How To Get A Medical Marijuana Card In Alabama? 2024

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It is quite an unfortunate fact but medical marijuana is still not available to the residents of Alabama.

The whole history of Alabama with marijuana is way more extended and complex than what it looks like. But hopes sparked that there will indeed be an active medical marijuana program within the state sooner than most experts expect. In the year 2021, Governor Kay Ivey signed Alabama’s State Cannabis Law, Senate Bill 46, allowing licensed growers, processors, and distributors to produce medical cannabis. The law also focuses on the development of a distribution chain to establish the state’s medical cannabis sector.

As per the latest reports, the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission is all set to launch Alabama’s Medical Marijuana Program by the end of 2023 allowing patients diagnosed with one or more 15 qualifying conditions to apply for a medical cannabis license.

Possible Benefits of Having A Medical Marijuana Card In Alabama

In the year 2021, Alabaman became the 36th US state where medical marijuana was legal. The state doesn’t yet have a state-authorized medical marijuana program but plans are being made to initiate such a program by the end of 2023. Here are some possible benefits that qualifying patients will possibly be enjoying once the program is official,

• The card will provide qualifying patients access to medical marijuana products like tablets, pills, patches, oil, nasal, sprays, etc. The state also plans to declare ‘no dosage limit’ for patients who are terminally ill.
• The only individuals who will be authorized to possess marijuana will be the ones having a valid Alabama medical marijuana card. Individuals possessing marijuana for personal gains will be charged with a Class A misdemeanor leading up to a year in jail or payment of fines that can go all the way up to $6000 for small amounts of marijuana possession.
• Those with a valid medical marijuana card will be allowed to consume up to 50mg of legal marijuana in the beginning. With time, the patients can get the dosage increased to 75mg with a doctor’s recommendation.

Eligibility Requirements

The state of Alabama is rumored to set eligibility requirements for its medical marijuana program quite similar to the rest of the US states. The state will require you to be 19 or older, have a valid medical marijuana recommendation from a state-certified doctor, must have a diagnosis for one of the 15 qualifying medical conditions, and a payment receipt for the $50 (expected) application fee.
The state is also planning to allow patients under the age of 19 to apply for an Alabama medical marijuana card. But they’ll require a legal caregiver to obtain a doctor’s recommendation or purchase medical marijuana-based products on their behalf.

Qualifying Medical Conditions

Initially, the qualifying medical conditions for an Alabama medical marijuana card are expected to be the following,

• Sickle cell anemia
• Spasticity associated with multiple sclerosis or spinal cord injuries
• Cancer-related cachexia (weight or muscle loss)
• Conditions causing chronic or intractable pain Parkinson’s disease
• Depression
• Panic disorder
• Chronic pain
• Persistent nausea
• Crohn’s disease
• Nausea or vomiting
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• AIDS/HIV-related nausea or weight loss
• Autism spectrum disorder
• Epilepsy or a condition causing seizures
• Terminal illness
• Tourette’s syndrome

The list of qualifying medical conditions is not yet finalized and there are some very bright chances for possible changes.

How To Apply? A Step-By-Step Guide

First, you need to go through the expected list of documents that will be required by the state. These will be,

• A medical marijuana recommendation is prescribed by a certified medical doctor. The recommendation must state that the physician has established a relationship with the patient, the patient does qualify for medical marijuana, conventional treatment has failed, the patient has given his/her consent, and that the physician has checked and marked all the necessary state requirements.
• Proof of payment for the registration fee.
• Patient’s government-issued ID and proof of residence.
• Doctor’s government issue ID.
• A digital color photograph of the patient taken not more than 30 days ago.
• A written attestation by the patient that they have considered all the risks and benefits mentioned by their physician and give their consent for this mode of treatment.
• A complete electronic application with any other necessary documents requested by the board.

Once you have gathered all the necessary documents mentioned above, you can then follow the following steps to get your Alabama medical marijuana card shortly.

1. Book an appointment with a certified medical physician.
2. Request the physician to complete all the necessary registration steps and provide the written attestation required by the board.
3. Pay the application fee and keep a receipt of the transaction.
4. Submit your online application within 60 days of getting a medical marijuana recommendation with all the necessary documents.
5. Wait for a decision to be made on your application. If approved, you will either get your medical marijuana card online or through the mail.

What To Expect During Your Kif Appointment?

Time to tackle the bigger questions. Why book an appointment with the Kif and what you should be expecting during your Kif appointment? Well, we believe that it is the standard of services provided to us that has allowed us to become one of the leading US-based telemedicine services providers.
When you book an appointment with us, we make sure that you get the proper customization control for your appointment allowing you to set a time and date that suits you best. Plus, we only take certified medical marijuana physicians throughout the country onboard so credibility is never compromised.

Potential Cost

The state of Alabama hasn’t yet launched its medical marijuana program so the state does not yet determine the potential cost. However the expected fee schedule is,

• $50 for a physical medical marijuana card and $40 for an online card. The same charges will apply to the caregiver’s card and annual renewal.
• A $25 replacement fee will be charged for a physical card and $20 for an online card.

Medical Marijuana Reciprocity

The state of Alabama hasn’t signed any medical marijuana reciprocity with any other state and doesn’t allow out-state medical marijuana cards to be used within the state of Alabama.

Applying As A Caregiver

For some reason, the state of Alabam is putting quite an effort into the medical cannabis caregiver program. The program is not yet finalized, but some key points are being debated. These points are,

• The potential caregiver will require to submit their personal information, ID details, and a colorized picture of them.
• A written attestation was provided by the potential caregiver clearly stating that the physician has mentioned possible risks and benefits of becoming a medical cannabis caregiver and the caregiver has given their consent to treat the patient with medical cannabis while complying with the law.
• Providing written attestations from the physician and other relevant attestations associated with patient registration.
• Successful payment of mentioned application/card fee.
• Renewing the caregiver card after every 12 months and not more than 14 days before the expiration date.

How & Where To Buy Medical Marijuana In Alabama?

Now this is where things start to become a little interesting. Alabama became the 36th US state where medical marijuana is legal back in 2021. It has been almost 2 years to this and yet the state doesn’t have a functional medical marijuana program.

This means that there aren’t any state-regulated dispensaries as well from where you can buy medical marijuana legally. And without a state-issued medical marijuana card, purchasing medical marijuana from nearby states also becomes quite difficult. As per the inside reports, the state is all set to open medical marijuana dispensaries by the end of 2023.

Is ‘Cultivation’ a better option?

No cultivation won’t be a better option as the state of Alabama doesn’t allow home cultivation provisions. This means that individuals can’t cultivate their medical marijuana no matter if they possess a medical marijuana card or not.

Alabama Medical Marijuana Laws That You Should Be Aware Of!

• The state allows patients with a valid medical marijuana card to purchase up to 60 days of medical marijuana provision during their visit to a licensed dispensary. If they revisit the dispensary before 60 days, they can buy a dosage equivalent to the remaining days.
• The state of Alabama mentions that patients having a valid medical marijuana license can purchase tinctures, inhalers, lotions, oral tablets, and capsules as a ‘marijuana’ dosage. The patients are not allowed to purchase marijuana in the form of vapes, smokable flowers, sugar-filled edibles, or raw cannabis-based food.
• To apply for an Alabama medical marijuana license the patient must be 19 or older, diagnosed with one of the qualifying medical conditions, and is a resident of the state of Alabama.
• The medical cannabis card application fee is non-refundable and must be paid.
• Alabama’s medical marijuana program will not sign or accept marijuana reciprocity agreements.
• The state requires medical marijuana patients and caregivers to renew their respective cards annually not more than 2 weeks before the expiration date.

FAQs

Are there specific medical marijuana doctors in Alabama who can recommend the card?

• Yes, to obtain a valid medical marijuana prescription, you need to visit a doctor that has been certified by the state to provide medical marijuana prescriptions.

Can I use my Medical Marijuana Card from another state in Alabama?

• No, the state of Alabama doesn’t accept and hasn’t signed any marijuana reciprocity agreements with other US states.

How long is the Medical Marijuana Card valid in Alabama?

• One year with an annual renewal policy in place they are allowing a patient to renew the card 14 days before expiration.

Where can I purchase medical marijuana after obtaining my card in Alabama?

• The state is yet to open state-authorized dispensaries from where you’ll be eligible to legally purchase medical marijuana.

Are there any restrictions on the amount of medical marijuana I can possess in Alabama with the card?

• The state is yet to decide the exact amount of medical marijuana a licensed patient can possess at a time.

Can I grow my cannabis plants if I have a Medical Marijuana Card in Alabama?

• No, personal cultivation of cannabis and related strains is strictly prohibited and can result in legal actions being taken against the involved individual.

What should I do if I lose my Medical Marijuana Card in Alabama?

• You can apply for a duplicate card if you have lost your previous one.