Reasons To Get A Medical Card – Does It Really Work?
As Cannabis products managed to mark a position in the healthcare arena, several legal and medical developments have been taking place in this flourishing market. As it finds its use for both recreational and medical purposes, experts figured out a way to pave the way to easily accessible cannabis products to the people who intend to use it for medical purposes. A marijuana medical card is an easy way to access a variety of cannabis products of supreme quality, and that too at affordable prices.
There are certain qualifying conditions to getting a medical card we intend to explain in the following write-up comprehensively. This write-up further brings forth the major perks and reasons to get a medical card. Are you eligible to be entitled to the huge plethora of benefits of a medical card in Illinois and missing out on them just because you’re not well aware? Stick around to learn more.
Top 4 Reasons to Get a Medical Card:
This recent legal development of recreational cannabis in Illinois has captivated the interest of the residents in getting an MMJ card (Medical Marijuana Card). Many of them are still questioning why medical card is important in the first place. This is because they probably do not realize the benefits of medical marijuana cards. You get several perks which are all worth it. It can substantially add to your feasibility. Here are the reasons to get a medical card in Illinois.
- Access to a Wide Variety
Having a medical card opens doors to a huge variety of Cannabis products. Where other users are restrained to buying no more than one ounce of a product, you can get access to a wide variety of products up to 2.5 ounces which is a large quantity. Also, if you have medical conditions that require larger doses, you may get a permit to possess an even larger quantity so you won’t have to go for regular trips to the cannabis dispensaries. Store your favorite products and use as much as you feel like.
Another huge perk is that most cannabis dispensaries have a product range solely dedicated to medical cardholders. You can enjoy all these products if you have a medical card.
- Cultivate Your Own Buds
Having a medical marijuana card in Illinois means a whole new level of Ultimate Freedom to grow your own buds legally. It is surely a great advantage for people keenly interested in exploring different strains of their choice in their little gardens. Where recreational users are merely dreaming of growing marijuana, you’re lawfully entitled to growing it on your own. This not only exposes you to a huge room for exploring and experimentation but also helps you save money on frequent purchases as these cannabis dispensaries keep their profit margins.
Also, when you buy it, you’re not sure about the sources of marijuana, while growing it on your own means having complete confidence in what you’re consuming. If you’re a medical card holder in Illinois, remember that you’re allowed to grow five plants.
- Easy On Your Pockets
Some users hesitate to get a medical card as soon as they learn about the registration fees, but they hardly realize the amount of money it helps them save. This is one of the most impressive reasons to get a medical card. Yes, let’s have a quick sneak peek at the number of taxes that recreational cannabis users have to pay in Illinois.
You save a few bucks on the registration fees, and then you pay the following taxes:
- Well, if you live in Illinois, you’ll be subjected to huge taxes on the purchase of cannabis if you do not have a medical card. Firstly, you have to pay sales tax which is 6.75%.
- This isn’t much, but then comes the next tax, which is called the purchaser tax. This one comes down to the amount of THC present in your product. The greater the amount of THC, the higher the tax you have to pay.
However, a medical card makes the tables turn and saves your money by helping you avoid all these taxes. All you have to pay is 1% sales tax. Yes, that’s all you need to pay for whatever you buy. That’s why a marijuana medical card really is a game-changer.
- You’re Important to the State
Having a medical card gives you a higher level of priority in the eyes of providers. Many dispensaries treat medical users with extra care and attention. They make sure that you don’t have to wait for long periods, and being a priority never feels wrong, does it?
Are You Qualified To Get A Medical Card?
After certain legal developments in Illinois, the cannabis plant has been legal since 1st January 2020. However, the users are still subjected to several restrictions. The good part is that the users who struggle with medical conditions that require regular cannabis doses can attain a medical card through a certain procedure. It helps them seek relief from several restrictions.
You need to get a diagnosis from a healthcare professional. A medical certificate diagnosing at least one of the diseases mentioned in IDPH’s list of debilitating conditions is considered valid. The debilitating conditions, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health, are as follows [1]
- Autism
- Agitation of Alzheimer’s disease
- HIV/AIDS
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
- Anorexia nervosa
- Arnold-Chiari malformation
- Cancer
- Cachexia/wasting syndrome
- Causalgia
- Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy
- Chronic pain
- Crohn’s disease
- CRPS (complex regional pain syndrome Type II)
- Dystonia
- Ehlers-Danlos syndrome
- Fibrous Dysplasia
- Glaucoma
- Hepatitis C
- Hydrocephalus
- Hydromyelia
- Interstitial cystitis
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Lupus
- Migraines
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Muscular Dystrophy
- Myasthenia Gravis
- Myoclonus
- Nail-patella syndrome
- Neuro-Bechet’s autoimmune disease
- Neurofibromatosis
- Neuropathy
- Osteoarthritis
- Parkinson’s disease
- Polycystic kidney disease (PKD)
- Post-Concussion Syndrome
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Reflex sympathetic dystrophy
- Residual limb pain
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Seizures (including those characteristics of Epilepsy)
- Severe fibromyalgia
- Sjogren’s syndrome
- Spinal cord disease (including but not limited to arachnoiditis)
- Spinal cord injury is damage to the nervous tissue of the spinal cord with objective neurological
- indication of intractable spasticity
- Spinocerebellar ataxia
- Superior canal dehiscence syndrome
- Syringomyelia
- Tarlov cysts
- Tourette syndrome
- Traumatic brain injury
- Ulcerative colitis
How To Get Medical Card In Illinois?
Considering all the benefits of having a marijuana medical card in Illinois, if you’ve decided on getting one, here’s your Ultimate Guide to an easy process. In this guide, we’ll further simplify the process for you and guide you through each step to ensure the fastest access to your marijuana medical card in Illinois. Here’s our ultimate guide to getting the medical card:
- Make Sure That You Qualify
This is the first step and also the most important one. Before you go for any other procedures, make sure you’re legally qualified to attain a marijuana medical card. You ought to abide by the following legal requirements:
- You have to be a resident of Illinois.
- You must be 18 years old or more.
- The next important requirement is having a certified diagnosis Of any medical condition from the Illinois Department of Public Health list by a licensed medical professional.
As soon as you find yourself qualified for attaining the medical card, you may proceed with the following procedures.
- Obtain The Medical Certificate
Take a start with obtaining the diagnosis certificate from your medical practitioner. The good thing is that any medical practitioner may issue a medical certificate, provided that such a medical certificate is issued with bona fide intention. Get the medical certificate that diagnoses any of the diseases mentioned in the list of conditions approved by the Illinois Department of Public Health.
- Medical Marijuana application
Once you get your certificate, it’s time to proceed with the application process, which is even easier with us. Fill in the application form’s portion specifically made to be filled by the patient. After this, you need to pay the registration fees. Applying involves the following requirements:
- Complete medical certificate by a healthcare professional.
- Colored photocopy of driving license/ state ID/ Photo page of US passport
- A passport-size photo. (Must be captured within the last 30 days)
- Print Your Provisional Letter
After completing the application process, you will finally receive a provisional letter. Just print it to enjoy shopping for cannabis products from nearby state-licensed cannabis dispensaries.
Remember that your provisional letter is valid to use for a period of 3 months or 90 days, to be precise. Application may take longer to be accepted, so it will be valid till your application gets accepted.
- Time To Print The Medical Card
After the approval of your application, you’ll finally receive a digital copy of your medical card that you have to print in order to enjoy the perks. Now you’re an eligible cannabis buyer entitled to all the benefits a medical card holder gets to enjoy.
Final Thoughts
If you’re going through any of the above-mentioned debilitating medical conditions, getting a medical card is genuinely going to help you a long way. With all these beneficial reasons to get a medical card, you should definitely consider getting one.
