Many people across the Country use cannabis for medicinal purposes. Luckily for those in the state of Colorado they can now legally seek relief without fear of the law. In the November 2000 general election, the people of Colorado voted to legalize the use of medical marijuana for persons suffering from debilitating medical conditions. Amendment 20 allows a patient to have up to 2 ounces of cannabis in their possession and grow up to 6 plants.
What does this mean for you? Well, if you have one of the qualifying medical conditions then just follow this simple guide to legally apply for your medical cannabis card.
First you will need to schedule a medical marijuana evaluation with a state approved doctor. There are many resources for researching and choosing a compassionate doctor across Colorado, so be sure to do the proper research to find a reputable source. It’s best to provide this doctor with your medical records if possible. While this makes the process easier for everyone, it’s not required at many locations.
Your doctor will need to diagnose you with one of the following conditions to be eligible for the official Colorado Medical Marijuana Registry:
- Cancer
- Glaucoma
- HIV or AIDS or a medical condition or treatment that produces, for this patient, one or more of the following and which, in the physician’s professional opinion, may be alleviated by the medical use of marijuana.
- Cachexia
- Severe Pain
- Severe Nausea
- Seizures (including those characteristic of epilepsy)
- Persistent muscle spasms (including those characteristic of multiple sclerosis)
Once your doctor approves the recommendation, they will need to fill out the Physician Certification form. Only licensed medical doctor’s in good standing with the state of Colorado may sign this form. Next is your official Registry Application Form. This needs to be signed, dated and notarized in front of an official state Notary. Then you need to include a photo copy of a valid Colorado ID (driver’s license, state ID, etc). Finally, a $90 non-refundable application fee must be paid by an included check or money order payable to CDPHE.
All forms are available for download from the official Colorado Department of Public Health website. Be sure to make photo copies of everything! Then package and mail all the materials to the Registry’s Office within 60 days of the doctor’s signature:
Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment Medical Marijuana Registry or MMR HSVRD-MMP-A1 4300 Cherry Creek Drive South Denver, CO 80246-1530
That’s really all there is to it! Next you will have to play the waiting game because the Registry’s Office is currently way behind on approving new applicants. Estimated wait times can be up to 6 months from when the Registry Office receives your application. The good news is you can use photo copies of all your documents as your temporary proof of registration until you receive your card in the mail.
