It shouldn't take you long to get your “real medical marijuana card” in the mail. Most of the time, it takes less than two weeks. The temporary card you receive is valid for 30 days. This is more than enough time because your medical marijuana card takes between 7 and 10 business days to arrive in the mail.
At this point, you can purchase legal marijuana from a New York licensed state dispensary. According to the MRTA, the amount of marijuana that medical marijuana patients can buy will double. If you qualify, our doctor will provide you with a certification that can be used the same day at a nearby medical cannabis dispensary. After your online certification is approved, the New York State Department of Health will mail you an official medical marijuana card within 7 days.
Our doctor will determine if you qualify for a medical card after a quick 10 to 15 minute evaluation. After state approval, the patient will receive a temporary registration card while the state prepares and sends them a state medical cannabis card. A caregiver can purchase medical marijuana on behalf of the patient and help administer the medication. This email will have the link to your intake form, where you will fill in your medical information and upload your identification and any medical documentation you can provide.
The first step in the medical marijuana application process in New York is to work with a doctor who can certify that you meet the criteria. Since New York is an at-will state and there is currently no legislation protecting medical marijuana patients in the workplace, medical card holders can still receive drug screenings and receive disciplinary action regarding drug test results. Until now, New York is the only state where the costs of qualifying for a medical cannabis card can be reimbursed through insurance. However, if a search is conducted and medical marijuana is found, the patient must immediately present their patient identification card or direct law enforcement to the medical marijuana patient registry to prove that they are a legal patient.
Caregivers provide a service for medical marijuana patients (including those under 1 year old) who are unable or unwilling to go to a dispensary to purchase their medical marijuana. Doctors can now prescribe medical cannabis for any condition if they believe the patient can benefit from its use. We currently offer online telemedicine visits that allow you to be seen by a cannabis doctor from the comfort and safety of your home, making it easy to find a doctor. Like the patient, a caregiver may possess a certain amount of medical cannabis at a time on behalf of the patient, whom the state has committed to helping.
Medical cannabis patients in New York can designate up to five caregivers who can purchase and administer products on their behalf. The physician's physical recommendation may be valid for up to 12 months, after which the physician can extend certification within the Medical Cannabis Data Management System. Even with the opening of dispensaries and the New York medical marijuana program gaining momentum, many patients are still unclear on how to get a New York medical marijuana card.