How to Get Your Medical Marijuana Card in Arizona

It might seem like, with recreational marijuana legal now, it’s not worth it to get your Medical Marijuana Card but that might not be the case for you. Having your Med Card allows you access to things that Recreational Patients might not get. 

Medical Patients can purchase more product, in higher quantities. You can also take advantage of the delivery services that some dispensaries offer. 

You can also save some money if you purchase with your Med Card. Medical marijuana is taxed at the rate of state sales tax, whereas recreational marijuana is subject to an additional 16% excise tax.

If you’re thinking about starting the process of getting your Med Card, don’t stress, we’re going walk you through what you need to do and give you the resources you need to make this process as smooth as possible.

Do you qualify for a Med Card? 

Before you start looking into how to get your Med Card, you need to determine if you qualify for one. 

First, you need to be 18 years or older. If you’re younger, you can have an approved Caregiver apply on your behalf. You will also need to be a permanent resident of Arizona at the time of application.

Then you will need to determine if you have a qualifying medical condition. The Arizona Department of Health Services (AZDHS) lists the following as qualifying conditions:

• Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
• Cancer
• Glaucoma
• Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
• Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS)
• Hepatitis C
• Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
• Crohn’s Disease
• Agitation of Alzheimer’s disease
• A chronic or debilitating disease or medical condition or the treatment for a chronic or debilitating disease or medical condition that causes:
  • Cachexia or wasting syndrome;
  • Severe and chronic pain;
  • Severe nausea;
  • Seizures, including those characteristic of epilepsy;
  • Severe or persistent muscle spasms, including those characteristic of multiple sclerosis

Once you have determined if you hit that criteria you can start the process of getting your Med Card.

Get your Medical Marijuana Certification

Before you start filling out your application, you are going to want to get your Medical Marijuana Certification. This is official documentation from a licensed medical professional that certifies that you indeed have one of the above listed qualifying medical conditions. 

These appointments will vary slightly from doctor to doctor but in general, you’re going to need your most recent medical records and some form of payment. The cost of these appointments can vary so make sure that you either check online or call the provider to confirm prices.