How Do I Get A Medical Marijuana Card?

A medical marijuana card is an identification card that allows individuals that have been given a doctor’s recommendation to obtain or produce cannabis for medicinal purposes. Many people wonder how they can get a medical marijuana card that allows them to use or grow medical cannabis, and the simple answer is that they don’t. In Canada, medical cannabis cards are not issued anymore. But there is a specific process you need to undergo in order to legally obtain medical cannabis.

In August 2016, the Government of Canada replaced the Marihuana for Medical Purposes Regulations (MMPR) with the Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations (ACMPR). Whether you are interested in using cannabis to help with medial disorders, you would like to produce it, or you would like to designate someone to produce it for you, understanding the new ACMPR is extremely important. It includes specific legal limitations on how much cannabis you may possess as a user, how much you may cultivate, and so on.

If you’re interested in growing cannabis or designating someone to grow it for you, the application process is quite extensive and if accepted, you (or your designator) will receive a registration document from Health Canada.

If you’re interested in obtaining medical cannabis, the first step is speaking with a licensed doctor or primary care specialist. Doctors are required to complete the appropriate prescription form, which will then allow you to register with a licensed producer (LP). LPs are authorized by Health Canada to produce and sell or provide dried marijuana, fresh marijuana, cannabis oil or starting materials (seeds or plants) to individuals eligible to grow cannabis. There is a long list of licensed producers in Canada and to register with one, you must provide them with the appropriate medical documentation from your doctor, as well as any registration forms that are specific to that particular LP.

Licensed producers are currently the only government regulated distributors of cannabis in Canada. Each one cultivates medical cannabis that has been lab tested for contaminants and additives and provide products that have measured levels of THC and CBD, allowing individuals with prescriptions to get more specific relief for their health condition. A licensed producer typically offers dried & fresh marijuana and/or cannabis oil. The marijuana can be dried or fresh, whereas the cannabis oil comes in liquid form to be ingested after being specifically measured with a device, such as a syringe.

Although the Government of Canada does not distribute medical marijuana cards, you may still be asked to provide proof that you are legally entitled to carry small amounts of pot.  Always ensure that you have the documentation your licensed producer sends with your first shipment, or the prescription label on your medical cannabis package that contains your patient information.