How to Get a Medical Marijuana Card in Massachusetts

If you are a Massachusetts resident and have a qualifying medical condition, you may be able to participate in the Massachusetts Medical Marijuana Program (Program). If you are aged 18, you can apply as a new patient. However, if you are under 18, you must get the approval of your parent or guardian, as well as certification from two Certifying Healthcare Providers, one of whom must be a pediatric specialist or a pediatrician. Follow these easy steps to getting your Massachusetts Program registration card.
01

Schedule a Consultation with a Certifying Healthcare Provider

Before you can register for the Program, you must first obtain a written recommendation from a certifying healthcare provider identifying your qualifying medical condition. Certifying healthcare providers include registered physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants (MMJCardOnline can help put you in touch with a certifying healthcare provider in Massachusetts).

02

Receive Your Registration Pin

After your healthcare provider has certified you, you will get an email from the Program with your four-digit PIN registration number and information on how to complete your patient application online.

03

Apply Online

The quickest and easiest way to register as a patient is to apply through the Medical Use of Marijuana Program Online System. If you can’t apply online, you can register by mail, but please note that paper applications take significantly longer to process.

Before you can register online, you will first have to provide proof of residency in Massachusetts. To verify your Massachusetts residency, you must submit a copy of a valid ID. Acceptable forms of ID include:

  • A Massachusetts driver’s license.
  • A current Massachusetts ID card with your photograph on it.
  • A valid U.S. passport or military ID.

When presenting a passport or a U.S. military ID as your legitimate form of identification, you must additionally submit proof of your primary home. The document’s name and address must match the information provided at registration. Acceptable documents include:

  • Utility bill dated within the last sixty days (electric, gas, telephone, cable, or heating oil)
  • Current motor vehicle registration card
  • Tuition bill that is less than six months old
  • Policy or bill for car insurance that is less than sixty days old
  • Contracts for a home mortgage, lease, or loan that are less than six months old
  • Certified marriage certificate issued in the United States within the last six months
  • Current-year property tax or excise tax bill
  • First-class mail received from a federal or state entity over the last 60 days
  • a current state-issued professional license that includes your address

You also need to upload a color passport photo of yourself, which will be the one used on your Medical Use of Marijuana Program registration card, more commonly referred to as a program registration card.

04

Be Approved and Receive Your Massachusetts Program Registration Card

If your application is accepted, you can print a temporary program registration card, allowing you to make purchases from a dispensary for up to 14 days.

Your official Massachusetts medical marijuana card should arrive within 7-14 business days. You must carry your program registration card with you at all times if you are in possession of marijuana for medical purposes.

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How to Apply for a Medical Marijuana Card in Massachusetts
- A Step-by-Step Guide

  • Check your eligibility
  • Schedule an appointment with a certifying healthcare provider
  • Attend your appointment and be certified as a qualifying patient
  • Receive your 4-digit registration pin by email
  • Apply online – have your verification documents ready for uploading
  • Be approved
  • Receive your Massachusetts Program registration card

Massachusetts Medical Marijuana Card Qualifying Conditions

To be eligible for a Massachusetts Program registration card, you must have been diagnosed with one or more of the following qualifying medical conditions:

Patient Qualifying Conditions

  • Cancer
  • Hepatitis C
  • ALS
  • Multiple sclerosis
  • HIV/AIDS
  • Parkinson’s disease
  • Glaucoma
  • Crohn’s disease

Other debilitating diseases may be approved, provided the patient’s healthcare provider certifies them in writing. PTSD, persistent pain lasting at least six months, and chronic muscular spasms are examples of such illnesses.

General Guidelines

In the next sections, we will outline how to renew your Massachusetts medical marijuana card and provide you with important information regarding caregiver rules.

Medical Marijuana Card Renewal in Massachusetts

Your Massachusetts Program registration card is valid for one year. Before your card expires, you must renew your MMJ patient status. You can do so by scheduling a consultation with a certifying healthcare provider to be certified for another year. You then must renew your card online for another year. There is no renewal fee, but you will have to pay the certifying healthcare provider to be certified for another year.

Caregiver Rules

MMJ patients in Massachusetts can select a personal caregiver to assist them with their medical cannabis use. After your registration has been authorized, you may name up to two caregivers, one of whom must be a member of your immediate family.

Caregivers must be at least 21 years old and can assist up to five MMJ patients. A caregiver is also optional for patients aged 21 and older. Personal caregivers must register with the Program every year.

History of Cannabis in Massachusetts

Massachusetts was the first state to outlaw cannabis, doing so in 1911 (although some sources say 1914). Cannabis was fully banned until 2008 Massachusetts decriminalized it.

In November 2012, 63% of Massachusetts voters approved Question 3, often known as the Massachusetts Medical Marijuana Program. MMJ sales started in January 2013.

Question 4, legalizing recreational marijuana in Massachusetts, was adopted by voters in November 2016. In November 2018, sales began.

Massachusetts Medical Marijuana Laws and Rules

Adults over 21 in Massachusetts can purchase and possess up to an ounce of marijuana and can also keep up to 10 ounces in their homes. If you are caught with more than an ounce of marijuana without an MMJ card, you will be charged with a misdemeanor and may face up to six months in prison. A second crime could result in a two-year prison sentence.

If you are found guilty of possessing any amount with intent to distribute, you could face up to two years in prison.

With a medical marijuana certificate in Massachusetts, you can buy and possess far more marijuana. As a result, applying for one may be worthwhile.

What Types of Cannabis Can I Purchase in Massachusetts?

You have a lot of options if you have an MMJ card in Massachusetts. Marijuana flower, concentrate, kief, vaping products, edibles, pre-rolls, and other cannabis products are available at dispensaries.

How Much Cannabis Can I Buy and Possess?

MMJ patients in Massachusetts may purchase and possess up to a 60-day supply as prescribed by their doctor. The maximum quantity is 10 ounces. Recreational users, on the other hand, are limited to an ounce of flower or five grams of concentrate.

Please keep in mind that you have access to the 10 ounces on a rolling basis throughout a 60-day period. If you purchase all ten ounces at once, you must wait 60 days before purchasing again. In addition, one gram of concentrate equals 5.3 grams of flower.

If you want to spread out your purchases, there is a 60-day waiting time for each. While you can continue to buy until you exceed the 10-ounce restriction during the 60-day period, your balance fluctuates.

For example, if you buy three ounces on March 1, you can buy a maximum of seven ounces until April 29, the last day of your waiting period. If you purchase five further ounces on March 24, for example, you can now only purchase two ounces until April 29. Furthermore, you can only purchase five more ounces until May 23, the end of your new waiting period.

MMJ patients and recreational users are permitted to keep up to ten ounces of cannabis at home.

Where can I Legally Purchase MMJ in Massachusetts?

According to the Cannabis Control Commission, Massachusetts has around 400 MMJ and recreational dispensaries. Remember to carry your card to take advantage of increased purchase limits.

Can I Take my MMJ to a Different State?

No. Marijuana remains federally illegal under the Controlled Substances Act. It is thus unlawful to travel across state lines with marijuana in your possession.

FAQ About Getting an MMJ Card in Massachusetts

How long does it take to get a Medical Marijuana Card in Massachusetts?

All applications are reviewed in the order in which they were received. Your plastic ID card will be mailed to you 7-10 days after your application is approved. The Cannabis Control Commission also offers an Initial Access program, which allows you to visit a medical marijuana shop as soon as you gain approval. You can print a temporary ID card from your computer while waiting for the plastic ID card. It is valid for 14 days and allows you to purchase up to 2.5 ounces of medical cannabis.

What if I'm not approved after my initial consultation with a Massachusetts MMJ physician?

Users of MMJCardOnline have an extremely high approval rate. To increase your chances of success, please read the information in this guide before applying. In the unlikely event, you're not approved, you will receive a full refund.

How much is it for a Medical Card in Massachusetts?

In Massachusetts, there is no fee to apply for an MMJ card. The only cost of a medical marijuana card in Massachusetts is the doctor's consultation fee, which typically costs between $150 and $200.

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