About Medical Marijuana New York
The Big Apple and the rest of the Empire State took its first bite of medical cannabis in 2014 when Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed legislation into law. Ever since, Gov. Cuomo has gone above and beyond attempting to legalize cannabis recreationally, even having a Pot Summit in 2019 with other East Coast governors.
In 2018, Gov. Cuomo added PTSD to the list of conditions, and in 2018, allowed medical cannabis to be used for opioid use disorder. As far as Gov. Cuomo is concerned, recreational cannabis would answer a lot of woes along with benefiting the physical wellbeing of thousands of citizens who suffer from a list of the state’s qualifying conditions. The second benefit recreational cannabis would bring in is up to 1.3 billion dollars in tax revenue, a number Cuomo predicted for 2019 to no avail.
Since COVID-19, any efforts to move forward with recreational use have taken a back seat to Gov. Cuomo’s number one priority–the safety of New York citizens. Assumingly after there is more certainty regarding COVID-19, Gov. Cuomo will continue his progressive efforts to push recreational use forward as seen so recently in the past.
Qualifying Conditions
New York state has more than a dozen qualifying conditions that make residents eligible for the statewide medical cannabis program including:
The severe, debilitating or life-threatening condition must also be accompanied by one or more of the following associated or complicating conditions:
Along with a qualifying condition, a patient must prove they are a New York resident with a valid driver’s license or state identification card. Though New York state charges a $50 annual card registration fee, as of September 2020, the state reports it is waiving all fees for the time being. After approval by the state, the patient will receive a temporary registration card while the state prepares and sends them a medical cannabis state card.
Becoming a Medical Cannabis Patient in NY
To become a medical marijuana patient in New York, there are three basic steps. First, you will book an appointment with a doctor from NY who will review your ailment(s) and medical condition(s). Second, once you are evaluated and approved, you will receive a medical cannabis recommendation from our licensed NY marijuana doctor and be registered with the NY DOH. The third and final step is once you receive your medical cannabis recommendation, you can request your NY medical marijuana card online from the New York DOH. It will arrive in a week and you can then begin to purchase medical marijuana from dispensaries in NY.
Registering a Caregiver in New York
A caregiver must also prove they are a resident of New York with a valid driver’s license or state identification card in order to be certified. Additionally, the caregiver must be listed on the patient’s application in order to be approved. Like the patient, a caregiver can possess a certain amount of medical cannabis at a time on behalf of the patient, who they have pledged to the state to assist.
When a certified patient applies for their ID card from the state, he or she may designate up to two caregivers that will assist the patient in obtaining and administering medical marijuana. To become a caregiver, the individual:
- Must be at least 21 years old, unless special permission is obtained from the Department;
- Must be a resident of New York State and have a valid New York State issued driver’s license or a New York State identification card;
- Must be someone other than the patent’s certifying physician.
After the patient’s application is approved, each caregiver must register with the DOH to receive a registry ID card that the caregiver can then use to obtain medical marijuana on the patient’s behalf. Caregivers can follow the same registration instructions that are available for patients, which may be found here: http://www.health.ny.gov/regulations/medical_marijuana/patients/
Like the patient, each caregiver must pay the $50 application fee unless he or she can demonstrate financial hardship which will waive that fee.
Renewal of the Registry ID Card
The duration of the caregiver’s registry ID card is based on the duration of the patient’s certification. Accordingly, a caregiver’s registry card will expire at the same time as the patient’s card. After the patient obtains a new certification from the physician and renews his or her registry card, the caregiver can apply for a renewal of his or her card.
Regulations permit a designated caregiver to obtain payment from the patient for the following two expenses only:
(i) The actual amount charged by the dispensary for the approved medical marijuana product purchased for the patient; and
(ii) Reasonable costs incurred in the transportation and delivery of medical marijuana product to the patient.
Each designated caregiver must also comply with the following requirements:
- Must obtain a registry ID card for each certified patient;
- Must provide care to no more than five certified patients;
- Must not possess at any one time a cumulative quantity of medical cannabis that exceeds the amount allowed for each certified patient;
- Must not possess any form of medical cannabis other than those forms recommended specifically for the use of certified patients;
- Must not knowingly share, sell, trade or otherwise deliver medical cannabis to anyone who is not a registered patient;
- Must abide by the same reporting requirements as described above for patients, including the obligation to return registry ID cards issued in connection with those patients who no longer have an eligible condition.
Possession/Use Limits and Cultivation
Patients and caregivers are qualified to possess up to 2 ounces of cannabis in various forms every 30 days. The state has up to eight dispensaries, which supplies multi-level CBD and THC-infused products including tincture, vape pens, and powder. New York State completely prohibits the cultivation of cannabis for any use in the state, which is a punishable crime.
More Info About New York
New York is one of the largest U.S. states on the East Coast in terms of actual area as well as the number of residents who reside in the state. NY is in the northeastern region of the United States and its capital is Albany.
While New York is home to many medical marijuana products and dispensaries, there are also many tourist attractions in New York. Many tourists like to visit Times Square and Central Park. New York is the home of the Statue of Liberty, a key symbol of the United States’ beliefs in freedom, equality, democracy, and opportunity.
Frequently Asked Questions
The first step is to obtain a Medical Marijuana Program Certification from a licensed NY physician that is registered with the state of New York to treat patients for medical cannabis. The physician must be registered with the New York State Department of Health’s Medical Marijuana Program.
We provide the physicians for you! The most difficult part of the process has always been finding a registered physician who prescribes for medical cannabis, but now we make that much easier by allowing you not only access to physicians, but you can meet with them online via video chat and get approved then and there.
No. You can only get approved for medical marijuana from a practitioner that has registered with the New York Department of Health’s Medical Marijuana Program, and we provide that for you.
Yes! New York now allows people with chronic pain to be approved for medical marijuana use.
It’s a simple two-step process. First, you will meet with a doctor from the comfort of your own home, through video. After being evaluated your physician will let you know if you will be approved for medical cannabis, and if so, you will receive your official recommendation and approval for medical marijuana usage in NY. If you are not approved via video, your consultation is free.
The medical evaluation usually takes 10-15 minutes.
If you are not approved then your consultation is free. We entail a network of highly qualified medical practitioners who are willing to evaluate any patient to see if they qualify for medical cannabis. We have a 99% approval rate so if you are not approved, you are refunded in full.
1) A valid government-issued ID Card that states your name a New York address (like a driver’s license or New York I Card)
2) A copy of a current utility bill from the past two months that shows your current address
3) A copy of a current government document(incoming mail) from the past two months that shows your current address
4) A copy of a current lease or residential document showing that you live at your current address
Fill out the form above and we can get you approved in NY in no time!
Any valid government-issued ID showing a NY address.
There is a broad range of symptoms that qualify that the doctor will approve. Ultimately, any chronic or debilitating medical condition will be approved. Most of them generally fall under the following categories:
Anxiety
Depression
Insomnia
Migraines
Issues Sleeping
Chronic Pain
PTSD Opiate
Addiction
Once you are approved and receive your medical marijuana certification, you will need to simply register with the state of New York’s Medical Marijuana Program through the Patient Registration System.
You can create an account here: https://my.ny.gov/
Click the “Don’t Have An Account” button to create an account. Once created click on the “Heal Applications” icon and then “Medical Marijuana Data Management System” to register.
Once you are approved by the state of New York, your ID card will be mailed directly to you and arrive in a week.
The cost is $199 and that covers your medical evaluation, your consultation with a licensed NY practitioner registered with the DOH, and an authorized certification for medical marijuana purchases. For $379 you and a friend or family member can both get your cards for a nice little discount.
Once you have received your recommendation, you can simply get to the dispensary of your choice and they will assist you in applying. You can call them before you arrive to see exactly what to bring.
New York’s medical marijuana program is still in its infancy, allowing all patients access to just a few medical cannabis options. If you get your NY cannabis card, you get access to:
Tinctures, Oils, Concentrates, Topicals, Ingestables
You will need your 1-year certification from the doctor(US) and your NY Medical Marijuana Card.
Yes! Check our homepage for a list of active states.