Medical marijuana law in California enables patients to register voluntarily for a cannabis ID card. The California Department of Public Health issues Medical Marijuana Cards to with a doctor’s letter of recommendation to use it. Senate Bill 420 amended cannabis law to include additional protections for patients, caregivers, and legal dispensaries.
What is the Medical Marijuana Program?
The MMP is a registry program run by the state. Qualified patients, and their caregivers, can register for the right to use, carry, grow, and transport medical cannabis unhindered by federal law. The state issues Medical Marijuana Cards to patients, and its system enables officials to verify and validate the legitimacy of patients and their legal status.
Although experts advise getting a card, it is not compulsory. You do not have to join the MMP, but if you do, then you will have legal protection from the state. Despite widespread media and other efforts to encourage registration, patients only need medical marijuana recommendations from their doctors to use cannabis legally. Registering for a card is a regulatory requirement, but it is not law.
Finding Legal Marijuana Recommendations
It could not be any easier to apply for a Medical Marijuana Card in California. You can be a legal patient in minutes. Finding a doctor to write a recommendation letter for you is the hardest part. Not all physicians are willing or certified to do so. However, it is possible to find cannabis-certified doctors who help patients access their medicine. You need only look online:
Network of Cannabis-Certified Doctors
Most online marijuana dispensaries provide services that connect people with marijuana-recommending doctors. An entire network of them exists across the state. Some will even provide a portal for you to connect directly with one. If your health woes are real, he or she will write a letter for you.
Convenience
Everyone applying for a Medical Marijuana Card in California must have a written letter of recommendation from a qualified physician. You cannot get a card without one. Instead of navigating dodgy areas looking for doctors, you can find one online from the safety and comfort of home.
Virtual Consultations
Physicians consult easily with patients online. There is no need to visit one personally, as video chats are more than sufficient for marijuana recommendations. Patients must renew their Medical Marijuana Cards annually, and you can attend all follow-up consultations online, as well.
Qualified Doctors
Marijuana doctors in California are highly qualified medical professionals. They dedicate their lives to helping patients, instead of poisoning them with dangerous prescription drugs. These cannabis advocates are saving lives and are at the forefront of medical science.
Cost of Medical Marijuana Cards in California
Individual counties administer the MMP as they see fit. For this reason, fees vary by county for Medical Marijuana Cards. However, state-issued cards have set application fees, but counties still determine the actual administration fees you will pay. This is what it costs to get a Medical Marijuana Card from the state of California:
The application fee for Medical Marijuana Identification Cards is currently $66 for patients who are not part of Medi-Cal.
Those belonging to Medi-Cal only pay $33 for their Medical Marijuana Cards.
Your local county program or dispensary can help you find out exactly what you will pay in your specific area. They can probably do it for you in a few minutes or less. If the state denies your application, you have the right to appeal it. There is no charge to appeal. Simply submit an Appeals Form within a month of receiving your denial. Mail it to the Department of Public Health directly.
When you date and sign an Appeals Form, you authorize the county to release your information to the Department of Public Health, where it will undergo analysis. Appeal decisions made by the state Medical Marijuana Program are final and unchallengeable. Grounds for denial can include lack of required information, fraud, or not meeting regulatory requirements.
Cost of Medical Marijuana Recommendations in California
Online cannabis dispensaries offer package services for prospective medical patients. You can get marijuana recommendations alone for approximately $50, including service fees and other charges. Getting a pot recommendation and a Medical Marijuana Card together will cost roughly $70, and if you also want to purchase a growing license for 99 plants, expect to pay approximately $150 per year for it.
Conclusion
Many good reasons exist to get a Medical Marijuana Card, including extra protections, access to legal cannabis, and lawful compliance. However, you do not actually need one. You can join a dispensary community and purchase cannabis with your doctor’s letter of recommendation, but for the law to protect your rights as a medical patient, consider joining the Medical Marijuana Program.
