How To Get A California Medical Marijuana Card

Complete your online application with Leafwell. 2. See a licensed physician in minutes - no appointment needed. 3. Get approved and legally purchase medical marijuana.

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What Documents do I Need to Apply for a Medical Cannabis Card?

You do not need to carry an ID card which certifies you as a medical cannabis user. However, you can apply if you wish to do so.

In order to apply for your MMJ Card in California, you will need to show your signed certificate which provides proof of your condition as well as your identification documents. You should gather together the following:

- ID - A signed certificate (which can be obtained via Leafwell)

Below are all of the acceptable forms these documents may take.

Acceptable ID

- Valid, unexpired Driver’s License - State-produced Identification Card - Passport

Minors can apply using their Birth Certificate or Passport

Signed Certification

A PDF version will be emailed to you upon successful completion of your consultation with a registered practitioner on Leafwell’s secure platform and this includes your unique patient ID.

Do I Need to Present my Medical Records to Leafwell?

No, this is not a requirement. However, we do recommend you provide them if you have them because this allows our healthcare providers to provide an accurate assessment to ensure that medical cannabis is a good option for each patient on a case-by-case basis.

How does a Caregiver Apply for a Medical Marijuana Card?

Some patients may be eligible for an MMJ Card but unable to apply for one themselves. For example, should the patient be a minor under the age of 18, or if the patient needs assistance accessing medical cannabis, a caregiver can be assigned to complete the process on their behalf.

In order to qualify as a primary caregiver under California marijuana law, you need to meet the following criteria:

- You have been designated for that purpose by a legal medical marijuana user - You are consistently responsible for that person’s housing, health, and/or safety - The care you provide is independent of assistance you give the person in taking medical marijuana - You began taking care of the person at or before the time you assumed responsibility for assisting with medical marijuana

Can a Qualifying Patient Grow Cannabis in California?

Yes, you can cultivate cannabis at home. You can grow up to six plants at any one time. You can only grow plants at home and this must be in a lockable space which is not visible from off the property. Some cities also prohibit outdoor growing.

Are my Details Kept Confidential When I Apply for a Medical Marijuana Card?

Yes. Leafwell is committed to protecting the privacy of our patients. Our online service is HIPAA compliant. Our systems are designed to keep all of your confidential details safe.

Does California Have Medical Marijuana Reciprocity?

Yes. Arizona, Hawaii, Maine, Nevada, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Michigan recognize a valid, in-date medical marijuana identification card and recommendation letter from California. However, entrance into another state’s medical cannabis dispensaries is at the dispensary’s discretion. Reciprocity means that participating states recognize California medical marijuana cards and recommendations as valid. Whether California recognizes medical marijuana cards from other states is still yet to be decided, but it looks as if the answer is “no” so far.

This reciprocity is one key benefit for medical marijuana users. Unlike recreational cannabis users, medical marijuana users, with a medical marijuana card, can travel to the states listed above and purchase the medical marijuana they require while they are out of state.

Getting a Medical Marijuana Card in San Francisco, Bakersfield, Fresno, San Diego and Los Angeles

Although state laws generally apply statewide, there are some slight differences between different locales. Some cities are more tolerant than others, and some places prefer to keep non-medical cannabis dispensaries out of town entirely!

San Francisco is generally quite tolerant of cannabis, but this doesn’t mean there aren’t any rules. San Francisco is one of the few places in California. In the country) where public use of cannabis onsite in cannabis lounges is allowed. As far as using cannabis outside goes, avoid using cannabis in public parks or near schools. Keep it away from children and busy public areas (some of which have restricted cannabis smoking), and you should be OK.

Bakersfield in California is perhaps one of the less cannabis-friendly, and Kern County & Bakersfield have only recently started to open up for recreational sales. Medical cannabis dispensaries are around, but there are fewer recreational facilities.

Fresno is another area in California that didn’t take to cannabis, and it is only recently that dispensaries were accepted and allowed to run under Prop. 215 rules. Medical dispensaries take precedence in Fresno, and even then medical marijuana is not always warmly greeted. However, having a medical marijuana identification card (MMIC) in Fresno may prove to be particularly useful.

San Diego is generally cannabis-friendly, and has embraced cannabis legalization. San Diego County chose to ban any new medical marijuana collectives in the city that weren’t approved before April 14, 2017, which sparked a lawsuit as many dispensaries spent millions updating their businesses. There is some restriction on growing cannabis, with only indoor grow allowed.

Where Los Angeles City allows for both medical and recreational dispensaries, LA County only allowed for medical and recreational sales more recently as they developed a legal framework.

Regardless of where you are in California, you can get a medical marijuana card online with Leafwell.

History of Medical Marijuana in California

Here is a brief overview of the history of medical marijuana in California:

- 1972 - California became the first state to vote on a ballot which argued for the legalization of cannabis. Proposition 19 would have legalized use, possession and cultivation of cannabis (but not commercial sales). It lost 33 percent to 67 percent but set California up as a state which would lead the way. - 1996 - Medical marijuana law comes into effect - Proposition 215 refers to the Compassionate Use Act of 1996, and is still in effect today. This passage exempts patients and defined caregivers who possess or cultivate cannabis for medical treatment and who have a physician’s recommendation from punishment according to state law. 2003 - Senate Bill 420 clarified much of the language in the initial bill. Established the current identification card system for medical cannabis patients. - 2016 - Proposition 64, the Adult Use of Marijuana Act legalised the recreational use of cannabis. 2019 - amendments were passed to the Senate Bill 34 which allowed licensed retailers. Dispensaries to provide medical cannabis for free to qualified patients who were for some reason unable to access the product. - 2020 - Governor Newsom issued an executive order which extended the validity of MMICs in the face of Covid-19 and a lack of access to some facilities

California Medical Marijuana Laws

As a medical marijauna card holder or as a user with an ID number and on the registry, it is important to know what your card/ID number permits. While recreational and medical cannabis are both legal in California, there are a number of laws which you need to be aware of.

If you are carrying both concentrate and flower, then you cannot go over the equivalent possession amounts. This means you cannot carry both an ounce of dried cannabis flower and 8 g of concentrate at the same time. If you are carrying 4 g of concentrate, the maximum amount of flower you can legally carry is 14.25 g of dried cannabis flower. This applies to recreational cannabis users, and medical patients may have some leeway, but we don’t recommend tempting fate wherever possible.

There are some restrictions that apply to both recreational and medical marijuana users alike. They include:

- No smoking cannabis where smoking tobacco is not permitted. - No smoking of cannabis in public, unless allowed by public ordinance - doing so could land you a fine, especially if you are near a government building, public park, main street, or anywhere where there might be large congregations of children. - Using cannabis whilst driving is obviously illegal. You cannot legally drive when under the influence of cannabis, and any cannabis kept in the car with you must be kept locked away and out-of-sight. Passengers in the car are not legally allowed to consume cannabis whilst in a vehicle, either. - You cannot ingest cannabis within 1,000 feet of a school, daycare center, or youth center unless you are in a private residence and any cannabis smell or smoke is not detectable by children. - Any cannabis must be kept out-of-reach of children. Treat it as you would any other medication, and lock it away. - Your second amendment right to bear arms is also affected.

Remember, while recreational cannabis use is legal in California, we recommend you register as a medical marijuana patient if possible. It could be argued that those with a valid medical marijuana card have a lot more legal precedent protecting them. There are a greater number of laws that could be seen to protect patients, in comparison to those who use cannabis recreationally. Access is also improved for card holders. You are able to buy better quality products. Additionally, as there are reciprocity laws in place, you’re able to travel to other states and purchase medical cannabis legally there too.

Get Your California Medical Card Sign up to get your medical card

1. Complete your online application with Leafwell. 2. See a licensed physician in minutes - no appointment needed. 3. Get approved and legally purchase medical marijuana.