Medical Marijuana has been gaining a considerable amount of attention owing to its potential medical benefits which are growing by all the studies that are being conducted on the herb. Most of the US states have legalized the use of medical marijuana, California being the first state to do so in 1996. The legalization opened the doors for users to access cannabis for their personal possession, consumption and cultivation. The process became easier with a medical marijuana identification card which offers a lot of benefits on cannabis.
Now, the question that hits users is how and who can apply for a medical marijuana Identification card (MMIC Card) in California. What’s the eligibility criteria? How much money does it cost? We understand all of your questions and have tried to answer the most common ones in this blog. Be patient to read the full article and get your basic facts clear about medical marijuana.
What is a MMIC Card?
A MMIC card is a state-issued identification card that enables a patient with a cannabis doctor's recommendation to possess, consume and cultivate marijuana for personal medical use. A MMIC card holder gets benefits such as -
- Lower-rate cannabis products
- Legal access to cannabis products
- Protection from any sort of legal ramifications
- Discounts on taxes that are imposed on marijuana products.
- Access to higher quantity of cannabis depending on the health condition
What Information Does a MMIC Card Contains?
The California medical marijuana identification card is basically a plastic card that contains the following information-
- Your MMICP identification number
- Your photograph
- Name and phone no. for the county program
- Expiration date
- Internet address to verify the validity of the MMIC
- Identification as either ‘Patient’ or ‘Primary Caregiver’
Who Can Apply for a MMIC Card?
Who can apply for a MMIC Card? Well, this depends on your health condition and doctor as well. The state of California has a list of qualifying health conditions that are treatable by cannabis. If your doctor certifies you for any of the health conditions, then you become eligible to apply for a MMIC card. What are those health conditions? Read below -
- Anorexia
- Seizures associated with Epilepsy
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Other neurodegenerative disorders
- Anxiety and depression
- Cancer
- HIV/AIDS
- Inflammation
- Chronic Pain
- Any other health issue that prevents a person from performing daily activities.
As mentioned earlier, it also depends on your doctor whether he certifies your condition for marijuana treatment or not.
How to Apply for a MMIC Card : Process Explained
Now the important question is how one can apply for a MMIC Card? Well, first and foremost, you need a doctor’s recommendation. A doctor’s recommendation is a written approval stating that you have a recommendation from a licensed doctor to consume cannabis for medical use.
Once you have the recommendation, you just need to apply online on a registered county program and begin the process. While filling the application form, you will need to submit a copy of your recommendation, residence proof, identity proof, etc. Pay the registration fee which will not be more than $100 in any of the county programs.
Now, wait for the county to approve your application as it may take a few days. Once approved, you will receive your MMIC card at your doorstep. The card is usually valid for one year and can be renewed online. To be updated the best, it is advised to keep on checking the state’s updated guidelines about the MMIC card registration.
Final Thought
Thanks to the growing therapeutic properties of cannabis, patients all over the world are turning towards the herb as a potential treatment. And having a MMIC card doubles up the benefits associated with marijuana. Make sure you apply for a MMIC card and avail off all the advantages if you are a medical marijuana patient.