How to Become a Medical Marijuana Patient in NY

 

  1. Research the qualifying conditions

Research the possible reasons the doctor would perscribe you Medical Marijuana and compare them to your condition / symptoms to see if you qualify.

See: https://www.health.ny.gov/regulations/medical_marijuana/faq.htm

 

4. Print your Temporary license and go to a dispensary with the Rx.

From NYS site:
To access your temporary registry ID card, log into your https://my.ny.gov account, select "Health Applications," and then the "Medical Marijuana Data Management System." Click on the three white lines on the top-left side of the screen. Select the "My Temporary Card" option from the drop-down menu. Select the blue link to open and print your temporary ID card.

If you do not see the link for your temporary registry ID card please follow the instructions on the screen to check the status of the current registration.

Now….

Time to purchase your first legitimate medical grade products!

Remember to start with very low doses and increase doses slowly. Ask the staff at the dispensary about the best products for starting out. Of course, if you are a recreational expert you can probably dive right in. But for most people I would say try each product one at a time before mixing and matching and exploring all the various combinations of Cannabis (itself and with other substances). Also, different products and even different strains have remarkably different effects that may or may not be optimal for an individual.

2. Schedule a Visit with a MMJ Doctor

I am a patient of the knowledgeable and friendly Dr. Amir Herman who works in the East Northport Area. There is a list of doctors available here:

https://www.health.ny.gov/regulations/medical_marijuana/practitioner/public_list.htm

5. Get your NYS license registry ID card and carry it in your wallet along with your Rx.

You’ll need both when visiting a new dispensary, so keep them handy. You never know when the impulse will strike and you are near a new dispensary! Be prepared.

6. Visit lots of different dispensaries and compare and contrast them!

You wil save considerable amounts of money and be exposed to a much broader array of products by visiting as many different dispensaries as possible. Each dispensary gives you a great discount when you register with them, and each dispensary has a different selection of products, some unique only to that particular dispensary!

3. Get your Rx (patient certification) and Register Online. 

From the NYS website: 
  1. Patients must first be certified by a registered practitioner. Once certified, patients must login to https://my.ny.gov/. Patients who do not have an NY.gov account will need to click the "Don't have an Account?" button to create a personal NY.gov ID first. For step-by-steps instructions on how to create a My.NY.gov account, click here for instructions.
  2. Click the "Health Applications" icon, and then click the "Medical Marijuana Data Management System" link to register For step-by-step instructions on how to register as a patient or caregiver, select the "HELP" link within the Medical Marijuana Data Management System or click here for instructions.
    Pursuant to the Compassionate Care Act there is a $50 application fee; the Department is currently waiving the $50 fee for all patients and their designated caregivers.
  3. Patients may designate up to two caregivers during the registration process. After the patient's registration is processed, the designated caregiver(s) must then register with the Department using the same online system described in number 2 above.
  4. Once a patient or caregiver’s registration is approved, the Department will issue a temporary registry identification card through the My.NY.gov account which may be used in conjunction with a government-issued photo identification to purchase approved medical marijuana products while the patient/caregiver awaits his/her registry identification card (ID card) in the mail. Registrations expire when the certification that was issued by the practitioner expires. Patient and caregivers must re-register each time a new certification number is issued.
  5. Patients must bring their registry ID cards and their certifications to a registered organization's dispensing facility in order to purchase approved medical marijuana products. Designated caregivers obtaining medical marijuana on behalf of their patients must bring their caregiver registry identification cards and their patients' certifications to the dispensing facility.

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There are offline and accomodations for disibilities options for registration as well, if you call up or write.