Procure Your Own Washington Medical Marijuana Card With My MMJ Doctor

In 1997, two ballot initiatives were filed to decriminalize medical cannabis in Washington. The initiative failed, with 60.4% of voters. However, the following year, Initiative 692 was filed, which was limited only to decriminalizing medical marijuana. The passage of I-692 allowed healthcare professionals to recommend medical cannabis to patients with terminal or debilitating illnesses. Medical marijuana patients were permitted to possess 60 days of cannabis or 24 ounces and 15 cannabis plants. In 2010, a group of activists filed Initiative 502, which would have legalized the use of cannabis for adults over the age of 21. In December 2011, the initiative 502 received enough positive signatures. On November 6, 2012, I-502 was approved by the state, and possession of up to 1 ounce (28 g) of marijuana by adults became legal. However, cultivation, sale, and even gifting remained illegal.

Washington’s medical cannabis program encompasses various qualifying conditions that render residents eligible for participation. Some of these medical conditions are:

• Acute or chronic glaucoma
• Anorexia
• Cachexia
• Cancer
• Chronic pain
• Chronic renal failure requiring hemodialysis
• Crohn’s disease
• Epilepsy
• Hepatitis C
• HIV/AIDS
• Multiple sclerosis
• PTSD
• Severe muscle spasms
• Spasticity disorders
• Traumatic brain injury

If your doctor believes that your medical conditions could benefit from medical marijuana, you can qualify for a medical card in Washington.

The eligibility criteria for obtaining a medical marijuana card in Washington typically involve the following guidelines.

• You must be a state resident.
• You must be at least 18 years of age.
• You must have qualifying medical conditions.
• You must have a recommendation or authorization for medical marijuana use by a licensed healthcare professional.

Washington established distinct possession limits for both recreational and medical marijuana users. Being aware of and adhering to these possession limits avoids potential legal penalties. A Washington medical cardholder can possess:

• 3 ounces of usable cannabis.
• 48 ounces of cannabis-infused product in solid form.
• 216 ounces of cannabis-infused product in liquid form or
• 21 grams of cannabis concentrate.

Recreational users can possess much fewer than the limit set for medical marijuana patients. They can purchase any combination of the following from a licensed cannabis dispensary:

• 1 ounce of usable cannabis.
• 16 ounces of cannabis-infused product in solid form.
• 72 ounces of cannabis-infused product in liquid form, or
• 7 grams of cannabis concentrate.

Medical marijuana patients can grow up to 6 marijuana plants at home and possess up to eight ounces of usable cannabis produced from their cannabis plants. However, upon request and approval, the Department of Health permits 15 plants in specific circumstances and may possess 16 ounces of usable cannabis produced from their plants. Remember, when cultivating homegrown marijuana in Washington, you must nurture it in enclosed, private spaces. Ensuring compliance with the state’s laws regarding medical marijuana cultivation is crucial.

If you are a minor patient, you can still get your medical card in Washington. However, their qualifying conditions are slightly different than those for elderly patients.
Patients under the age of 18 are required by law to have a designated caregiver. The designated caregiver of a minor patient must be:

• 21 years of age or older.
• The parent or legal guardian of the minor patient.
• Named on the minor patient’s medical cannabis authorization form.
• Entered into the state medical marijuana cannabis database and have a designated caregiver recognition card.