Many people are searching for a medical card near me, but are unsure about how the Maryland medical marijuana certification process works. This blog will walk you through the process of getting a Maryland medical card near me. The Green Relief Health team will walk you through the application process, qualifying conditions, and the certification process to make getting your Maryland medical marijuana card as simple as possible.
Medical Card Near Me Application
The first step in getting a medical card near me is to apply to the Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission. At a center like Green Relief Health, they will help you through the entire application process. On the application you will need to upload a picture of your ID. This can either be a driver’s license or a state ID. In addition to a Maryland state ID you may also use a passport or Military ID to establish your address. You will need to provide both a front and back picture of your ID during this process. If you are a new Maryland resident and don’t yet have a Maryland ID or if the address on your ID does not match your current address you will need to provide a bit more documentation to establish your Maryland address.
If the identification you provide is not a Maryland driver’s license or MVA ID Card or does not identify your current address, you must also provide two of the following documents as proof of your current Maryland address:
• MVA registration card or title
• Utility, telephone, or cable/satellite TV bill
• Bank account statement
• Property tax bill
• Mortgage statement or proof of home ownership (Deed, Title, Bill of Sale)
• Major credit card bill (Visa, MasterCard, Wal-Mart, Target, etc.)
• Residential rental contract (lease or rental contract between landlord and tenant which includes all signatures).
• Selective Service Card
• Federal, state, or local government mailissued by the state of Maryland (i.e., Social Security, social services)
• Car insurance policy
All documents must include the applicant’s name and address. Documents may not be from the same two agencies. For example, this means you may not use two documents issued by the MVA. It is also important to note that all documents must be dated within the past 90 days.
Passport Photo
When you are submitting your application, you will also need to upload a passport photo that will ultimately be used as your photo on your Maryland medical marijuana card. The Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission has strict requirements as to how the photo you provide them needs to look. Generally, the photo must be clear, in color, with an unobscured face. This means that you must be looking straight into the camera and can’t be wearing either a hat or mask. The photo must have a completely white background. The picture can’t be digitally enhanced in any way and the file can’t be larger than 3 MB in size.
At Green Relief Health we take this photo for patients as a part of the certification process. We believe that no patient should be denied the ability to access medical cannabis based upon their passport photo. A good medical marijuana doctor’s office will work with you to ensure you are able to get through this part of the process.
Maryland Medical Cannabis Application Questions
During the application process for your Maryland medical card near me you will be asked several questions. Generally, the questions are things like address, telephone number, email address, and birthdate and last four digits of your social security number.
At this point you will also be able to identify if you are enrolled in either the Veterans Affairs or Maryland Medical Assistance Program. If you are a qualifying patient who is enrolled in the Maryland Medical Assistance Program or the Veterans Affairs Maryland Health Care System, you are eligible for a waiver of the $50 fee for the patient ID card.
In order to receive the ID card fee waiver, you must provide the following documentation:
- VA Enrollee:
- Individuals are required to upload their U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs ID Card.
- Maryland Medical Assistance Program:
- A copy of yourred and white medical assistance card from the state of Maryland is required
- And patients must submit either a copy of their Certificate of Creditable Coverage or a copy of their Eligibility Determination Letter
If patients are not a part of either of these two programs or they cannot submit the proper documentation to prove they are in these programs, they must pay the state’s $50 application fee.
Qualifying Condition
In addition to completing an application with the Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission you must also have a qualifying condition to be able to access medical cannabis. The state has approved the use of medical marijuana for the following conditions and ailments:
- Cachexia
- Anorexia
- Glaucoma
- Wasting Syndrome
- Severe Pain
- Severe Nausea (including that caused by other medications for conditions)
- Seizures
- Severe or persistent muscle spasms
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Chronic Pain
- Any condition that is severe, for which other medical treatments have been ineffective, and if the symptoms “reasonably can be expected to be relieved” by the medical use of Cannabis.
- A chronic or debilitating disease or medical condition that results in a patient being admitted into hospice or receiving palliative care.
Establishing A Qualifying Condition
If you have one of the approved qualifying conditions to get a medical marijuana card you will need to document that condition somehow. There are many ways to document your qualifying condition. One way to document your qualifying condition would be medical records such as doctor’s notes, paperwork from your medical history, X-ray or MRI results, test or study results or more. Another way to document a qualifying condition would be to produce prescriptions that you are currently taking for your condition.
You would bring any of this information to document your qualifying condition to your appointment with your Maryland medical card doctor. Your provider will need this information to be able to certify you for medical cannabis. These items should be dated within 12 months from the time of applying for your medical marijuana card.
Medical Card Near Me Certification
The final step in the medical card process is the certification. This is where a certified medical cannabis provider reviews your medical information and goes over your medical history with you. During this process your medical card doctor will determine if you meet the conditions required to access medical cannabis in Maryland. At this appointment you will also bring with you your medical ID number that has been issued by the Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission. This medical ID is sent to you after the state has reviewed your application to the Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission and approved your submission. Your medical card doctor will need this to certify you, as every patient in Maryland has a unique ID number assigned to them.
Once you have completed your certification process your provider will give you a hard copy of your written certification, which you can use to immediately go to any dispensary in the state. Eventually, the state will send you a hard Maryland medical card in the mail. However, you do not need this card to go to a dispensary as the written certification is as good as this card.
Final Thoughts On Medical Card Near Me
This process can be confusing and take a little bit of time to complete, but this is your health. You should not only expect, but demand that the provider you are visiting is able to provide you with the information you need and that they are well equipped to help you through the process. Unfortunately, this is not always the case and it is often worth checking to see the reputation of the provider you are visiting before you make an appointment. If you find less than stellar reviews or issues with the service other patients have received it may be time to head the other way and schedule an appointment with a true medical cannabis expert.
