If you reside in Maryland and suffer from particular health issues, your health care provider may recommend medical marijuana as a treatment for your condition.
Under Maryland law, an individual must be diagnosed by a healthcare professional as having a qualifying condition to be legally certified to benefit from medical marijuana as treatment.
The Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission (MMCC) is in charge of providing information about the state’s medical-marijuana program to the doctors, patients, dispensaries, caregivers, growers, and processors. It also oversees all state registration, licensing, testing, and inspection procedures to ensure that they follow all regulations and laws regarding medical marijuana.
What Conditions Qualify a Person for Medical Cannabis?
In Maryland, the following medical conditions to qualify a person for medicinal marijuana treatment includes:
- AnxietyÂ
- DepressionÂ
- SeizuresÂ
- Severe and/or chronic painÂ
- GlaucomaÂ
- Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)Â
- Persistent and/or severe muscle spasmsÂ
- Wasting SyndromeÂ
- CachexiaÂ
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)Â
- CancerÂ
- ArthritisÂ
- Severe nauseaÂ
- Muscular DystrophyÂ
- Crohn’s DiseaseÂ
- FibromyalgiaÂ
- Multiple Sclerosis (MS)Â
- Alzheimer’sÂ
- Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS)
- Any chronic and/or severe medical condition which has not been relieved by the use of other methods.
This list is not all-inclusive and is constantly updating as more and more health conditions are deemed responsive positively to this alternative treatment. Medical marijuana was found helpful in alleviating various symptoms. Most patients undertaking medical marijuana as treatment have advocated for its effects on sleep, nausea, anxiety, and even managing fear.Â
Who Can Register to Obtain a Medical Marijuana Card in Maryland?Â
Based on diagnosis and need, adults and minors may be eligible for medical marijuanas in MD. Maryland residents can easily become card holders, as long as a licensed physician determines that the patient is suffering from a qualifying condition and other treatments may not comply.
Applying for a Medical Marijuana Card in MD
Adults and kids have separate registration processes for acquiring a medicinal marijuana card in Maryland. Applicants under 18 must have at least one and no more than four caregivers identified. Caregivers must be at least 21 years of age and registered with the Commission beforehand.
Submission of medical documentation identifying and verifying the individual’s qualifying health conditions will be required and must be done in electronic format at the beginning of the application process. Learn more about the application process in Maryland here.
Healthcare Providers and Medical Marijuana CardsÂ
Healthcare providers must follow a strict process to become registered professionals with the Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission MMCC to recommend medical cannabis for their patients. Over 500 healthcare providers in Maryland have registered with the Commission authority. No doctor or other healthcare provider has the authorization to prescribe medical cannabis; they may only issue a written certification or give a recommendation to the Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission MMCC for a patient to receive it.Â
How Long Does Approval for Medical Marijuana Take?
Once the application is submitted and the $50 application fee paid, the MMCC will begin a review process. The application process can take more than 30 days. Once approved by the MMCC, the patient must obtain certification in writing from an authorized healthcare provider and purchase a medical marijuana card from the MMCC so you can buy medical marijuana from a licensed dispensary.
Conclusion
Although medical marijuana does not benefit from conclusive research, more and more studies are proving that the big majority of patients are experiencing positive effects on the severity of their symptoms and quality of life. Doctors in Maryland are increasingly recommending medical marijuana to patients as it is considered a natural remedy with substantially fewer side effects and risks for patients undergoing treatment.
