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Online Medical Marijuana Card and Renewal FAQ

Who is eligible to use medical marijuana in Connecticut?

To qualify, a patient needs to be diagnosed by a Connecticut-licensed physician as having one of the following debilitating medical conditions that is specifically identified in the law. Patients also have to be at least 18 years of age and be a resident of Connecticut. An inmate confined in a correctional institution or facility under the supervision of the Department of Correction will not qualify, regardless of their medical condition.

What are the list of medical conditions required for a Connecticut patient to receive a medical marijuana card online?

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)*
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)*
* Conditions were approved by the Regulation Review Committee via the recommendation of the Board of Physicians and Commissioner of Consumer Protection.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.

How do I register as a medical marijuana patient in Connecticut?

The first step is to make an appointment with the physician treating you for the debilitating condition for which you seek to use marijuana. You will not be able to register in the system until the Department receives a certification from your physician that you have been diagnosed with a condition that qualifies for the use of medical marijuana and that, in his or her opinion, the potential benefits of the palliative use of marijuana would likely outweigh the health risks of such use. We began accepting physician certifications on October 1, 2012. Once your physician has certified you for the use of marijuana, the Department will seek additional information and documents from you demonstrating, among other things, your identity and residency to determine whether you are qualified under the statute to register with the Department. Once the Department receives the required information, we will make a determination as to whether you are eligible for a registration certificate and, if so, one will be sent to you.

My medical condition is not listed as one that would make me eligible for medical marijuana. Can additional medical conditions be added to the list?

The Commissioner of Consumer Protection has established a Board of Physicians consisting of physicians or surgeons who are board-certified in one of the following specialties: neurology, pain medicine, pain management, medical oncology, psychiatry, infectious disease, family medicine or gynecology. The board will recommend to the Department of Consumer Protection additional medical conditions, medical treatments, or diseases to be added to the list of medical conditions that qualify for the palliative use of marijuana. To be added as a qualifying condition, such recommendations will need to be approved by the Department and implemented by the adoption of a regulation. The Department of Consumer Protection’s regulations on medical marijuana have set out a process by which members of the public can petition the Board of Physicians to recommend additional medical conditions, medical treatment or diseases to the list of conditions that qualify for the palliative use of marijuana.

"Does the Connecticut law require health insurers to cover medical marijuana? "

No. The law explicitly says it does not.

Can Connecticut medical marijuana patients use medical marijuana anywhere?

No. The law prohibits ingesting marijuana in a bus, a school bus or any moving vehicle; in the workplace; on any school grounds or any public or private school, dormitory, college or university property; in any public place; or in the presence of anyone under 18. It also prohibits any use of palliative marijuana that endangers the health or well-being of another person, other than the patient or primary caregiver.

How much marijuana can a Connecticut medical marijuana patient have on hand?

The maximum allowable monthly amount is 2.5 ounces unless your physician indicates a lesser amount is appropriate. Any changes to the allowable amount will be based on advice from the Board of Physicians.

What are my options as a patient if I have a qualifying medical condition and believe that medical marijuana would be the most effective treatment for my symptoms but my physician will not certify me for the medical marijuana program?

The Department of Consumer Protection cannot require physicians or hospitals to recognize marijuana as an appropriate medical treatment in general or for any specific patient. If you believe that your physician is not providing you with the best medical care for your condition, then you may want to consider working with a different physician. The Department, however, cannot refer you to a different physician; any information we receive regarding which physicians have, or will, certify patients for medical marijuana is being treated with the utmost level of confidentiality.

How long does the application process take to complete?

Qualifying patient applications can take 30 business days to process.

Upon approval of your application (patient or caregiver), you will be emailed the permanent medical marijuana registration certificate. You will not receive any registration certificate by mail.

Patients and caregivers can either cut out the registration certificate from the approval letter, present the entire approval letter or display the approval letter from their electronic device. It is recommended that patients and caregivers laminate any printed paper registration certificate to extend the physical integrity of the certificate.

When should I renew my Connecticut medical marijuana card online?

Qualifying patients registrations will be valid up to one year from the date of the physician written certification. This means that if your doctor certified you on October 1, 2012, your registration (and your caregiver’s registration) will expire on October 1, 2013, even if you did not complete your application until several weeks later.
The date of your card’s expiration will be on the front of your card. We do not send out reminders to get recertified, it is up to you whether you want to recertify or not.
Before your card expires, the registration system (https://biznet.ct.gov/dcp-mmrp ) will allow you and your doctor to begin the renewal process. The earliest a patient can be recertified is 30 days before the expiration date of the current registration. In large part, the renewal process will be similar to the process that you went through for your original registration. Recertified patients and caregivers will be issued new identification cards upon approval by the Program.

How do I renew my Connecticut medical marijuana card online?

The following is what each person will need to do to complete the renewal:

Physician or Advanced Practice Registered Nurse:

Confirm that the patient is under your care;
Provide the date that you examined the patient for the recertification;
Confirm that you still have a bona-fide patient/physician relationship;
Complete the three certifications that are at the end of the form; and
Update any other information to the extent it has changed from the previous year (e.g. if you or the patient has a new address).This information will already be filled in and the Department will assume it is the same if you do not change it.
Patient:

Provide a photo ID;
Provide proof that you still live in Connecticut;
Provide an updated photograph (No longer required – May 1, 2019);
Complete the six certifications at the end;
Pay a one hundred ($100.00) dollars registration fee; and
Update any other information to the extent it has changed from the previous year (e.g., you have a different address).
Remember: Your physician enters your medical and personal information, you need to inform him or her of any changes (eg: address, email address) during your visit.
Before submitting your application, if any information is not correct, you need to contact the Medical Marijuana Program to make the corrections.
If your name has changed, in addition to making sure your physician updates that information in his or her certification, you will need to provide the Department with an updated proof of identity.