The Compassionate Use Act, also known as Proposition 215, was passed in the state of California in 1996. This act allows citizens who qualify for a medical marijuana card to legally procure, possess and use medical marijuana. It also provides a safe environment for patients to talk to medical professionals about medical marijuana use and appropriate dosages for their specific needs. Furthermore, doctors are now able to prescribe MMJ for a range of disorders and illnesses. Anyone can apply for a medical marijuana card if they have an ailment they believe would be alleviated by MMJ use. It’s an easy process that can be done online via a quick survey and an interview with a medical professional.
What Proposition 64 Means for Californians
Don’t get rid of your medical marijuana card just yet.
Recently, the California government passed another law, Proposition 64, which allows any citizen to legally possess and use cannabis recreationally (much like having a glass of wine with dinner). This has left many who rely on MMJ as a means of medication to wonder where this leaves them with regards to access to medical marijuana and the available treatment options.
Although this new proposition has passed and it’s now legal to possess and use cannabis recreationally, the law won’t come into full effect until at least 2018. This means that until the proper legislation is in place, it will still be illegal to purchase recreational cannabis, so citizens without a medical marijuana card will have to rely on being “gifted” the substance if they wish to partake. This new proposition also forbids the use of cannabis in public arenas, so consumers will have to be discreet and keep to private spaces to imbibe.
Why You Should Hold onto Your Medical Marijuana Card
Patients who qualify for and possess a medical marijuana card will not have these obstacles and will be allowed to dose in most places that tobacco use is allowed. Another limitation to Proposition 64 is that citizens can only be in possession of 1 ounce of flowers or 8 grams of concentrate while in public spaces and will be limited to growing just six plants in their homes. Those with a medical marijuana card, however, will continue to be allowed to cultivate up to 100 square feet of MMJ at any given time.
Although Proposition 64 expands the public’s rights to use cannabis, patients who require MMJ as a means of medication will still receive certain allowances that average citizens will not. Many believe that even when the full legislation is in place, patients with a medical marijuana card will be given preferential treatment in regards to access to MMJ. These rights will include the ability to dose in public spaces, the ability to cultivate larger amounts of MMJ, access to shorter waiting times at marijuana dispensaries, foregoing the state’s sales tax, and protection from the fluctuating market value incurred from marijuana being sold as a commercial commodity.
How To Get a Medical Marijuana Card in California
Under Proposition 64, without a medical marijuana card, you can only grow six plants in your home.
As mentioned earlier, anyone with a medical condition who believes that access to MMJ will help to relieve their symptoms will be able to apply for a medical marijuana card from a licensed physician. This can be done in a clinic by asking your primary doctor, visiting a specialized 420 doctor at an evaluation clinic or, to speed up the process, via an online service such as that provided by MMJ Recs.
However, some doctors still don’t feel comfortable prescribing MMJ as a form of treatment, and specialized evaluation centers are often located in hard-to-reach places. With long waiting times and short evaluation time, patients leave feeling uninformed and uncertain about their new treatment plan. Online services not only cut down on wait times, but they also provide access to highly specialized medical marijuana doctors who are able to give patients a tailored treatment plan that outlines the best methods of dosage, the different strains available, and an outline of the different benefits and risks associated with this form of medication.
Medical marijuana is often prescribed to alleviate medical conditions that substantially limit a person’s ability to conduct one or more of life’s major activities as defined in the Americans with Disabilities Act or, if not alleviated, may cause serious harm to the patient’s physical and mental health. Some of the most common qualifying conditions include arthritis, glaucoma, AIDS, cancer, anorexia, chronic pain and migraines. There are nearly 50 qualifying medical conditions that MMJ Recs physicians recognize, you can follow this link.
If you apply online, you’ll need to fill out a standard medical form that you can upload along with any other relevant medical documents. The actual evaluation from the medical marijuana physician takes only a few minutes and involves a short phone call or Skype conversation where you’ll provide information about your current condition, medical history and why you believe that MMJ will help to improve your quality of life.
Once you’re approved, your medical marijuana card and official recommendation letter will arrive in the mail complete with your full name, date, patient ID, expiration date (a renewal of your medical marijuana card will be required every year), a doctor’s signature and an embossed seal. With this card, you’ll be able to buy MMJ from licensed marijuana dispensaries or order it online though protected marketplace sites.
Obtaining a medical marijuana card in California couldn’t be easier and is viewed as an appropriate treatment plan for a variety of ailments. If you feel that your life would be improved by the use of MMJ, then you’re just a few clicks away from obtaining your card and full rights to this powerful, life-changing medicine.