On the surface, going through the tedious and demanding process of obtaining a medical marijuana card doesn’t seem worth it. Simply walking into a local dispensary and getting your hands on a variety of pot products, without a doctor’s recommendation, seems the saner option.
However, delving deeper into the finer details of an mmj card will open your eyes to a host of benefits regular users aren’t entitled to. From ease of access to concessions, this state ID card provides exceptional medical support to its owners in a variety of ways.
Tax cut downs and affordability
One major reason to get a doctor’s recommendation is the cut in prices. Local dispensaries are really accommodating when it comes to mmj card holders.
The reality is that purchasing cannabis for an extended period without insurance can take a toll on anyone. Imagine, having an acute medical condition like asthma, and having to spend a fortune on a heavily taxed medication? It would suck the life-source out of most people.
An mmj card instantly resolves these problems.
For instance, designated medical cannabis dispensaries in Colorado, unlike recreational shops, allow patients to bypass the 10% retail and 15% excise tax, making medical cannabis an affordable commodity.
The states of Washington D.C, New Hampshire, Delaware, New Vermont, West Virginia, and North Dakota even have a zero sales tax policy, which makes life significantly easier, for patients in dire need.
Flexible Buying Limits
Some medical conditions require a high dosage of cannabis. Low potency medication does little to remedy them. This is why medical dispensaries are legally permitted to go beyond the dosage limits recreational shops have to abide by.
One example of this is in the state of California. A 1000mg cannabinoid per package of lotion limit is extended to the 2000mg mark and beyond in the case of medical dispensaries.
Similarly, the marijuana laws of Washington State have imposed a 10mg per serving limit, but some medical dispensaries are given the green light to sell edibles in the 25mg range.
These limits vary from state to state. The bottom line is that MMJ patients are permitted to purchase cannabis in significantly larger amounts in a single purchase.
Accessibility of Cannabis to Children Under 21
Children with serious medical conditions can’t avail the many medical benefits medical marijuana has to offer without a medical marijuana card. The legal age to purchase cannabis recreationally is set at 21 years.
Every state that has legalized medical marijuana has prohibited the use of cannabis for minors.
So, if your kid has a serious health condition, like cancer, and can benefit from a cannabis treatment, it is strongly advised to get a doctor’s recommendation today and sign up for a state ID card.
That being said, not all states allow minors to obtain an mmj card. Some states which do are New York, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Maryland, Ohio, and Oregon. Check with your state’s medical marijuana program to confirm the criteria of eligibility.
Permission to grow Weed Domestically
Most states have also given the go-ahead to grow weed domestically. Even in this case, medical patients are given more leeway than recreational users. The state laws are flexible for medical patients, allowing them to grow additional cannabis to fulfill their medicinal needs, as appropriate.
Such is the situation in Oregon, where a recreational user is legally allowed to harvest no more than 4 plants, whereas an mmj card holder can harvest up to 6. This flexibility greatly helps patients whose health is heavily dependent on the supplies of this plant as it allows them to evade steep dispensary costs.
Conclusion
More and more states are bound to hop on the bandwagon of marijuana legalization in the coming years. As this progression catches pace, it’s increasingly important to avail the immense benefits a medical marijuana card has to offer, to ensure you get the best value for your money and health.