Find out how to get a medical marijuana card by learning what to say and what to bring into an MMJ evaluation in this exclusive guide

How to Get a Medical Marijuana Card – Everything You Need to Know

A significant majority of American states have an MMJ program. The process of how to get a medical marijuana card is broadly similar in most of them, although there are exceptions.

For instance, some states allow you to use a service like MMJ Card Online to quickly and easily complete your application. Such providers enable you to schedule a consultation with a licensed physician from the comfort of your home.

In some states, you can get an MMJ card the same day you apply. In others, it is an arduous process taking several weeks. However, in the vast majority of states with medical marijuana programs, you can’t get your card without first attending an MMJ evaluation. It involves discussing your usage of medical marijuana with a doctor and will make or break your application.

This article outlines what a medical marijuana evaluation entails, highlighting ways to improve your chances of success. 

What Is a Medical Marijuana Evaluation?

Medical cannabis evaluations involve meeting a licensed medical professional to discuss your MMJ usage. Barring a small number of states, this evaluation is a mandatory requirement for prospective medical marijuana patients. 

The good news is that in many states, doctors are sympathetic to a patient’s plight and may lean towards providing the coveted written recommendation. This is especially the case in states that have legalized recreational marijuana.

However, physicians also know that wrongly recommending MMJ to patients could have serious repercussions for their careers. Therefore, they are trained to determine when someone genuinely needs medical marijuana and when they are simply looking to get high.

It is also important to note that doctors can’t legally prescribe MMJ as it remains a federally illegal substance. Instead, if they think you’re a good candidate for medical marijuana, they will write a recommendation which you use when completing your application. 

Here Are Some Common Qualifying Medical Conditions

One of the most important aspects of any evaluation is a doctor deciding whether you have one of the qualifying medical marijuana conditions. Almost every state has a list of medical issues that may enable patients to access MMJ. 

Historically, chronic pain is the #1 most common qualifying condition reported by MMJ patients. According to research, over two-thirds of medical cannabis patients reported chronic pain as their primary qualifying condition. 

While some states only have a handful of qualifying conditions, others have 20+. Here are some of the most common (apart from chronic pain):

• HIV/AIDS

• Cancer

• Crohn’s disease

• Glaucoma

• Epilepsy and seizures

• PTSD

• Parkinson’s disease

• Alzheimer’s disease

• Fibromyalgia

• Multiple sclerosis

Before scheduling an MMJ evaluation, please ensure you have a qualifying medical condition. 

Where Can I Get a Medical Marijuana Evaluation?

Plenty of states now let you visit a dedicated MMJ evaluation center. Depending on where you live, you may also find a high proportion of clinics known for offering medical marijuana consultations. It is big business, so the most popular locations generally aren’t shy in advertising! 

However, in states with relatively new programs, there is potentially a lack of options at first. It isn’t unusual for prospective patients to drive 100+ miles if they live in a rural area. 

The growth of telemedicine has proven immensely helpful to such individuals. A growing number of states now permit individuals to book an appointment online. You can speak to a medical professional without leaving your home through this process.

Providers such as MMJ Card Online connect patients with trained doctors, leaving open the possibility of completing the entire application on the same day. 

What Can I Expect to Happen During This Consultation?

Regardless of whether you visit a clinic in person or complete the appointment online, you must provide your medical records. The doctor will not entertain the idea of giving you a recommendation without them. Examples of the medical records you need to provide include:

• Evidence of any prescription drugs you take or previously used

• Relevant lab reports depending on the medical condition

• Imaging results for examinations such as MRIs or X-rays

• Progress notes from other doctors 

In most cases, you must also complete a patient intake packet. This is even the case with online consultations, as the provider will ask you to fill in certain forms. 

The medical marijuana consultation is unlikely to last beyond 10 to 15 minutes. After reviewing your records, the doctor will ask questions about your health and lifestyle. They will also want to know what other treatments you have tried for your medical condition. In most cases, doctors will not provide approval if you haven’t tried conventional treatment methods first. 

They will also discuss the side effects of MMJ and your needs and expectations. At the end of the appointment, the physician will decide whether you’re a good candidate for medical marijuana. You receive their written recommendation if successful. 

If not, you will need to find another doctor. Incidentally, reputable medical marijuana evaluation providers offer a money-back guarantee if you don’t receive the doctor’s approval. 

What Should I Say During My Medical Marijuana Evaluation?

The most important thing is to prove to the doctor that medical marijuana could genuinely help your condition. This means showing evidence that previous treatment methods have failed.

During medical marijuana physician evaluations, you must also show your knowledge of MMJ. Be sure to mention any studies relating to marijuana’s benefits on patients with your condition. 

Physicians know the difference between a genuine MMJ patient and someone who simply wants access to weed. They know if you’re reading from a script and often refuse anyone who seems to have rehearsed what they will say. 

Above all, you must be consistent when it comes to your qualifying condition. If you try to claim you have several conditions or else, you change your ailment during the consultation; it is a huge red flag. 

What Should I Bring to the MMJ Evaluation?

The most important thing is to bring your medical records. If you’re completing the application online, send them to the clinic. 

If you don’t have access to your medical records, contact your healthcare provider and make the request. In some cases, you may have the chance to view your records via online patient portals. Another option is to sign a HIPAA authorization form or submit a written request to your primary healthcare provider.

It’s also essential to bring your marijuana knowledge. The better you can explain how MMJ can help your specific condition, the more likely the doctor will provide the written recommendation. 

How Can I Increase My Chances of Being Approved?

The first step is ensuring your medical condition is considered ‘qualifying’ where you live. Next, you must meet other requirements, such as state residency and the age limit. Virtually every state regards applicants aged 17 and under as ‘minors,’ which means they need the permission of a parent or legal guardian to proceed.

Proving that you’re genuinely seeking marijuana as a medical treatment and that you have tried more conventional methods will greatly increase your chances of passing the medical marijuana evaluation. 

Ask questions about MMJ that show you are taking the process seriously. Here are some examples of questions to ask:

• What are the most concerning side effects?

• Will MMJ have dangerous interactions with any medications I am taking?

• Do you have any other sources outlining studies on MMJ for my condition?

• What activities should I avoid using if I consume medical marijuana? 

• Can you think of any reasons why I shouldn’t proceed with MMJ?

Your Medical Marijuana Appointment Checklist

Ideally, you will have everything in order BEFORE you book your MMJ evaluation. If not, please ensure you’re ready for the consultation, or else you could endure the agony of rejection. Here’s what you need to do before the appointment:

• Ensure you meet the state’s residency and age requirements

• Make sure you have one of your state’s qualifying conditions

Once the evaluation is booked, here’s what you need to bring:

• Proof of identification, such as a valid state driver’s license

• A payment method

• Relevant personal medical documentation, such as imaging results and recent medical records

• Knowledge of MMJ and how it can help your medical condition 

The Doctor Rejected My Claim. Now What? 

If you’re unprepared, there’s a strong chance that the physician won’t provide approval. However, there’s a possibility that you get rejected even if you follow all our advice. 

Some doctors have a bias against marijuana and set the bar very high for anyone seeking a written recommendation. 

They may also have concerns over drug interactions. Opioids, antidepressants, and benzodiazepines are just some classes of drugs that interact with marijuana. Thus, the physician might be worried that MMJ will interact with a blood thinner such as warfarin, increasing the risk of bruising and bleeding.

In any case, if your evaluation fails, you should receive the appointment cost back as a refund. Beyond this, you can try another physician and see if you have better luck.

However, unless you have a fair idea of why the doctor said ‘no,’ there’s every chance your next attempt will fail. Thus, you need to determine the reason for the rejection. 

Did you fail to provide the right medical records? Were you unable to exhibit an understanding of MMJ? Was it simply a case of the doctor having an anti-marijuana bias? 

Learn the answers to these questions, and you could enjoy a better outcome next time. 

Summary of How to Get a Medical Marijuana Card

In most states with an MMJ program, completing the marijuana evaluation and getting a doctor’s written recommendation is a huge part of the process. Once you have this documentation, you can join the millions of people who use medical marijuana to help with one of dozens of ailments. 

Follow the advice on this page to give yourself the best possible chance of success. Also, check out your state’s laws to see if it allows online doctor consultations. Doing the medical marijuana card evaluation online can save you a lot of stress, time, and money.