How To Get A Medical Card In Washington

The medical marijuana program in Washington state is orchestrated differently from nigh other states. Once qualified by a physician, patients can visit any medically endorsed marijuana stores to speak with a certified consultant to enter into a medical marijuana authorization database and obtain a recognition card. This card enables patients to buy, possess, and grow a limited number of marijuana plants in their residence.

The state's medical marijuana plan is overseen by the Washington Department of Health. Health-care practitioners may authorize the use of marijuana for any patient as long as it'due south medically advisable nether state constabulary and the profession's standard of care. Jessica Baggett, a spokesperson for the Department of Health, told Weedmaps News that there have been 33,384 recognition cards issued as of June 29, 2018. Intractable pain was listed every bit the top qualifying condition, making upward a whopping 77% of certified adult patients in Washington.

Washington's Qualifying Conditions

Anorexia and other diseases which consequence in nausea, vomiting, cachexia (wasting syndrome), ambition loss, cramping, seizures, muscle spasms, or spasticity
Cancer
Chronic renal failure requiring hemodialysis
Crohn's disease
Epilepsy or other seizure disorder
Glaucoma
Hepatitis C
HIV/AIDS
Intractable pain
Multiple sclerosis
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Spasticity disorders
Traumatic encephalon injury

Applying for Medical Marijuana in Washington

Those who wish to become a medical marijuana patient in Washington must exist a resident of the state, take a qualifying medical condition, and obtain a Medical Marijuana Authority class from a healthcare practitioner.

Qualifying patients who believe they would do good from the use of medical marijuana may see any of the following types of healthcare practitioners licensed in Washington:

Medical doctor (Dr.)
Physician banana (PA)
Osteopathic dr. (Practice)
Osteopathic physician assistant (DOA)
Naturopathic physician
Advanced registered nurse practitioner (ARNP)

Patients younger than 18 must take a parent or guardian who participates in the handling and agrees to the medical apply of marijuana by the pocket-size along the guidelines specified by state police . Both the minor and parent or guardian must be entered in the country'due south medical marijuana authority database and hold a recognition card.

A Patient'southward Guide to the Medical Marijuana Dominance is an official resource that parents or guardians of applicable underage patients may want to scan earlier starting the application procedure.

Appointing a Caregiver

A designated provider must meet requirements established under state law . The law permits a "1-to-1 relationship," pregnant a patient tin can only have i designated provider and a designated provider can only serve i patient at a time. A patient's healthcare practitioner must event 2 authorizations — one indicating who the patient's designated provider is and one indicating who the designated provider's patient is.

Acquiring Your Medicine

All licensed and medically endorsed marijuana stores are required to have a certified medical marijuana consultant on staff to piece of work with patients and create recognition cards. These consultants, who are required to complete a twenty-hour grooming program , are non medical providers, and tin can but help patients with:

Entering patient and designated provider information from the authorization form into the medical marijuana database and creating the medical marijuana recognition card.
Profitable the patient with selecting products that may help with their condition.
Describing risks and benefits of methods for using products.
Giving advice on ways to properly store products and go on them rubber from children and pets.
Showing how to properly employ products.
Answering questions about the medical marijuana law.

Qualified patients and designated providers may legally buy any combination of the following from a licensed marijuana store:

3 ounces, or 85 grams, of usable marijuana
48 ounces, or i.36 kilograms, of marijuana-infused products in solid form
216 fluid ounces, or 6.39 liters, of marijuana-infused products in liquid grade, or
21 grams of marijuana concentrate.

Recognition cardholders may also grow up to four plants for personal medical use in their home or as a member of a cooperative. They are legally allowed to possess up to eight ounces, or 227 grams, of usable marijuana produced from those plants. If a patient's health-intendance practitioner determines the patient requires more than than the presumptive amount, they may qualify upwards to 15 plants for personal medical utilize and possession of up to sixteen ounces of usable marijuana produced from their plants.

Rules for Patients Visiting from Other States (Reciprocity)

Washington does not have a reciprocity clause, but while a person with a medical marijuana menu from another state would not exist afforded the same protections or receive the aforementioned benefits as a qualifying patient residing in the state, any consumer 21 or older tin legally purchase cannabis products from a licensed adult-use store . Non-resident patients may desire to consider locating a medically endorsed store and reviewing that retailer's menu to notice a medical marijuana product similar to what they're taking.

Don Jergler is the Regional Westward Editor for Insurance Journal and a veteran concern and real estate reporter. He has contributed coverage for the Long Beach Printing Telegram, Long Beach Register, Los Angeles Times Custom Publishing and a variety of merchandise publications.