The simple answer is, yes, you do need a medical marijuana recommendation in California. But that is only if you intend on being a medical marijuana user in California. California has some of the most progressive cannabis laws, and recreational use is legal in the Golden State.
But, if you’re here to see how to get a Medical Marijuana recommendation in California, we can help you with that. If you want to find out more about the state’s marijuana laws, stick around- we’ll get to them too.
The easiest way to get your medical recommendation and card is to follow our simple process at FadeMD California to get your medical marijuana card.
Medical Marijuana in California: Everything you Need to Know
Many people have figured out that you could end up paying less for cannabis if you have a medical marijuana recommendation. Cannabis is cheaper with the MMJ recommendation because you don’t have such high tax rates to pay. However, you will still be subjected to excise and local taxes as well. If you have a state-issued MMJ card, then you will be happy to hear that you’ll be exempted from state sales tax. Medical marijuana laws in California also allow minors under the age of 21 years to purchase and use cannabis for medicinal purposes. Minors will require a caregiver (whether it be a legal guardian or parent) to assist them.
Are you ready to get your medical marijuana recommendation in California? Don’t worry. The process is not as overwhelming as it may seem. First, you should decide whether you want to do it the old fashion way or whether you prefer to do it online. Online saves you precious time and effort and you can complete the process on FadeMD.com.
Getting a Medical Marijuana Recommendation Online with FadeMD.
Getting your medical marijuana recommendation with FadeMD is easy and the whole process only takes about 15 minutes. All you need to do is follow these steps.
- Sign up on FadeMD
- Enter your personal information (i.e. email, name, address, date of birth)
- Enter your payment information
- Answer some basic questions about your medical history
- Speak with a fully licensed physician to get approved for medical marijuana
Once approved, your medical marijuaa recommendation will be instantly available for download via your FadeMD account and you will be ready to purchase cannabis at your local dispensary. Your physical version of the recommendation, extra copies, or physical cards that you purchased will come in the mail within a week.
Things That You’ll Need
The first thing you’ll need to complete the steps above is proof of ID. FadeMD accepts your California state identification card, drivers license, or passport. Next you will need payment information. FadeMD accepts Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Discover. You will also need to be able to fill out some basic questions about your medical history.
What to Expect When You Meet With Your Licensed Physician
Since every patient is unique, each physician consultation is also unique. Feel free to ask your medical provider questions about your recommendation and the symptoms you have been experiencing. Your medical provider will ask their own questions about your symptoms and about your medical history if they feel it will help them make a judgement about your recommendation. You and your physician might also talk about other medications that you are currently taking and about your expectations of using medical marijuana.
Benefits of Having Your Medical Marijuana Recommendation
Lower Prices
Having a medical marijuana recommendation can save you money since medical marijuana is typically lower priced than recreational cannabis. There are also a significant amount of taxes that need to be paid when purchasing cannabis. In California there is an excise tax, sales tax and local jurisdiction tax. Medical marijuana dispensaries tend to have less taxes compared to their recreational counterparts. This tax savings alone can save you thousands of dollars per year depending on how much you smoke.
Higher Possession, Cultivation, Purchase Limits
Recreational cannabis users must follow strict rules regarding the amount of cannabis they can possess, the amount of plants they can grow and the amount of cannabis they can purchase. Since medical marijuana patients sometimes need more cannabis to effectively treat their symptoms, they are allowed to possess, cultivate and purchase more cannabis that recreational users. For example, in California, a medical marijuana patient can purchase eight ounces of cannabis per day while a recreational marijuana user can only purchase one ounce of cannabis per day.
Access to Medical Only Dispensaries
Even though recreational cannabis is legal in the state of California, the state allows local jurisdictions to set their own laws. This means that in some cities, only medical marijuana dispensaries are allowed. In order to gain access to a medical marijuana dispensary, an individual must have their valid medical marijuana recommendation. Even in cities that allow recreational cannabis, having a medical marijuana recommendation will grant you access to medical only dispensaries which can have exclusive products and better prices than recreational dispensaries.
Lower Age Restrictions
In order to consume recreational cannabis in California, you must be twenty one years of age. However, eighteen year olds can consume marijuana with a medical marijuana recommendation. There are certainly 18-21 year olds who need cannabis to treat their symptoms and having a medical marijuana recommendation is a huge benefit to those individuals.
High Potency
Recreational dispensaries have to follow certain rules regarding the potency of the cannabis products that they sell. Medical marijuana only dispensaries however are allowed to have high potency limits since it is being used to treat a specific symptom and patients sometimes need the extra potency for effective treatment. For example, in California, recreational cannabis lotions and tinctures are capped at 1000mg of THC. Medical marijuana lotions and tinctures however have a limit of 2000mg of THC. The increase in potency is to better assist patients in treating their symptoms.
Legal Protections
Certain states, such as California, have stronger legal protections for those who have a medical marijuana recommendation. Prop 215 for example provides protection against criminal prosecution for medical marijuana patients and caregivers who cultivate and possess cannabis. A medical marijuana recommendation could also help in situations against your landlord and being pulled over by the police.
Conclusion
More and more states are recognizing the benefits of marijuana and creating laws to protect medical marijuana users. California is no exception to this and having your medical marijuana recommendation provides many benefits compared to recreational users. On top of this, getting your medical marijuana recommendation with FadeMD is only $39, which is an amazing value considering the benefits of having your medical marijuana recommendation.
