Get a Medical Marijuana Card in Alabama

Are you wondering, “How will I be able to get a medical marijuana card in Alabama?”

You’ll be happy to learn the process couldn’t be simpler, especially when you work with a team of professionals. We aim to make the process as efficient and painless as possible.

With that in mind, we’ve created this guide on how to obtain a medical marijuana card in Alabama to help you further understand how the process works.

Qualifying

According to state law, the only way to qualify for a medical marijuana card in Alabama is to have a genuine relationship with a provider. Physicians must also receive approval from the government to participate in the program. Medical marijuana doctors in Alabama must be registered with the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission. This means you must have a relationship with a medical professional who specifically approves medical cannabis as a treatment for a qualifying medical condition.

The qualifying medical conditions in Alabama include:

• Autism spectrum disorder
• Panic disorder
• Depression
• Post-traumatic stress disorder
• Crohn’s disease
• Tourette’s syndrome
• Parkinson’s disease
• Sickle cell anemia
• Epilepsy or a condition causing seizures
• A terminal illness
• HIV/AIDS-related nausea or weight loss
• Cancer-related cachexia, nausea or vomiting, weight loss, or chronic pain
• Spasticity associated with a motion neuron disease, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease)
• Spasticity associated with multiple sclerosis or a spinal cord injury
• Persistent nausea that is not significantly responsive to traditional treatment. Exceptions include: nausea related to pregnancy, cannabis-induced cyclical vomiting syndrome, or cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome
• A condition causing chronic or intractable pain in which conventional therapeutic intervention and opiate therapy aren’t advised or have proved ineffective
  

Thankfully, most patients who would apply for an Alabama medical cannabis card have a condition where medical marijuana can offer real benefits.

First steps

If you’re reviewing how to obtain a medical marijuana card in Alabama, several requirements must be met, and the legal regulations can be difficult to navigate. Alabama is still in the process of setting up a bureaucratic framework for the administration of medical cannabis. However, this is the proposed framework:

Members of the 14- member Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission will first have to be appointed latest by July 1, 2021. Then confirmation of the members by the state senate will have to follow. That may not happen before February 2022.

Once the board has been confirmed, the State Board of Medical Examiners will then adopt Alabama's specific requirements, which will define the conditions doctors must observe in the patient before recommending medical marijuana.

The Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission will then create a system that allows people to apply for licenses to produce, transport and sell the drug. The commission will also determine how the drug should be packaged and marketed by dispensaries.

The final process before making the drug available will be the creation of the Alabama Medical Cannabis Patient Registry System. It is a system that will electronically track physician certifications, patient names, daily dosage recommendations, and all medical marijuana purchases by a patient.

That's a brief description of how the framework would look like. It is expected that by February 2022, Alabama dispensaries will have started receiving prescriptions for medical marijuana.

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At CannabisRxHealth

Once you arrive at our center, a medical professional will review and examine your medical records. Most appointments take no more than 15 minutes. Your professional will either approve or deny your application after the appointment.

If your application is approved, we will then guide you through the rest of the process, including getting your Alabama medical marijuana card.

In the event your application for a medical marijuana card is denied, we’ll refund your application fee in full.

Everything You Need to Know About Medical Marijuana in Alabama

Alabama signed its first-ever marijuana bill into law in May. The law legalizes medical marijuana for adults and minors with certain conditions under strict doctor’s recommendation. However, the process of how to get medical marijuana in Alabama is still in development as dispensary locations have yet to be set up.

Consumers must be aware of how medical marijuana in Alabama works to avoid falling foul of the law.

General Overview

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In Alabama, medical marijuana is not currently legal for general medical use. However, Alabama does have limited medical cannabis programs that allow the use of a non-psychoactive form of marijuana called cannabidiol (CBD) for certain medical conditions. Despite the state-level program, possession, and use of marijuana remain illegal under federal law.

The first law to legalize cannabis for medicinal purposes came into effect in May 2021, but the program itself hasn't reached the implementation stage. 

The law is strict on the prescription of medical marijuana. Conditions like chronic back pain, endometriosis or an eating disorder do not qualify.

Also, marijuana for recreational use is strictly prohibited. Medical marijuana also cannot be prescribed beyond 50 mg of THC per day.

Possession, distribution, manufacture or use of medical marijuana without a license is a felony in Alabama and you could also face jail time if you possess more than 70 daily doses, even with an Alabama medical marijuana license.

Qualifying Conditions

Currently, the steps concerning how to obtain a medical marijuana card in Alabama are extremely stringent. You will not be able to get an Alabama medical marijuana card online without first obtaining a written certification through a medical professional. You can, however, be sure of getting your card if you suffer from a qualifying condition.

Once you have the doctor’s recommendation and proof of an Alabama residency, the next step regarding how to get a medical marijuana card in Alabama is to pay an application fee for a medical marijuana card. The fee hasn't been set yet, but it won’t exceed $65.

Once your application is approved, the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission will then enter your information into the cannabis patient registry system. That’s when you can start buying the prescriptive amount from a licensed dispensary.

According to the Harvard Medical School, cannabis is primarily used for pain relief. It should come as no surprise that the majority of Alabama medical cannabis cardholders suffer from chronic pain.

What Can I Get With My Medical Card?

The daily dosage a patient can use can’t exceed 50 milligrams of THC (the active ingredient). The daily dosage can later be increased to 75 milligrams on the provider's recommendation if it is deemed necessary.

There are no licensed dispensaries yet in the State of Alabama. But approved patients are limited in the types of products they can purchase for their conditions when they are approved.

Some of the products medical cardholders will be able to purchase include:

• Oral tablet, capsule or tincture
• Non-sugar coated gelatinous cube, cuboid or lozenge
• Gel, oil, cream or other topical preparation
• Transdermal patch
• Nebulizer
• Liquid or oil only for an inhaler
• Suppository
  

Smokable marijuana will not be available, nor will its vaping be permitted.

It’s also important to mention that unlike in other states, a medical marijuana card doesn’t give you the right to cultivate marijuana. Cultivation remains strictly illegal for ordinary citizens.

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Caregiver Laws

Patients below the age of 19 that qualify will also be eligible for medical marijuana although they will need a caregiver who must be a resident of Alabama and shall be registered with the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission. The minor must also be registered and should be a resident of Alabama as well.

Alabama Medical Marijuana Card FAQs

The situation regarding Alabama medical cannabis can be confusing. If you’re looking for answers, here are some of the most common questions patients tend to have.

Q. How much will an Alabama medical card cost?

A. With a provider's recommendation and proof of an Alabama residency, you can pay to apply for a medical marijuana card. The fee won't exceed $65.

Q. Where can I purchase medical cannabis?

A. Patients will be able to purchase medical cannabis from licensed Alabama dispensaries.

Q. How much does it cost to get certified with CannabisRxHealth?

A. The initial consultation costs just $169 and includes everything you need to get certified. We also offer discounts on renewals of just $129.

Q. Will insurance cover the cost of my visit?

A. Health insurance providers are not required to cover costs relating to medical marijuana. It all depends on your policy.

Q. What should I bring to my appointment with CannabisRxHealth?

A. Proof of state residence and proof of your medical condition. For the latter, this can be your medical records, proof of disability, or the bottles of your prescription medication.

Q. How long do appointments last?

A. Most appointments take no longer than 15 minutes. However, this is an average, and you shouldn’t feel pressured to rush through your appointment. Our medical professionals are always willing to stay and answer any questions you might have.

Q. What if my application is denied?

A. We will refund your application fee in full because we don’t believe in putting up barriers to healthcare.

Benefits of Obtaining an Alabama Medical Marijuana Card when available.

Once you’ve gone through the process of how to obtain a medical marijuana card in Alabama, you can start taking advantage of the benefits medical marijuana offers. There has been a wave of research into the medical benefits of marijuana. The results have been stunning, which is why it should come as no surprise that cannabidiol (CBD) has been legalized in the vast majority of states.

Some of the scientifically proven benefits of medical marijuana include:

1. Ability to treat pain - With medical marijuana, Alabama residents can experience reduced chronic pain, including pain caused by conditions such as multiple sclerosis and cancer.

2. Prevents seizures - With an Alabama medical marijuana card, patients may experience a reduction in muscle spasms and spasticity caused by conditions such as multiple sclerosis.

3. Treats nausea - With a medical marijuana card, Alabama residents can experience reduced nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy or other medical treatments.

4. Improves appetite - Medical marijuana may help increase appetite in people with conditions that cause a lack of appetite, such as HIV/AIDS or cancer.

5. Fights the symptoms of PTSD - Medical marijuana can help reduce anxiety and other symptoms derived from PTSD.

It’s highly likely that this list will continue to grow as more and more research is conducted into the benefits of the cannabis plant.

All of these benefits come without the negative effects of prescription opioids, including dependency, the potential for overdose, and nausea.

So, why should you get your Alabama medical marijuana card online with CannabisRxHealth once it is available?

• Access to all marijuana dispensaries statewide.
• Ability to purchase medical marijuana at a relatively low cost.
  

Do be aware that the cultivation of marijuana in Alabama remains illegal, including for patients who would hold a medical card.

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Why You Should Choose CannabisRxHealth for Your Medical Marijuana Card

Healthcare is expensive, even for those in the most urgent need. CannabisRxHealth believes in breaking down barriers to healthcare. That’s why we offer the lowest consultations in the region, starting at just $169. Plus, if you don’t get approved for medical marijuana, we’ll refund the cost of your visit.

Our medical professionals provide our patients with all the information they need to make informed choices about their health. You’re free to ask any questions you might have.