In July of that year, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo was successful in getting legislation approved that legalized the use of cannabis for medical purposes. Even if recreational marijuana use is now legal in New York, having a valid license to use marijuana for medical purposes remains the most robust protection against being prosecuted.

Here are the steps on how to get a New York Medical Marijuana Card?

STEP-1 BE SURE YOU’RE ELIGIBLE

In mid-2019, New York State decriminalized marijuana to a limited extent. It doesn’t imply that anyone may go all out in a park with joints. (For the record, it is still unlawful to consume alcohol in public.) Also, New York State has one of the most stringent rules for its residents to acquire a medical marijuana card—meaning, if you don’t have a crippling illness, chronic pain, opioid abuse, PTSD, cancer, Parkinson’s disease, or anything that would seriously affect your wellness and ability to function on a day-to-day basis, you’re not going to be granted the right to use medical marijuana legally in New York. The next stage is for you if you have one of these eligible ailments and believe that cannabis has the potential to enhance your life significantly.

STEP 2- FIND A LICENSED PRACTITIONER WHO IS PART OF THE MEDICAL MARIJUANA PROGRAM IN NEW YORK STATE.

There were a lot of stigmas attached to cannabis use in the past. In the past, the term “stoner” conjured up images of scruffy misfits who were unconcerned about the rat race, ambition, or “the establishment.” However, it is no longer the case. Increasing numbers of people are turning to cannabis to enhance their health rather than get high. Anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective qualities are well-known for this plant. 

“The worldwide [cannabis] market will quadruple from $14.8 billion in 2019 to $46.8 billion in 2025,” says BDSA, an analytics organization focusing on the cannabis sector. A mind-boggling increase is predicted. For New Yorkers, getting an expert couldn’t be easier: Medical marijuana patients in all 62 New York counties have access to a wide range of certified healthcare professionals, including nurse practitioners and physician’s assistants, under the state’s medical-marijuana program.

STEP3- SCHEDULE A VISIT WITH YOUR PICKED PHYSICIAN 

Selecting a doctor with whom you can develop a therapeutic relationship to learn how medical marijuana can assist treat your disease is very similar to choosing a therapist. In addition, as a patient, you need to know that you’re in the best possible hands. Make an appointment with a doctor from New York’s list and discuss your health concerns. Be as specific as possible about your problems, health information, and general way of life during the appointment. Thus, they can more accurately “prescribe” you the best cannabis product. 

And by “prescribe,” the doctor will assist you in identifying the initial dosage, the optimal route of delivery for your body, and the regularity with which you should be taking it. If you’re an obvious candidate, the entire process usually takes less than an hour. Your doctor will produce your medical marijuana patient certification, which will be mailed to you in PDF form. Here you pay your doctor’s professional charge, of course.

STEP 4- YOU WILL RECEIVE A MAIL WITH YOUR MARIJUANA CERTIFICATE

The certificate will be delivered to your email inbox in minutes. You should double-check every single field on the form as soon as it’s in your hands because there’s no space for error, so if you find one, ask your doctor to correct it. As a patient, you’ll need a medical marijuana certification number, your doctor’s DEA registration and New York State practitioner number, and your dose suggestion. 

The certificate should also include an end date (which is exactly one year from the issue date). Printing at least two copies is highly recommended: Medical marijuana dispensaries require proof of a medical marijuana card and a medical certificate, which you must keep on file and carry with you at all times.

STEP 5- SUBMIT YOUR INFORMATION TO THE NEW YORK STATE GOVERNMENT.

This is critical, and it can’t be emphasized enough. When enrolling for a medical marijuana card, having a New York State ID will make all the difference. Get an official New York State government account using the state’s official NY.gov ID site, and keep your login and password safe if you don’t already have one! Remember that this is the same login credential you may use to sign up for a wide range of state services, including training materials, health resources, DMV services, tax aid, and much more. You may already have an account if you’ve lived in New York long enough and have a driver’s license or state ID. 

Besides that, if you’ve ever sought unemployment benefits, you must have an MY NY account—there is no way around it. Double (and triple) check to ensure you have not signed up for the same service twice. Please verify the accuracy of your information before submitting it to avoid delays or complications with your application or registration. Aside from that, it’s a good idea for every New Yorker to have a single account that they can use to access their data and complete any state-level transactions—my.ny.gov isn’t just meant to legalize medical marijuana.

STEP 6- SIGN UP ONLINE FOR NEW YORK STATE’S MEDICAL MARIJUANA PROGRAM AS A PATIENT USING THE WEED AS A MEDICINE

It’s going to be much simpler to get through the rest of the year than it was to get through 2020 and the four years we had to put up with our twice-impeached president. Anyhow, that’s enough for now: My.ny.gov is all you need now that you have your New York ID, whether it’s a driver’s license or an ID card. Don’t use Safari, which isn’t compatible with New York’s platform. 

The browser which can be used is Chrome. On page three of your NYS Medical Marijuana Program patient certification, examine the second section of your certificate and follow all instructions. There should also be no grammatical errors: All of your personal information, including your name, date of birth, address, and patient certification number, must match the news on your doctor’s paperwork. It could take weeks or months to correct any errors or falsifications, depending on how many differences there are. “Supporting Documentation” is a part that makes it possible to create paperwork. However, as long as you have your NYS identity number, you can ignore it. They are obliged to fill out this box because their state ID is from a different jurisdiction—or because they don’t have the proper ID.

As a result, you don’t have to provide any of your medical records, patient certifications, driver’s licenses, or even a photo. The system will utilize the system if you’ve already got an image on file from your ID.) It would help if you kept in mind that your nine-digit NYS ID cannot contain any dashes or spaces. Complete your registration by following the instructions on this page. After your registration is accepted, you can choose a caregiver if your illness is so severe that you cannot go to the dispensary on your own.

STEP 7- SAVE AND PRINT YOUR TEMPORARY MARIJUANA CARD

If everything goes according to plan (no errors were made; your nine-digit NYS ID was confirmed correctly), you’ll receive your temporary card shortly after registering. At the very conclusion of the procedure, you will be given the option to download a card that will be good for one month. If you need to visit a dispensary immediately, print a few copies and have one with you at all times (along with the medical marijuana certificate with your doctor’s signature). To access a dispensary, you must have a card and a certificate.

STEP 8- WAITING FOR YOUR MARIJUANA CARD IN THE MAIL 

Your “actual” medical marijuana card should arrive within a few days. It’s not uncommon for it to take as little as a week. In several cases, it comes precisely a week after you have signed up. The card is only valid for one year, and you’ll need to see your doctor regularly to check on your treatment progress and whether your dose has to be adjusted. Schedule a renewal appointment at least a month before the expiration date of your medical marijuana card.

STEP 9- NEXT, YOU WILL HAVE TO MAKE YOUR FIRST PURCHASE OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA 

Only around 20 outlets in New York City provide access to medical marijuana. More can be found in other states, which you can learn about by visiting this page. Do your homework and pick one that matches you—in terms of what they carry and what your physician recommended you take. If you’ve been told to try sublingual, for example, find a dispensary with a variety of them on hand so you have a choice. 

Remember: Take both your card and certificate. Medical marijuana cannot be purchased in New York unless you have both documents. Even if your doctor may recommend particular ways of THC delivery (e.g., edibles, sublingual, or buccal spray), the “pharmacist” or “budtender” at the dispensary may (and can) offer something completely different. Everything is within the bounds of the law. To avoid wasting money on a product that is either too strong or too weak, most doctors will allow you to phone them at the dispensary if you aren’t happy with what they recommend. It’s always a good idea to seek professional counsel before experimenting with cannabis.

STEP 10- TO PREPARE FOR THE UNAVOIDABLE TRAVEL, READ UP ON THE STATE’S RECIPROCITY LAWS.

Even amid a pandemic, travel may be inevitable for certain people. You don’t want to be stranded in a strange city without access to pain medication. This is it if you’re looking for a list of places to get medicinal marijuana in New York with a state-issued medical marijuana card. Some will allow you to make purchases, while others will restrict your access to your current possessions. Each state has its unique characteristics. Out-of-state guests can register online up to three months in advance in Hawaii. To be on a safer flight with any cannabis in your possession.

Conclusion

The clock has started ticking down to the day when people will be able to purchase and use marijuana for recreational purposes legally. Meanwhile, those in charge of regulation in New York face a difficult challenge. It will be necessary to obtain a license to operate as a cannabis producer, processor, or new dispensary. For cannabis to be sold for adult use, there must also be a system to provide consumer protection and collect taxes.

It will be interesting to see how the state of New York handles taxes on cannabis for adult use (recreational usage) after the potency excise tax is implemented. The more potent your cannabis product is, the more tax you will be required to pay.