Medical marijuana is no longer a controversial topic to discuss right now. The reason is that many states in the United States have chosen to legalize marijuana for medical and recreational purposes. Let’s look at what is expected from you when you want to obtain a Virginia medical marijuanas card.
Medical Marijuana Card Application Process in Virginia
Ever since medical marijuana was legalized in Virginia, many patients have had an easy time applying for and obtaining medical marijuana cards. MMJ cards are a form of identification that allows patients to go to dispensaries to purchase medical marijuana. Registered patients need to apply online to get this card so that they can access medical marijuana legally. The Virginia Board of Medicine decided that medical doctors who are licensed by the state of Virginia can recommend patients who want to use cannabis for medical gains.
The process that patients need to go through to obtain a Virginia medical marijuanas card isn’t so complicated. There are several visits that you need to make to the doctor who is going to recommend you. Once a patient gets a medical marijuana card in Virginia, he or she can go to any clinic to purchase cannabis.
You may not have a medical marijuana dispensary near you. However, if you are a registered patient, this doesn’t mean that you can’t access medical marijuana. Nowadays, there are many dispensaries that have gone out of the way to offer medical marijuana delivery. Once you obtain a medical marijuana card online, all you need to do is use your PIN to order cannabis and have it delivered to your doorstep.
Qualifying for Medical Marijuana in Virginia
Patients need to meet eligibility requirements in Virginia in order to apply for a Virginia medical marijuanas card. These requirements include:
- Having a medical condition that is deemed qualifying in Virginia
- Get a written medical marijuana certification offered by a doctor licensed by the Virginia state.
- Provide copies of documents that will prove that you came from Virginia, including copies of your driver’s license and state ID card
Virginia Qualifying Medical Conditions
Not just any medical condition is treatable by medical marijuana. There are several conditions that will qualify a patient to get a Virginia medical marijuanas card. These are some of them:
- Alzheimer’s Disease
- Anxiety
- Chronic Pain
- Autism
- Epilepsy and other seizure disorders
- Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
- Cachexia and wasting syndrome
- Cancer
- Fibromyalgia
- Hepatitis C
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
- Crohn’s Disease
- Glaucoma
- Huntington’s Disease
- Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
- Parkinson’s Disease
- Sickle Cell Anemia
- Tourette’s Syndrome
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
A doctor’s recommendation is also necessary if you want to apply for a medical marijuana card in Virginia. Once you receive your recommendation, you will have to register as a patient with the Virginia Board of Health Professions. The medical practitioner first diagnoses you to know whether the medical condition that you are suffering is qualifying. The patient also needs to explain to the doctor that all other treatments are ineffective for the medical condition.
What happens during an inline medical marijuana evaluation?
When you are consulting with your medical doctor online, he or she will discuss with you your medical condition. This will allow the doctor to establish the amount of medical marijuana required to treat your medical condition. You will also require to provide your medical history. Once your doctor is convinced that medical marijuana will help to manage your condition, he or she will sign a written certification to allow you to register with the Virginia Board of Pharmacy.
Purchasing Medical Marijuana in Virginia
Once you submit your recommendation and medical marijuana card application to the Virginia Board of Pharmacy, you need to wait for several weeks for the board to review your application. The board can either approve your online application or reject it. An approved application will allow you to obtain a Virginia medical marijuanas card. An interim online card will be sent to your email address as you wait for a physical card. Receiving this card will allow you to go to a medical marijuana dispensary and purchase cannabis.
Conclusion
The legalization of medical marijuana in Virginia allows patients access to medical marijuana in any licensed dispensary. Meeting the requirements for the application is the first step. This includes a diagnosis that shows that you are suffering from a qualifying medical condition and a doctor’s recommendation. You also need to be over 18 years old in order to be allowed to apply for the Virginia medical marijuanas card. Once received, an MMJ card allows you to go to a licensed medical marijuana dispensary to purchase medical marijuana.
