Medical Marijuana Card Online and Industry Growth – Telemedicine Service 2022
Medical Marijuana Card Online and Industry Growth
In 1969, a little more than just 50 years ago, just 12% of adults surveyed believed that marijuana use should be legalized. In 2000, 31% said they believed in legalizing marijuana. This article will display the dramatic medical marijuana card industry growth over the many years.
Now, that number is more than doubled, with 67% of Americans saying that marijuana use should be legal, according to a Pew Research survey.
When it comes to legalizing marijuana, especially for medicinal uses, there has been a sea change across America. And people just don’t say they believe it should be legal — more than ever adults are using medical marijuana.
Use has doubled in adults aged 50 to 64 in the past decade, according to one study, for adults 65 and older, use has increased by seven times compared to the past 10 years.
With such medical marijuana industry growth comes a new normal. An increasing number of medical practitioners are taking advantage of legalized marijuana by including it in treatment plans for a wide range of conditions.
Let’s take a closer look at the medical marijuana industry growth in the United States, in everything from progressive policies in various states to dispensary rates and the overall medical marijuana patient population.
Where is Medical Cannabis Currently Legal?
In America, marijuana is legal for medical use in 35 states and the District of Columbia. Of those 16 allow adults to also use marijuana for recreational purposes. Marijuana is entirely illegal in just one state — Nebraska — while other states only legalized cannabidiol, or CBD, use.
CBD is the second-most prevalent ingredient in marijuana. Cannabinoids are the chemical compounds in cannabis that make it medicinal, as opposed to THC, the ingredient in the cannabis Sativa plant that makes people “high.”
CBD is one of the most active ingredients in marijuana that helps relieve medical issues such as seizures and chronic pain, as well as help with anxiety or depression. It’s typically sold in forms such as creams, pills, pills, edibles, or oral sprays.
How Many People Are Using Medical Cannabis in the United States? It is easy to get a medical cannabis card online!
According to recent surveys, an estimated 3.6 million people in the United States are legal medical marijuana patients. Medical marijuana is most commonly used for conditions including insomnia, pain, muscle spasms, anxiety, back problems, and depression, and many legal patients use marijuana daily for relief.
The rise in Conditions That are Prescribed Medical Cannabis
Over the past few years, there have been a growing number of people with conditions that may qualify for medical marijuana treatments, depending on the state where they live. Such new qualifying conditions include :
Alzheimer’s disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS): Medical cannabis has long been approved for different neurodegenerative diseases, also including Parkinson’s, glaucoma, and Huntington’s. Cannabis may improve mobility and cognition and relieve rigid muscles and spasticity.
HIV/AIDS: Several states have approved medical cannabis use for HIV/AIDS patients who suffer from nausea, fatigue, and appetite loss.
Cancer: Symptoms related to cancer and chemotherapy can be eased by marijuana, including pain and nausea.
Multiple sclerosis: Those with MS have found that marijuana greatly alleviates many symptoms associated with the condition, including everything from inflammation, muscle spasms, and insomnia to abdominal discomfort and depression.
Post-traumatic stress disorder: Marked by episodes of panic and sleep/mood disturbances, PTSD can be debilitating. High levels of CBD can help relieve anxiety and help patients fall asleep and stay asleep longer as well as lessen the frequency of nightmares.
State Rules and Medical Cannabis Card Online
The specifics of medical marijuana use and regulations vary from state to state. States where medical marijuana is legal make their own laws on who can use medical marijuana but also grow and sell it.
The rules can be very specific, including the forms of cannabis patients can use to how many plants patients may grow at home. Such rules also impact the number and function of medical cannabis dispensaries in states as well as those who need to have medical marijuana cards.
Medical marijuana cards allow patients to likely receive different forms and increased doses of marijuana, as opposed to those who are legally buying it and using it for recreational purposes.
Many companies run not just dispensaries but offer telemedicine medical marijuana cards and medical marijuana card renewals over the web, which has further accelerated medical marijuana industry growth.
A Growing Number of Medical Marijuana Dispensaries
Want to get a good idea of how much the medical marijuana industry has grown? You may just have to look out your window or take a walk down the street.
According to data published in August 2021, there are 8,550 retail marijuana dispensary retail licenses across the United States, including those offering recreational marijuana, medical marijuana, or both. The top state is Oklahoma, with 2,308 dispensary licenses to offer medical marijuana (recreational marijuana use is not legal in the state).
Colorado is No. 2 with 825 dispensary licenses. The rest of the top five states have legalized both recreational and medical marijuana: California (774 licenses), Oregon (756), and Washington (476).
Medical Cannabis Card Online and Industry Growth in Specific States
Here’s a snapshot of what’s going on across America within the medical marijuana industry.
Ohio Ohio Medical Cannabis Card Online
Legalized marijuana: Medical
Year legalized: 2016
Medicinal Cannabis Dispensary Licenses: 57
Legalized medical marijuana laws went into effect in Ohio in 2019, but the state was just getting started. In early 2021, the Ohio Board of Pharmacy voted to extend the number of dispensary licenses in the state and approved the addition of complex regional pain syndrome, arthritis, and chronic migraines to categories OKed for the purchase of medical marijuana.
New York New York MMJ Card
Legalized marijuana: Medical and recreational
Year legalized: 2014 (medical); 2021 (recreational)
Medicinal Marijuana Dispensary Licenses: 38
Since initiating medical marijuana legislation in 2014 through the Compassionate Care Act, New York has evolved greatly in regulations related to marijuana over the past 7 years. Many previous criminal records that are marijuana-related have been expunged.
New York’s medical marijuana program is well organized and also continues to evolve. In October, the Cannabis Control Board was seeking advice from the public about advancing regulations that would let certified medical patients cultivate cannabis at home.
Pennsylvania Pennsylvania Medical Card
Legalized marijuana: Medical
Year legalized: 2016
Medicinal Marijuana Dispensary Licenses: 129
While medical marijuana is generally legalized in Pennsylvania for those with qualifying conditions, if you aren’t a qualified medical patient, possessing a small amount of marijuana could possibly lead to imprisonment or other charges. Cultivating marijuana also faces tough consequences.
Dispensaries started offering medical marijuana to patients in 2018, and patients must meet certain qualifying conditions and have marijuana use recommended by a physician who is certified.
Patients can keep a 30-day supply of marijuana, but just cannabis though pills, oils, topicals, tinctures, and infused liquids are approved. Parents or guardians of a minor can purchase medical marijuana from another state to be given to the minor.
Illinois Illinois medical card
Legalized marijuana: Medical and recreational
Year legalized: 2014 (medical); 2020 (recreational)
Medicinal Cannabis Dispensaries: 14
Despite its relatively small number of dispensaries, Illinois has been progressive in its medical marijuana regulations. Marijuana and its extracted forms are all legalized for medical and recreational use. Hemp is also legalized in the state.
The manufacturing, possession, sale, and cultivation of medical cannabis and associated products like oils and edibles, are all legal to patients who qualify. Medical marijuana cardholders can possess up to 2.5 oz. of cannabis within two-week periods.
Now, adults 21 and older can legally purchase cannabis in the state without a medical card. Medical patients can pay for 1-, 2-, or 3-year cards but cards need to be renewed yearly.
New Jersey New Jersey MMJ Card
Legalized marijuana: Medical and recreational
Year legalized: 2010 (medical); 2020 (recreational)
Medicinal Marijuana Dispensary Licenses: 19
While medical marijuana laws have been on the books in New Jersey since 2010, it has progressed slowly until recent years, hampered by political in-fighting.
For many years there were very limited qualifying conditions and slow access to a small number of dispensaries. Patients needed to re-certify their condition very frequently.
The medical cannabis card program began to expand in the state in 2018, with new qualifying conditions added and registration cards now valid for 2 years. A recent law also raised possession and purchase limits.
California California Medical Card Online
Legalized marijuana: Medical and recreational
Year legalized: 1996 (medical); 2016 (recreational)
Medicinal Marijuana Dispensary Licenses: 774
California was the first state to legalize medical marijuana when state voters approved Proposition 215 by a 56% to 44% margin. At first, the law simply allowed for medical marijuana use when recommended by a doctor.
State laws since then have greatly expanded the state’s medical marijuana program. In 2003, the state’s card program was launched.
There are no limits to marijuana possession for medical patients and patients or caregivers can grow up to 6 cannabis plants, but they can grow more if their condition requires it and their doctor recommends it.
Missouri Missouri Medical Card Online
Legalized marijuana: Medical
Year legalized: 2018
Medical Marijuana Dispensary Licenses: 136
Medical marijuana was passed by voters as a constitutional amendment in 2018, and the program got going in late 2019 and early 2020, with licenses given to cultivators and producers.
The state’s medical marijuana program is overseen by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.
Patients and caregivers are charged $25 to apply for a medical marijuana card and it costs $100 for a patient to receive a cultivation license.
Maryland Maryland medical card
Legalized marijuana: Medical
Year legalized: 2014
Medical Marijuana Dispensary Licenses: 96
Though a medical marijuana program was established in Maryland in 2013, it didn’t start operating until 2017, with sales beginning that year.
The state’s protection for medical cannabis patients began back in 2003, when patients were not punished for having less than 1 oz. of cannabis.
Cannabis use for specific conditions was recognized by law in 2011, but users still had to pay a $100 fine. In 2014, the Maryland legislature legalized a wider medical cannabis program for patients, caregivers, and physicians.
Now a resident of the state must register with the Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission if a doctor has recommended medical cannabis to help treat their condition. By 2019, there were over 70,000 registered patients in the program.
Texas Texas Medical Card Online
Legalized marijuana: Medical
Year legalized: 2015
Medical Cannabis dispensary Licenses: 3
Texas has long had a reputation for having one of the harshest marijuana laws in the United States. Through the early 21970s, marijuana was classified as a narcotic with life prison sentences imposed for even possession of very small cannabis amounts.
Limited use for medical reasons was legalized in 2015; Texans could use low-THC oil to treat epilepsy. By 2019, legislators reduced penalties for cannabis possession and also legalized hemp and the possession and sale of CBD products derived from hemp.
The number of qualifying conditions eligible for treatment with Texas’ low-THC cannabis program increased via a 2018 House bill.
In June 2021, a bill signed into law raised the THC limit from .5% to 1%. Coverage expansion was also part of the law. Since September 2021, patients with cancer and PTSD now qualify for medical marijuana use.
Oklahoma Oklahoma Medical Card
Legalized marijuana: Medical
Year legalized: 2018
Medical Cannabis Dispensary Licenses: 2,308
Medical marijuana is legal in Oklahoma for those who qualify for a medical marijuana patient license in the state.
Patients licensed through the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority can possess up to 8 oz. of marijuana at home, up to 3 oz. of marijuana with them at any time, and up to 1 oz. of concentrated marijuana.
Qualifying and licensed patients can also possess up to 72 oz. of edible marijuana, up to 6 plants, and up to 6 seedlings.
Oklahoma’s medical marijuana program is one of the least restrictive in the United States. To qualify, patients must be at least 18 and have a signature from a board-certified doctor.
The law does not set medical conditions that qualify and requires businesses to get a license to operate dispensaries or grow and process marijuana professionally.
Michigan Michigan Medical Marijuana Card
Legalized marijuana: Medical and recreational
Year legalized: 2008 (medical); 2018 (recreational)
Medical Cannabis Dispensary Licenses: 484
Michigan law allows medical marijuana patients to posse up to 2.5 oz. of cannabis, but they can have 12 plants that must be kept in an enclosed, locked facility. However, medical patients can also possess up to 16 oz., but only if it’s infused in a solid product, as well as 36 fluid oz.
Medical marijuana patients in Michigan are protected by law if they have a registry ID card and a driver’s license or another form of government-issued photo ID. Medical marijuana registration cards are available in Michigan to residents 18 and older with a qualifying condition or for their caregivers.
Connecticut Connecticut Medical Cannabis Card Online
Legalized marijuana: Medical and recreational
Year legalized: 2012 (medical); 2021 (recreational)
Medical Cannabis Dispensary Licenses: 18
Connecticut’s medical marijuana is relatively liberal. A qualifying patient and a primary caregiver combined can possess an amount of marijuana that does not exceed the amount reasonably needed for one month of palliative use.
However, home cultivation is not allowed.
Several conditions may qualify for medical marijuana use in underage patients, including cerebral palsy, severe epilepsy, and terminal illness. The state’s program is run by the Department of Consumer Protection.
References
https://www.getkisi.com/blog/cannabis-dispensaries-growth-study
https://www.statista.com/statistics/754751/medical-marijuana-dispensaries-number-by-state/
https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/consumer-health/in-depth/medical-marijuana/art-20137855
https://www.leafly.com/learn/legalization/medical-states
https://www.karger.com/Article/FullText/512342
https://www.investopedia.com/articles/investing/111015/future-marijuana-industry-america.asp
https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/legal-marijuana-market