How to Get Started Using Medical Marijuana in Alabama
- D. H. Reilly
- Sep 22, 2021
- 4 min read
If you haven’t been paying close attention to the developments in Alabama’s medical marijuana market, let’s start with the good news: It will soon be time to get an Alabama Marijuana Card.
We already told you that the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission (AMCC) has hired an executive director and begun discussions with legislators about moving up the scheduled September 1, 2022 date for cultivation to begin. In other words, we’re less than a year away from the deadlines established in SB 46, and some of those benchmarks might be reached even sooner.
So you may be like many residents of the Heart of Dixie who are wondering how they can go about getting their Alabama Marijuana Cards. And fortunately, you’ve got us here to help you figure it all out.
In fact, as you’re reading through all of the steps to getting your card, keep in mind that we’re not only here to be an informational resource for you, but that we can also do for you all of the little, tedious, necessary things you need to do in order to get your card. They don’t call us Alabama Marijuana Card for nothing, you know!
Step One: Do You Qualify for an Alabama Marijuana Card?
When we talk about qualifying for a marijuana card, you may think first of the qualifying conditions.
In order to be eligible for an Alabama Marijuana Card, you must have a medical condition that the state recognizes as appropriate to treat with cannabis.
Although the law includes procedures to expand the list of conditions, for now those qualifying conditions are:
Cancer-related cachexia, nausea or vomiting, weight loss, or chronic pain
Chronic or intractable pain for which opiate therapy is contraindicated or has proved ineffective
Panic disorder
Spasticity caused by Multiple Sclerosis, a spinal cord injury, or a motor neuron disease, such as ALS
Sickle Cell Anemia
Tourette's Syndrome
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
HIV/AIDS-related nausea or weight loss
Parkinson's disease
Persistent nausea that has not responded to traditional treatment
A terminal illness
If you have one or more of these conditions, and you’re an Alabama resident and 19 or older, you qualify for an Alabama Marijuana Card.
But don’t despair if you’re 18 or younger; you can still qualify for a card if you have one of the qualifying conditions and a qualified designated caregiver.
Step Two: Have Your Condition Certified by a Qualified Marijuana Doctor
But a qualifying condition isn’t enough to qualify you for an Alabama Marijuana Card. You must also have your qualifying condition verified by a qualified physician. Qualify.
And in the eyes of Alabama’s medical marijuana law, a qualified physician is one who 1) is licensed to practice medicine in the state, 2) has completed a medical marijuana training course, and 3) has paid a fee to register with the Board of Medical Examiners.
Once a qualified marijuana doctor verifies that 1) you have a qualifying condition and 2) that condition hasn’t responded well to more traditional treatments, then the physician will file their recommendation that you receive a card with the Alabama Medical Cannabis Patient Registry.
Step Three: Pay the Registration Fee
.Once your doctor has filed their recommendation with the Registry, you’ll need to pay a fee to the AMCC. We don’t know yet the exact cost of that fee, but the state’s medical marijuana law limits it to no more than $65.
Mark Your Calendars: The State has to be Ready for you by September 1, 2022
According to the state’s medical marijuana law, the AMCC has to be ready to process applications for Alabama Marijuana Card by September 1, 2022.
But While You’re Waiting for the Big Day, Pay Attention to the News
There are new developments unfolding all the time in Alabama’s gestating medical marijuana market. The AMCC has already begun looking into moving up one deadline in the law, and they may end up trying to move up or postpone others as well.
So if you want to be ready for medical marijuana just as soon as it’s ready for you, make sure you’re keeping up with the latest developments.
You could try setting up a Google Alert for terms like “Alabama medical marijuana” or “Alabama medical cannabis commission,” but why not let us do the work for you?
Use the form at the bottom of this page to subscribe to our newsletter, and we’ll keep you up-to-date on the latest developments in Alabama’s journey towards medical marijuana.
And speaking of letting us do the work for you…
Isn’t There an Easier Way to Get an Alabama Marijuana Card?
Yes, there is a much easier way to get your Alabama Marijuana Card, and it’s called AlabamaMarijuanaCard.com!
No need to monitor the news for the latest developments, no need to scour state websites searching for qualified marijuana doctors, and no need to have an awkward conversation with a doctor about your condition, only to find out that they’re behind the times and reluctant to recommend patients to the AMCC registry.
Reserve an evaluation today with one of our compassionate, qualified doctors, and we’ll book you an appointment just as soon as Alabama’s medical marijuana market is up and running.
And as if that weren’t convenient enough, you’ll meet with your doctor virtually using your smartphone or computer for a telemedicine appointment. Together you’ll discuss your condition and whether medical marijuana is right for you, all without even leaving your home. You’ll even save $25 off the cost of the evaluation!
Doctors Who Care. Relief You Can Trust.
Helping everyone achieve wellness safely and conveniently through increased access to medical marijuana. Our focus on education, inclusion, and acceptance will reduce stigma for our patients by providing equal access to timely information and compassionate care.
If you have any questions, call us at 833-781-5633, or simply reserve a medical marijuana evaluation to start getting relief you can trust today!
And don’t forget to check out Alabama Marijuana Card’s Blog to keep up to date on the latest medical marijuana news, tips, and information.
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