How To Get Medical Marijuana

Posts Tagged ‘michigan’

Marijuana for medical purposes was legalized in Michigan in 2008 with passage of the Michigan Medical Marihuana Act, but some ambiguity in the law as to the difference between a “patient” and a “registered qualifying patient” has led patients to wonder if they need to register with the state. The short answer is yes, any patient who would like to get medical marijuana in Michigan should first register with the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA).

In order to get medical marijuana, a patient needs a doctor’s recommendation, and can grow and cultivate the plant, or purchase it from caregiver collectives. There are no traditional dispensaries in Michigan.

Get Medical Marijuana in Michigan

Patients with a legitimate medical need can obtain marijuana, but only after applying for a Medical Marihuana Registry Identification Card through the state. The form has several components and required types of information:

• Section A, Applicant/Patient Information; all fields are required.
• Section B, Primary Caregiver, if applicable. According to the state, “primary caregiver means a person who is at least 21 years old and who has agreed to assist with a patient’s medical use of marijuana and who has never been convicted of a felony involving illegal drugs.”
• Section C, Person Allowed to Possess Patient’s Marihuana Plants; all fields are required.
• Section D, Certifying Physician Information; all fields are required.
• Section E, Attestation, Signature, and Date; all fields are required.

To get medical marijuana in Michigan, the application requires: Copy of the patient’s current photo identification, physician certification from a licensed MD or DO, caregiver attestation and copy of the caregiver’s current photo identification, application fee (a check or money order for $100, or $25 if the patient is receiving public assistance), and copy of proof of assistance if applicable. Applications are reviewed within 15 days of receipt.

The section of the form for physician certification lists the medical conditions a person must have in order to get medical marijuana: Glaucoma, cancer, HIV or AIDS positive, Hepatitis C, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Crohn’s Disease, Agitation of Alzheimer’s Disease, or Agitation of Alzheimer’s Disease. The form also states a patient can have a condition that produces one or more of the following: Cachexia, Severe and Chronic Pain, Severe Nausea, Seizures, or Severe and Persistent Muscle Spasms.

Other forms are also available and can be downloaded from the LARA website. These forms include:

• Application and Instruction Form for Minors
• Change Form and Instructions
• Renewal Application Form and Instructions
• Renewal Application Form and Instructions for Minors

According to some media reports, opponents of medical marijuana are gearing up for a legislative battle by introducing two bills that could make it harder for patients to obtain the drug for medical reasons. These bills are:

• House Bill 4851 is an effort to clarify and make clearer the definition of a doctor-patient relationship needed for medical marijuana cardholders. Some law makers are concerned it’s too easy to get doctor verification via email or the internet instead of a face to face meeting.
• HB 4834 is on the docket and would give law enforcement or other officials access to medical marijuana patient information. The bill seems to imply that a registry cardholder also would need to have some other form of government-issued ID with a photo like a driver’s license — to avoid arrest in some cases.

Though the Michigan Medical Marihuana Act is relatively new, 131,483 Michigan residents have used it to get medical marijuana in the state.

All of our information comes from, and will direct you to, that state’s specific governing body. We will not direct you to any 3rd party or otherwise externally collected information. We believe that putting patients in touch with information directly from their state is the safest way of helping people obtain medical marijuara. We’ve sorted through those sometimes laborious state run websites and will guide you to the right sections, forms, applications, applicable rules and laws, and anything else you need to get medical marijuana safely and legally.