Connecticut Medical Marijuana Card
As of July 2021, adults 21 or over and medical marijuana card patients with qualifying medical conditions and a medical marijuana card can legally possess, purchase, and use cannabis.
Back in 2011 Senate Bill 1014 had been signed which decriminalized the possession of up to 0.5 ounces of cannabis. While those who offend this law are not penalized with jail time, they are required to pay increasing fines for repeated offenses.
In 2012 the state created the House Bill 5389, which legalized medical marijuana entirely throughout the state of Connecticut.
During 2021 Gov. Ned Lamont signed the Responsible and Equitable Regulations of Adult-Use Cannabis Act (RERACA), also known as Senate Bill 1201. This is a very encompassing bill comprised of various regulations. This will allow adults 21 or older to possess, purchase and use cannabis legally. The bill also allowed the legal possession of up to 1.5 ounces outside the home and up to 5 ounces in a locked container inside the home, in a vehicle’s glove box or inside the trunk or 7.5 grams and 25 grams of cannabis concentrates and other cannabis-infused products. This bill also allows for the expungement of marijuana possession convictions of less than 4 ounces, or six marijuana plants.
Connecticut Medical Marijuana Card, Cultivation & Possession Laws
Adults 21 or older can legally possess up to 1.5 ounces of cannabis, 7.5 grams of cannabis concentrates, or up to 750mg of THC on the individual. This is extended to being legally allowed to have 5 ounces of cannabis, 25 grams of concentrate, or up to 2.5 grams of THC in a locked container in the glove box, trunk of a vehicle, or at home. Connecticut medical marijuana patients and caregivers may possess up to 5 ounces total. State law does not allow exchanges or gifting of medical marijuana between entities, unless between a medical marijuana patient of Connecticut and their primary caregiver. While there are recreational and medical marijuana laws, adults who are not medical marijuana patients of Connecticut can be fined $100 if they are caught with more than 1.5 ounces of flower or 7.5 grams of concentrate with increasing penalties for repeated offenses.
Cultivating medical marijuana at your home in Connecticut is prohibited. Connecticut medical marijuana card patients and caregivers can only obtain medical marijuana from licensed cannabis dispensaries. Although, beginning in October 2022 patients will be able to cultivate up to six marijuana plants from the signing of SB 1201. Additionally, non-patient adults will be able to cultivate up to six plants starting July 2023.
Connecticut medical marijuana card
The use of marijuana for medicinal purposes is a controversial issue in many parts of the world. In the United States, the federal government considers marijuana to be a Schedule I controlled substance, which means that it is classified as a drug with a high potential for abuse and no currently accepted medical use. However, over the last two decades, many states have legalized the use of medical marijuana, and Connecticut is one of them. In this essay, we will examine the legalization of medical marijuana in Connecticut, including the history, benefits, and controversies surrounding this issue.
History of legalizing medical marijuana in Connecticut
Connecticut was one of the first states to legalize medical marijuana, passing legislation in 2012. The law allows patients with certain medical conditions to use marijuana for medicinal purposes. Under the law, patients must have a qualifying condition, such as cancer, glaucoma, HIV/AIDS, Parkinson’s disease, or multiple sclerosis, among others. Patients must obtain a written certification from a licensed physician, register with the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection, and obtain a medical marijuana card.
The state’s medical marijuana program began accepting patient applications in October 2012, and the first medical marijuana dispensary opened in September 2014. As of 2021, there are currently 18 medical marijuana dispensaries in Connecticut, and the program has served over 44,000 patients.
Benefits of a Medical Marijuana card in Connecticut
Medical marijuana has been shown to have many benefits for patients with certain medical conditions. It can help relieve pain, reduce inflammation, and improve appetite and sleep, among other effects. For patients with cancer, medical marijuana can help relieve chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, while for those with HIV/AIDS, it can help reduce neuropathic pain and muscle spasms.
Medical marijuana can also help reduce the use of opioid painkillers, which are highly addictive and can lead to overdose and death. According to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, states that have legalized medical marijuana have seen a 25% reduction in opioid overdose deaths. This is significant in Connecticut, which has one of the highest opioid overdose rates in the country.
Legalization of medical marijuana has also had economic benefits for the state. The medical marijuana industry has created jobs and generated tax revenue for the state. In 2020, medical marijuana sales in Connecticut reached $160 million, generating over $40 million in tax revenue.
The MMJ.com conclusion
The legalization of medical marijuana in Connecticut has brought many benefits to patients with certain medical conditions. It has helped relieve pain, reduce inflammation, and improve appetite and sleep, among other effects. It has also helped reduce the use of opioid painkillers, which are highly addictive and can lead to overdose and death. Additionally, the medical marijuana industry has created jobs and generated tax revenue for the state.
How much marijuana can a patient have on hand?
A.Pursuant to Section 28 (c) of RERACA, the Commissioner of Consumer Protection has increased the monthly allotment of medical marijuana for registered medical marijuana patients to 5.0 ounces per month. Patients who have an allotment that has been restricted or expanded by a certifying practitioner will remain unchanged. For logistical reasons, patient’s and caregiver’s who were approved prior to this change will maintain the same 2.5 ounces listed on their registration, however, their monthly allotment will increase to 5.0 ounces at the dispensary facility.
For Adults, Debilitating Medical Conditions Include:
- Cancer (Effective 2012)
- Glaucoma (Effective 2012)
- Positive Status for Human Immunodeficiency Virus or Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (Effective 2012)
- Parkinson’s Disease (Effective 2012)
- Multiple Sclerosis (Effective 2012)
- Damage to the Nervous Tissue of the Spinal Cord with Objective Neurological Indication of Intractable Spasticity (Effective 2012)
- Epilepsy (Effective 2012)
- Cachexia (Effective 2012)
- Wasting Syndrome (Effective 2012)
- Crohn’s Disease (Effective 2012)
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (Effective 2012)
- Sickle Cell Disease (Effective 2016)*
- Post Laminectomy Syndrome with Chronic Radiculopathy (Effective 2016)*
- Severe Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis (Effective 2016)*
- Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (Effective 2016)*
- Ulcerative Colitis (Effective 2016)*
- Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, Type 1 and Type II (Effective 2016)*
- Cerebral Palsy (Effective 2016)
- Cystic Fibrosis (Effective 2016)
- Irreversible Spinal Cord Injury with Objective Neurological Indication of Intractable Spasticity (Effective 2016)
- Terminal Illness Requiring End-Of-Life Care (Effective 2016)
- Uncontrolled Intractable Seizure Disorder (Effective 2016)
- Spasticity or Neuropathic Pain Associated with Fibromyalgia (Effective 2018)*
- Severe Rheumatoid Arthritis (Effective 2018)*
- Post Herpetic Neuralgia (Effective 2018)*
- Hydrocephalus with Intractable Headache (Effective 2018)*
- Intractable Headache Syndromes (Effective 2018)*
- Neuropathic Facial Pain (Effective 2018)*
- Muscular Dystrophy (Effective 2018)*
- Osteogenesis Imperfecta (Effective 2018)*
- Chronic Neuropathic Pain Associated with Degenerative Spinal Disorders (Effective 2018)*
- Interstitial Cystitis (Effective 2019)*
- MALS Syndrome (Median Arcuate Ligament Syndrome) (Effective 2019)*
- Vulvodynia and Vulvar Burning (Effective 2019)*
- Intractable Neuropathic Pain that Is Unresponsive to Standard Medical Treatments (Effective 2019)*
- Tourette Syndrome (Effective 2019)*
- Chronic Pain of at least 6 months duration associated with a specified underlying chronic condition refractory to other treatment intervention (Effective 2020)*
- Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome Associated with Chronic Pain (Effective 2020)*
- Chronic Pancreatitis (Effective 2021)*
- Movement disorders associated with Huntington Disease (Effective 2021)^
For Patients Under 18, Debilitating Medical Conditions Include:
- Cerebral Palsy (Effective 2016)
- Cystic Fibrosis (Effective 2016)
- Irreversible Spinal Cord Injury with Objective Neurological Indication of Intractable Spasticity (Effective 2016)
- Severe Epilepsy (Effective 2016)
- Terminal Illness Requiring End-Of-Life Care (Effective 2016)
- Uncontrolled Intractable Seizure Disorder (Effective 2016)
- Muscular Dystrophy (Effective 2018)*
- Osteogenesis Imperfecta (Effective 2018)*
- Intractable Neuropathic Pain that Is Unresponsive to Standard Medical Treatments (Effective 2019)*
- Tourette Syndrome for patients who have failed standard medical treatment (Effective 2019)*
- Chronic Pancreatitis for patients whose pain is recalcitrant to standard medical management (Effective 2021)*
* Conditions were approved by the Regulation Review Committee via the recommendation of the Board of Physicians and Commissioner of Consumer Protection. ^ Condition was approved, pursuant to the Public Act 21-1 the Responsible and Equitable Regulations of Adult-Use Cannabis Act, upon publication on the Department of Consumer Protections website.
Qualifications for a Registration Certificate:
- Qualifying patient must be a Connecticut resident.
- Qualifying patient cannot be an inmate confined in a correctional institution or facility under the supervision of the Connecticut Department of Corrections.
https://portal.ct.gov/DCP/Medical-Marijuana-Program/Qualification-Requirements
How to get a Connecticut Medical Card Online
The process to apply for a CT medical marijuana card is pretty simple. There are two steps involved. First and foremost, CT patients must schedule the online evaluation at MMJ.com to receive the CT medical marijuana doctor’s approval. Next, the patient will receive an email from the Connecticut medical marijuana program to register..
The Connecticut Medical Marijuana Program will then issue and mail the CT medical card directly to the patient. Patients can expect the medical card to arrive within 30 business days from the day the patient pays the state registration fee.
How to renew a Connecticut Medical Card Online
The process to renew a Connecticut medical cannabis card is pretty simple. There are two steps involved. First and foremost, CT patients must schedule the online evaluation at MMJ.com to receive the CT medical marijuana doctor’s approval. Next, the patient will receive the CT medical cannabis program email to complete their renewal registration with the state program.
The Connecticut medical cannabis program will then issue the new medical card and mail the medical card directly to the patient. Patients can expect the medical card to arrive within 30 business days..