5 Benefits of Obtaining a Medical Marijuana Card
Obtaining a medical marijuana card is the first step to legal cannabis use. This is required by New York law for patients with debilitating medical conditions, including cancer, HIV infection or AIDS, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Parkinson’s disease, and pain that degrades health and functional capability.
Having a medical marijuana card in Texas unlocks exclusive benefits that recreational consumers cannot access. This includes higher possession limits compared to three ounces.
Access to Medicinal Marijuana
Medical marijuana contains tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which helps ease pain, control nausea, and increase appetite. It also has another chemical, cannabidiol (CBD), which reduces inflammation and soothes aches. It can help patients with several conditions, including cancer, AIDS, and neurological disorders.
Marijuana can be smoked or used in oils, lotions, or capsules. In addition, older adults have been using it to ease migraines and fibromyalgia and treat symptoms of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, such as depression and tremors. It can also help control the effects of glaucoma by lowering pressure inside the eye.
Getting a card allows you to purchase marijuana in regulated dispensaries. A medical cannabis card also entitles you to discounts and other exclusive incentives for medical marijuana patients. Medical marijuana can be expensive, but it may be worth it if it eases your symptoms and improves your quality of life.
Legality
Using medical marijuana in New York is not illegal, even though it is still federally prohibited. This is because the Rohrabacher-Farr amendment, enacted in December 2014, limits how federal law can be enforced in states with legal cannabis programs. Those with state medical cards can use cannabis without fear of being discriminated against in the workplace.
Getting a medical marijuana card can also save you money in the long run. A medical card holder will pay less in taxes than someone who does not have one. New York levies a retail tax of 13% on adult-use cannabis, while medical cannabis is only taxed at 7%.
Patients interested in obtaining a medical marijuana card can find an approved healthcare provider in person or through telemedicine services. The healthcare practitioner will assess a patient’s condition and decide if they can benefit from cannabis as medicine. If the healthcare practitioner approves a patient, they will provide a medical marijuana certification form. The patient can then take their certification to a dispensary and make purchases.
Taxes
Obtaining medical marijuana cards can be expensive in some states. The fees vary by state, but many advocates are concerned that the costs of these cards can be a barrier to access.
In addition to the cost of obtaining the card, many states tax medical cannabis differently than recreational products. For example, a patient’s purchase of medicinal cannabis may be exempt from statewide sales and local excise taxes in some states, while other states require all purchases to be subject to a full sales and use tax.
Registered organizations must file the excise tax return using the Business Online Services application no later than 20 days after the end of the month in which the medical cannabis was sold or furnished. They must also keep records of each transaction and make them available to the Tax Department upon request.
Reciprocity
In states with reciprocity laws, visitors from other states with medical marijuana programs can buy and possess cannabis for their debilitating conditions. This benefit is especially useful for people who travel frequently or live in multiple locations.
The medical marijuana program doesn’t offer reciprocity with other state programs. However, many other states have enacted reciprocity programs.
This means you can legally possess your card while visiting other states, giving you access to their medicinal marijuana dispensaries. It’s always a good idea to read up on the cannabis laws of any state you’re considering traveling to.
The state of Massachusetts, for example, taxes recreational cannabis at the point of sale. This can add up to a 20 percent tax on purchases, but medical marijuana patients are exempt from these taxes. The annual fee for a card quickly pays itself in the amount of money saved by not paying taxes on cannabis products. Getting your medical marijuana card will also save you money in the long run by allowing you to shop from the medicinal menu instead of the recreational one.
Security
A medical marijuana card can save you thousands of dollars yearly because states lower or exempt taxes on medicinal cannabis. Recreational marijuana is taxed at a high rate, so having a card can save you money on cannabis purchases all year.
Cannabis can alleviate symptoms such as chronic pain, PTSD, nausea, and vomiting associated with chemotherapy and spasticity and improve sleep outcomes for obstructive sleep apnea. The medicinal benefits of marijuana have been well-established through empirical research and clinical trials.
The criteria for obtaining a medical marijuana card varies by state, but most require patients to provide a physician with documentation of their qualifying condition. This information is used to make a recommendation, allowing patients to access the medicine that can best treat their specific symptoms. A licensed doctor then validates the recommendation.
