Why Get a Medical Marijuana Card in New York?
Save up to 20% yearly on personal cannabis costs.
Perhaps the biggest benefit of getting a New York medical marijuana card is the tax breaks you’ll receive as a medical patient. New York medical marijuana sales are taxed just 7% compared to 13% for recreational sales. As a medical patient, this can translate to up 20% year-on-end savings if you’re an avid monthly user.
Enjoy higher possession limits.
New York medical marijuana patients can buy and possess up to a 60-day supply of cannabis, compared to just 3 oz at a time for adult-use (recreational) customers.
Better access & higher potency products.
As a New York resident, you’re probably well aware how long it’s taken the state to get the recreational program up and running. As a medical patient, however, you’ll enjoy far greater access to high-potency cannabis products, including door-to-door delivery with a valid MMJ card.
How to Apply for a Medical Marijuana Card in New York
- A Step-by-Step Guide
New York Medical Marijuana Card Qualifying Conditions
To qualify for the medical marijuana program in New York, you must:
- Be a resident of the New York
- Be certified by a registered healthcare provider
- Be an adult aged 18+
- Patients under 18 or incapable of consent must have a registered caregiver
Patient Qualifying Conditions
The Office of Cannabis Management website states that you might be eligible for medical marijuana if you have “any condition deemed clinically appropriate by your health care provider.” It advises prospective patients to consult their physician to discuss whether MMJ will suit them.
It appears that this requirement replaces the previous list of qualifying conditions. However, the former list of NY medical marijuana card qualifying conditions represents some of the most common reasons doctors recommend medical cannabis, including:
- Cancer
- HIV/AIDS
- ALS
- Parkinson’s disease
- MS
- Neuropathy (or other forms of nervous tissue/spinal cord damage)
- Spasticity
- Epilepsy
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Huntington’s disease
- Chronic pain (if it degrades health and functional capacity where cannabis is an alternative to opioid use)
- Substance abuse disorder
- Cachexia (wasting syndrome)
- Severe nausea
- Seizures
- Severe or persistent muscle spasms
- Alzheimer’s
- Muscular dystrophy
- Dystonia
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Autism
General Guidelines
The process of applying for an NY MMJ card is now relatively straightforward. However, we have provided further information and answers to some frequently asked questions below.
Medical Marijuana Card Renewal in New York
Medical marijuana certifications in New York are valid for one year from the date they are issued. Patients still requiring MMJ at the end of this period can ask their provider to extend their certification for a further year. Be sure to make an appointment well before the expiration date to ensure your certification remains valid.
The state does not charge for renewing your certification, but you will likely have to pay for another consultation with your physician.
Caregiver Rules
Patients under 18 and those deemed incapable of consent are required by law to have a registered caregiver. In this situation, the healthcare provider will automatically register the caregiver when certification is issued.
Other patients can also designate a caregiver to help them purchase and use their medicine. Caregivers must register with the state’s program.
A Brief History of Cannabis in New York
New York state made marijuana illegal in 1927, and it remained so for almost a century. However, in 2014, Governor Andrew Cuomo signed legislation legalizing medical cannabis in NY.
The state made further progress on March 30th, 2021, when Governor Cuomo signed the Marihuana Regulation & Taxation Act (MRTA). It legalized the possession and use of recreational cannabis in New York state. However, recreational sales will not begin until later in 2023.
New York Medical Marijuana Laws and Rules
It is now legal for adults 21+ to possess up to three ounces without legal repercussions. However, possessing 3-8 ounces is a misdemeanor, while possessing over eight ounces is a felony.
Residents of NY can legally “gift” up to three ounces without receiving any compensation. However, selling any amount of cannabis without a license is a misdemeanor, and selling over 25 grams is a felony with up to four years in prison as the penalty.
Although cannabis is now legal for New York adults, recreational sales have yet to begin. Therefore, it is still worth applying for an MMJ card in NY.
FAQ About Getting an MMJ Card in New York
Now that patients do not have to register with the state’s MMJ program, the process is relatively quick. Once a physician approves you and issues your certification, you can purchase MMJ in NY. Here at MMJ Card Online, we can save you even more time and effort by connecting you with marijuana-friendly doctors from the comfort of your home.
The approval rate is exceptionally high when applying for your certification with MMJ Card Online. However, we offer a money-back guarantee if you are unsuccessful. If you are not approved, you can still possess up to three ounces without breaking the law. However, you must wait until later in 2023 for recreational sales to begin.
Since you no longer have to register with the state program, the medical marijuana card cost in NY has been waived. However, you still have to pay for a physician’s consultation, which can cost upwards of $200. Contact us today to see how much you could save by applying for your certification with MMJ Card Online.