
The state of Michigan is one of those US states that legalized medical cannabis in the late 2000s. Since that year, the state has credibly upgraded its cannabis laws allowing more and more deserving patients to benefit from the program. But does the state allow minors to get a medical marijuana card? Yes, it does, but with some additional eligibility requirements to clear first.
Eligibility requirements for a medical marijuana card in Michigan
The state of Michigan follows the same eligibility standard as many of its fellow states. A patient must be a resident of Michigan state and have a valid medical marijuana recommendation from a certified medical doctor, in order to apply for a medical marijuana card. Apart from these, there are some additional eligibility requirements set by the state for patients who are not yet 18.
Such a patient should be accompanied by a designated caregiver in order to apply for a Michigan medical marijuana card. The caregiver must be either one of the parents or one of the legal guardians of the patient. Additionally, minor patients need to get two medical recommendations. One from a certified medical cannabis specialist and one from a pediatrician.
Qualifying medical conditions
As per the state law, a patient must be diagnosed with one of the following qualifying medical conditions in order to be marked eligible for a Michigan medical marijuana card,
- AIDS/HIV
- Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Arthritis
- Chronic Pain, Muscle Pain, and Other Types of Pain
- Autism/Asperger Syndrome
- Cancer
- Cachexia or Wasting Syndrome
- Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)
- Seizures and Seizure Disorders
- Cerebral Palsy (CP) and Similar Conditions
- Crohn’s Disease
- Hepatitis (Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C)
- Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
- Nail-Patella Syndrome
- Nausea & Vomiting
- Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBDs)
- Alzheimer’s Disease
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
- Parkinson’s Disease (PD)
- Glaucoma
- Spinal Cord Injuries (SCIs) and Spinal Cord Diseases (SCDs)
- Tourette Syndrome
- Muscle Spasms
What exactly is a caregiver?
A caregiver is an individual who is assigned the task of aiding patients to get access to medical cannabis. As per the state cannabis laws, a caregiver is not someone who is restricted to minor patients alone. Any patient who suffers some level of difficulty while accessing medical cannabis due to some disability or any other person can apply for a caregiverâs assistance.
The state requires the caregivers to be at least 21 years of age, must be mentioned on the patient’s application form, and must not have any past record of felonies.
Medical Marijuana Laws for minors in Michigan
The medical marijuana laws are similar for both qualifying adult and minor patients within the state. Some of the key points of these laws include,
- Both medical and recreational cannabis is now legal within the state of Michigan.
- Driving under the influence or consuming cannabis while driving is illegal as per state laws.
- The state doesnât promote or encourage anyone to consume cannabis products in public.
Final Note
The state of Michigan is on a streak to upgrade its cannabis laws yearly. This shows the stateâs future-oriented policy on the matter. Plus, the state didnât restrict the aid of caregivers to minor patients alone and included other qualifying groups as well. This is indeed a revolutionary step in helping many more deserving patients.