How to Get a Medical Marijuana Card in New York
Contact a New York Healthcare Provider
The first step toward getting a New York medical card is to contact a physician or other healthcare provider registered with the New York State Department of Health’s Medical Marijuana Program. You can have your appointment in person or online. If you choose the online option, we can help put you in touch with a suitable physician.
The good news is that a relatively large number of providers are registered, including physicians, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners. All providers must complete at least a two-hour training course before they’re allowed to certify MMJ patients.
Schedule a Consultation
During the appointment, you will discuss your condition and how medical cannabis might help.
Your provider will then decide whether you are eligible for an MMJ card.
Provide details about your symptoms and how they impact your life. If you have tried other treatments without success, let the physician know. This information will help them determine the best product and dosage for you.
If you receive approval, your physician will provide a certification for MMJ. In March 2023, the Office of Cannabis Management changed its rules so that patients do not need to register with the state program once certified – the process now happens automatically. Therefore, once your doctor issues a certification, you are free to visit a dispensary and buy your medicine.
Note that newly certified patients and caregivers should notify the certifying practitioner of any changes in name or address within 10 business days. Patients registered before March 20th, 2023, should notify the Medical Cannabis Program of such changes.
Visit a Dispensary
Once you have your certification, you are ready to visit a licensed dispensary and buy MMJ. You must bring your card and a government-issued photo ID to make your purchase. Those registered before March 20th, 2023, must also bring their registry ID card.
Your doctor might recommend a specific type of cannabis delivery, but it is legal for a dispensary’s budtender to suggest something different. You can check with your physician if you are unsure whether a budtender’s recommendation is suitable.
Fortunately, the standard of cannabis products in licensed New York dispensaries is typically high. The state requires all MMJ products to be tested by an independent lab certified by the DOH’s Environmental Laboratory Approval Program.
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How to Apply for a Medical Marijuana Card in New York
- A Step-by-Step Guide
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- Easy access to a licensed medical professional
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How to Apply for a Medical Marijuana Card in New York – A Step-by-Step Guide
- Ensure you meet the eligibility criteria listed below
- Consult with a healthcare provider registered with the New York State Department of Health’s MMJ Program
- Discuss how cannabis could help with your medical condition
- Receive your MMJ certification
- Visit a licensed dispensary and buy your medicine
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.
What Types of Cannabis Products Can I Purchase in NY?
It is possible to purchase a wide variety of cannabis products in licensed NY dispensaries. They include:
- Vape cartridges/pens
- Capsule/tablets
- Tinctures
- Oral spray
- Oral powder
- Lozenges
- Metered ground plant preparation for vaporization
- Whole-flower cannabis for vaporization
- Transdermal patches
Seeds and immature plants are also available for sale at certain locations.
How Much Cannabis Can I Buy & Possess?
Patients can buy and possess a 60-day supply of cannabis as determined by their certifying practitioner. Furthermore, all NY adults can possess three ounces of cannabis and 24 grams of concentrates, including vaporization oils and edibles.
Certified MMJ patients and caregivers of minors and patients incapable of cultivation can also grow cannabis for personal medical use. The cultivation laws limit patients and caregivers to growing three mature and three immature plants. Caregivers with more than two patients can cultivate up to six mature plants and up to six immature plants.
Where Can I LEGALLY Purchase MMJ in New York?
Certified patients can purchase their medicine from any registered organization’s dispensing facility in New York. Some organizations also offer home delivery.
Not all dispensaries will sell the same products, so call ahead to ensure they have the items you need in stock.
Can I Transport My MMJ to a Different State?
It is illegal to transport marijuana over state lines, and New York does not have reciprocity with other states.
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.