dispensary
*Please note that none of the above applies in Indiana at present, as the state doesn’t have a functioning medical marijuana program.
Indiana Medical Marijuana Card Qualifying Conditions
Based on what we know from other MMJ programs, if Indiana ever legalizes the substance, you will need to meet the following criteria to be eligible:
- Residents of Indiana
- Aged 18+
- Have one of the state’s qualifying conditions
Patient Qualifying Conditions
Without an existing medical marijuana program, it is tough to determine what Indiana’s qualifying conditions would be. Given the opposition, one could surmise that if MMJ becomes legal, it will be a strict program. Therefore, you might only benefit from medical marijuana if you have one of the following conditions:
- PTSD
- Cancer
- HIV/AIDS
- Crohn’s disease
- A terminal illness
- Chronic pain
- Parkinson’s disease
- MS
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Glaucoma
General Guidelines
It could be some time before medical marijuana makes its way to Indiana. However, we can guess the likely rules and regulations if the state allows an MMJ program. Below, we provide information based on the laws of other states’ medical marijuana programs.
Medical Marijuana Card Renewal in Indiana
The most likely scenario is that an MMJ card in Indiana would be valid for a year. You would need to renew well in advance, which would involve getting another doctor’s certification and perhaps completing a renewal application.
Caregiver Rules
Most state programs permit MMJ patients to have at least one caregiver. However, no data is available on whether any Indiana medical marijuana program would follow suit.
A Brief History of Cannabis in Indiana
Marijuana has remained illegal in the Hoosier State since 1913. There have been multiple attempts to implement a medical marijuana program, but they have all failed. Indeed, Indiana only legalized the sale and use of CBD oil with a maximum THC content of 0.3% in 2018.
There are many marijuana legalization bills on the table in Indiana, but none are making any headway. Regulators in the state have decided to wait for more research on the health benefits and decriminalization of marijuana before making any legislative decisions.
Governor Holcomb has already outlined his opposition to any form of marijuana legalization and would only consider looking at the pros and cons if the substance became federally legal. Unfortunately, it seems as if residents of IN could be waiting a very long time for a medical marijuana program.
Indiana Medical Marijuana Laws and Rules
Marijuana is not decriminalized in Indiana, so possessing any amount is a misdemeanor with up to 180 days in prison as the penalty. It is a felony to possess 30+ grams and have a prior drug conviction. You also enter felony territory by possessing more than five grams of hash or concentrates.
The sale of any amount of cannabis is a misdemeanor, whereas selling 30+ grams is a felony. The penalties for growing marijuana are effectively the same as for selling it.
What Types of Cannabis Products Can I Purchase in IN?
It is quite possible that even if Indiana permitted medical marijuana, it would forbid smokable forms. Available products might include tinctures, capsules, and edibles.
How Much Cannabis Can I Buy & Possess?
A recent bill recommended a maximum purchase of one ounce or eight grams of concentrate.
Where Can I LEGALLY Purchase MMJ in Indiana?
Information on the number of dispensaries and their locations won’t be known unless Indiana implements a medical marijuana program.
Can I Take My MMJ to a Different State?
It is a federal crime to bring marijuana across state lines. It also seems unlikely that an Indiana MMJ program would include reciprocity.
Can I Cultivate Medical Marijuana in Indiana?
One of the proposed bills, HB 1154, had a provision for allowing MMJ patients to cultivate a maximum of six plants in a private residence. However, any version of a medical marijuana bill that makes it into law in Indiana almost certainly won’t allow home growing.
FAQ About Getting an MMJ Card in Indiana
This information won’t be available unless an MMJ bill passes into law. Based on other state programs, the likely waiting time could be in the 30-day range.
Our providers offer a money-back guarantee for patients who don’t receive written certification after the doctor’s appointment. This will likely be the case should medical marijuana ever come to IN.
The application fee would probably be between $50 and $200. Doctor’s consultations in other states tend to cost $200+.
If Indiana follows the lead of other states, a hypothetical medical marijuana program would allow minors to apply with the permission of a parent or legal guardian.