How to Get Your Michigan Medical Marijuana Card?

February 18, 2021

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cannabis-drugs-weed — hayleyzacha (CC0), Pixabay

As the medical cannabis wave has swept through the midwest, you’ll be happy to hear that both medical and recreational marijuana are legal for adult use in Michigan. In 2008, the state passed the Michigan Medical Marijuana Act to allow those with certain debilitating conditions to obtain a medical marijuana card and purchase cannabis in Michigan at legal dispensaries.

In 2018, recreational marijuana use also became legal in Michigan! The state decided that taxing and regulating marijuana was the best way to ensure safe access to those who didn’t have a medical card in Michigan.

In today’s article, we will be going over how to get a medical marijuana card in Michigan. We’ll talk about what conditions Michigan medical marijuana patients must exemplify to receive their medical card.

Michigan Medical Marijuana Program -MMMP

In 2008, the Michigan Medical Marihuana Act (Yes, state legislature managed to misspell the word in their official documentation, and it has yet to be fixed). In doing so, they became the 13th state in the nation to implement a medical marijuana program.

As long as you had a doctor’s approval and could show that you had a qualifying condition such as a spinal cord injury, chronic pain, severe nausea, cancer, or another debilitating disease, you could apply for and get a medical marijuana card in the state and use it to purchase cannabis at licensed dispensaries!

How To Get Your Michigan Medical Marijuana Card?

So, how do you go about applying for your medical marijuana card in Michigan?

Thankfully, the Michigan Medical Marijuana Act made it clear that the state wasn’t going to discriminate and be quite as strict as other “green states” that required patients to be on the verge of death before they were applicable for a marijuana card.

While you still need to prove that your condition is “debilitating” to get a Michigan medical card, it’s still reasonably easy to get approved! Here’s the step-by-step process that you need to complete to ensure that your medical cannabis usage is legal in Michigan.

Step 1: Figure Out What Your Qualifying Conditions Are.

In order to get a Michigan medical card, the MMMA requires you to have one of the following qualifying conditions:

A spinal cord injury
Severe or chronic pain
Hepatitis C
Alzheimer’s Disease
Seizures or severe and persistent muscle spasms
Glaucoma
Cancer
ALS Syndrome
Chrone’s Disease
Nail Patella
Persistent nausea

However, the Department of Licensing and the Department of Health are also open to broader interpretations. If your doctor deems that medical marijuana could successfully manage your underlying medical condition, then it’s fairly easy to get approved for a medical marijuana card.

Step 2: Speak with A Doctor About Using Medical Cannabis

Typically, most patients have already identified their condition. However, if you have yet to get an official diagnosis, you’ll need a physician certification to get your Michigan medical marijuana card.

Once you’ve established a good relationship with your doctor and they’ve given you a diagnosis for your condition, you’ll be able to speak to them about using medical marijuana on your symptoms. As long as you have a progressive doctor and the medical records to prove the validity of your disease, they should easily approve you to become a medical marijuana patient.

Step 3: Apply for Your Card Through The State Of Michigan

Once you’ve obtained your physician certification, you can get started applying for your Michigan marijuana identification card. You’ll present your doctor’s certification to the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, show them your proof of residence, driver’s license, and any necessary medical records. Within a short period, you should receive your Michigan medical marijuana card!

Step 4: Shop at Your Local Dispensaries!

Once you’ve obtained your medical marijuana card (MMMP), you’ll be able to visit all of the Michigan marijuana dispensaries. Simply show the attendant your government-issued card, and you’ll be able to purchase cannabis flowers, oil, concentrates, salves, and several other THC-containing products. As a side note, you’ll also be able to grow a few of your own plants at home (if you have a green thumb).

Michigan Medical Marijuana Program Vs. Recreational Marijuana Use

In 2018, Michigan passed the Michigan Taxation and Regulation of Marihuana Act. This act made it legal for anybody in the state of Michigan to purchase and use cannabis without a note from their doctor. The act also allowed citizens to grow and cultivate up to 12 plants in their homes.

So, that being said, what’s the point of having a medical marijuana license if recreational cannabis use is already legal in Michigan?

Well, the main benefit of being licensed is that you’ll get a considerable tax break. It also allows for licensed patients in the state to purchase cannabis even if they’re under 21 years old! If you’re a patient who needs cannabis for a severe doctor-approved condition, then the law allows you to use it as long as you have parental consent (for those under 18).

How Long Is My License Valid For?

Your MMMP license will typically take around 20 to 30 days to arrive in the mail and is valid for up to three years. After this period, patients will have to apply for a new MMMP and verify that they are still suffering from the same disease or condition.