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When the COVID-19 pandemic hit last year, interest in medicalcannabisand how to get a medical marijuana card skyrocketed.
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Many of the patients in that study specifically cited worries about getting COVID-19 or giving it to someone else.
If youre curious about getting a card where you live, heres a basic idea of what to expect.
If you have a primary care provider, try chatting with them first.
That documentation could be something like MRI results, X-rays, or doctors notes, Dr. Kessler says.
Anything that has the diagnosis on it would work, he says.
Get in touch with a doctor who is registered to certify you for a card.
(Heresthe list for New York, for example.)
Websites likeLeaflyandWeedMapsalso run their own handy databases of cannabis doctors.
Chat with the doctor to figure out a plan that works for you.
But there are also some interesting discrepancies.
But you might be surprised at how open to interpretation those conditions may be.
During this evaluation, the doctor should also give you a heads-up about any side effects you might experience.
Those could include an increased heart rate, nausea, and dizziness.
But your doctor should give you as much guidance as possible to get what you need.
You may need to register with the health department, depending on your state.
Each state has its own rules and processes for medical cannabis patients.
Ultimately, though, these requirements will depend on which state youre in.
In California you dont have to do anything, Dr. Niles says.
For most people, getting the card isnt a big deal, Dr. Tishler says.
I always suggest that people try it themselves, but if they get stumped then we can help.
The staff at the dispensary, a.k.a.
your budtenders, can also help answer questions about the specific products they carry.
And when yougo to a dispensary, be sure to bring your card with you.
You may also need to bring another form of ID and cash because not all dispensaries take credit cards.
Consider talking to a cannabis pharmacist if thats something your dispensary offers.
Some states, including New York, even require dispensaries to have cannabis pharmacists on staff.
But Dr. Tishler points out that cannabis pharmacists at dispensaries may not exactly be an unbiased source of information.
They are trained as a pharmacist but employed by the dispensary, he says.
So there is a certain conflict of interest there.
Dont hesitate to follow up with your care team if you have questions.
That includes if youre having trouble getting signed up.
