Today, 38 US states in total have an active medical marijuana program. This means that registered patients within these states have a physical or virtual medical marijuana card. But this isn’t where the good news ends as recent surveys have shown a spike in the average number of patients registering for a medical marijuana card across the state.
This often leads to questions like what a medical marijuana card looks like or how I can tell that my medical marijuana card is legit. Even though each state may have a different card design but there are some common details you must thoroughly check.
The front of the card
The front of your will display your medical marijuana patient registration/license number with a clear picture of the patient. Your full name, address, and date of birth will be some of the additional information that will be visible on the front side. Remember, a set of dates showing the ‘date issued’ and the ‘date expired’ of your medical marijuana card will determine the overall validity of your card. Some US states also include the patient’s status on cultivating cannabis on the front of the card as well.
The back of the card
The most prominent characteristic of the back of your medical marijuana card is the magnetic stripe, similar to that of a credit or debit card. The magnetic strip allows your card to be swiped at a cannabis dispensary for the staff to confirm your status as a registered medical marijuana patient. Apart from the magnetic stripe, you can expect a series of warnings and instructions regarding the use of your card on the back.
List of US states with a physical medical marijuana card
As soon as you register as a medical marijuana patient, the following US states will dispatch a physical medical marijuana card to your given address,
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Hawaii
- Louisiana – faxed certificate – a copy can be obtained from your pharmacist
- Maine – paper certificate only
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Montana
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Mexico
- New Jersey
- North Dakota
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Dakota
- Utah
- Vermont
- Washington
List of US states with a virtual medical marijuana card
The following US states issue a printable virtual card that is accessible for use as soon as your medical marijuana application is accepted by the state,
- Minnesota
- Virginia – the physical card is sent but not necessary
- Texas
- West Virginia
- Ohio
- Illinois
- New York
- Missouri
- Iowa
Why should you be getting a medical marijuana card in the first place?
On the federal level, marijuana is still considered a Schedule I substance, making it illegal for consumption or possession of any kind of use. This means that even if you’re consuming marijuana for medical reasons, it is still a violation of federal laws. Now, having a state-issued medical marijuana card helps you avoid a lot of legal troubles as long as you’re within the state boundaries and have not breached any federal law. This also includes legal protection in matters like equal job opportunities and protection of your workplace rights.
Plus, having a medical marijuana card allows you to enjoy certain perks that aren’t available to recreational cannabis users. These perks include higher possession and cultivation limits as well as priority service and access to certain medical marijuana products in a medical marijuana dispensary.
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