Only recently has medical cannabis emerged from the fringes of legal and social acceptance. Thanks to legislation, Canadians can now access cannabis as a safer pharmaceutical alternative. 

Acquiring medical cannabis may seem intimidating to new users even though it is straightforward. 

If you’re looking for ways to get the ganja, this guide will provide a step-by-step to ensure you can acquire cannabis products legally.  

Consult Your Doctor First

See Your Doctor First Before Taking Medicinal Cannabis 

Before you jump to using cannabis, you have to establish whether and how cannabis can help you. The medical community has identified at least thirty medical conditions which may benefit from cannabis consumption, ranging from gastrointestinal disorders and depression to HIV/AIDS and PTSD. 

Consult your doctor if you believe cannabis may relieve symptoms you are experiencing.

As a first-time buyer, you may feel uncomfortable broaching the subject with your doctor. That’s alright. Despite significant social and legal progress, some people still sense a stigma attached to cannabis. 

This sentiment is even true with some doctors, who may be reluctant to prescribe it due to a lack of medical knowledge. However, if you believe cannabis is the right medicine for you, you must take every opportunity to establish your treatment.

If you feel you may be too uncomfortable to raise the topic yourself, bring a friend or family member with you for moral support. Speak to your doctor candidly. Tell them about your symptoms. Explain which other treatment(s) you have tried and how those treatments failed to meet your expectations. 

If you have consumed cannabis before, tell your doctor about it, and explain the beneficial effects firsthand. Finally, tell them how you plan to consume cannabis. In the end, your doctor should be looking out for your health, and no one is a better judge of your well-being than you are. So speak as the authority of your health!

Getting a Medical Cannabis Card

Several states require medical marijuana registry registration, which can be done online, though the process varies by state. As part of the registration process, your doctor must approve the use of medical cannabis.

If your state requires you to register online, you can submit your application and get approval from your doctor. 

Creating an account also saves your information so you can renew your card in the future if you need it. Those who apply with a caregiver should also enter their credential details.

Your medical marijuana card will probably require a fee. You can make your payment online, but it varies by state. Medical marijuana can then be purchased once you have your card.

Ways to Acquire Medical Cannabis 

Under the 2016 Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations, Canadians can legally acquire cannabis in two major ways. You can either:

• Grow a limited amount of cannabis for medical purposes, or
• Buy cannabis from a licensed producer

Growing Cannabis Yourself

Start Growing Your Pot

It is a rewarding hobby to grow cannabis; however, it is also time-consuming and expensive.

Most Canadians who grow cannabis do so indoors to contend with long and dark Canadian winters. However, indoors growing healthy plants requires costly equipment, such as UV lights and hydroponic gardens. 

Growing your cannabis also takes time—if starting with a seedling, it would take two months at the very minimum to have consumption-worthy cannabis.

Patients experiencing chronic pain or nausea cannot wait for two months. You will need to fill out if you are interested in growing your cannabis for medical purposes these forms.

Buy Cannabis From a Licensed Producer

The most popular method of acquiring medical cannabis is through licensed producers or distributors. Through this method, you leave the work to the professionals, meaning that you get your medication faster, and—having been produced by experienced professionals—it will likely be more effective. 

Many vendors operate online and ship products directly to consumers’ homes. There are producers and distributors throughout Canada, and consumers are not limited to vendors within their province. Producers and distributors often ship nationwide.

Choosing Your Medical Cannabis Supplier

With loads of dispensaries across Canada, deciding if you’ve found the right supplier for your medical needs is worth shopping. But, of course, the obvious place to start is with the product itself.

Consider how you intend to consume cannabis (smoking, vaporizing, edibles, etc.). Does the dispensary provide products that you can use in your treatment? It is also worth turning a critical eye to the strains offered. Different strains elicit different effects—for example, CBD-rich strains are particularly helpful with anxiety. So, again, ensure that a dispensary has products you can use in your treatment.

Where To Get Medicinal Marijuana

A state-approved dispensary can sell marijuana to you if you have a medical marijuana card. The amount of THC or the quantity of cannabis you can buy depends on the state. Depending on the individual’s condition, some states even allow individuals to cultivate their own marijuana plants.

Having a card, lets you buy medicinal marijuana in the form of:

• Oral solutions
• Topical creams or applications
• Pills 
• Oils for vaporizing
• Dried out leaves for smoking
• Sprays

You can administer medicinal marijuana products once you have them. Having a caregiver listed on your medical marijuana card will enable you to receive care from that individual. Your symptoms and the form of marijuana will determine how long it takes for you to feel the effects.

Prescriptions And Memberships

If your doctor has prescribed cannabis to treat your symptoms, you will receive a Medical Marijuana Identification Card and your first order from a licensed producer. It is important to note that until full legalization, which is expected in July 2018, this Medical Marijuana Identification Card is your only Get Out of Jail Free card.

Compassionate dispensaries offer their customers membership cards to facilitate future transactions—to Canadian police, these are not 100% legal on their own. Therefore, be aware that carrying a dispensary membership card may not make you entirely impervious to criminal charges in this current transitionary period.

Bottom Line: Treat Yourself

Acquiring the medicines you need and beginning the treatment you believe is right for you is incredibly satisfying. Despite some lingering stigmas associated with historical misconceptions, acquiring medical cannabis is easier than many think. First, talk to your doctor or research suppliers if you think cannabis is right for you. Then, take the first step toward a better life.