Marijuana has been a prominent topic of discussion for years now. From being regarded as an illicit drug to now getting legalized in various states on the pretext of its medicinal properties, its journey has been revolutionary. Several studies have reflected this prowess of cannabis in the treatment of various conditions.
Some states have also legalized recreational marijuana. So, a person would not require to have a medical marijuana card to get cannabis legally. All one needs to carry is a state-approved identification card.
This may raise a few questions in your mind. What is the point of getting a medical marijuana card if anyone can legally buy marijuana? And for a medical marijuana patient, is it worth the hassle of getting a medical card? Yes, medical marijuana card still has many benefits. Even if you are living in a state that has legalized recreational use of marijuana, you should consider getting an MMJ card to manage your condition effectively. Let’s take a look at the advantages of a medical marijuana card:
1. Discount on taxes, and lower price of medical cannabis.
2. Access to higher potency limits.
3. Access to medical cannabis for cannabis patients with age under 21.
4. You can grow personal cannabis.
Discount on Taxes, And Lower Price Cannabis
Medical cannabis is a medicine for a patient with a health condition. On the other hand, recreational marijuana is used for leisure. That is why the latter is quite expensive and highly taxed. Paying this much for a herb is not justified, especially for people relying on marijuana for their health issues. That’s why many states offer discounts on the taxes at medical dispensaries. And only a patient with a legitimate medical marijuana card can get access to those medicines.
This is probably the most significant advantage and the selling point of medical cannabis. Medical marijuana dispensaries charge less for marijuana products. While you won’t get this discount on recreational stores, this makes your healthcare much more affordable. Like Colorado, where medical dispensaries in Colorado don’t charge medical patients with 10% retail marijuana tax and 15% excise tax.
Access to Higher Potency Strains
Medical cannabis is all about the dosage, and certain conditions require a high-strength marijuana strain to manage its symptoms. Recreational stores are tied up with a potency limit, so the strains that you can access without a medical marijuana card have very low potency.
Although, if you require high potent strains, you can get yourself an MMJ card. It will allow you to buy the cannabis strains that you are looking for. The threshold of Medical marijuana in terms of possession and potency is quite high.
Though, these potency limits vary from state-to-state. Every state has its own limitations. Colorado, Oregon, California, and Nevada; all these states allow higher potency for patients with medical marijuana cards but vary in limits. Whereas, Alaska does not have any medical dispensary. So, patients have to buy marijuana from recreational dispensaries only. That means they are not allowed to buy higher potency products.
Age Relaxation
A person under the age of 21 can’t get access to marijuana from a recreational store. This is understandable. Although, with a medical marijuana card, if you are below 21 and have a medical condition, you can access medical cannabis to manage your health. Children who have cancer, epilepsy, or any other issues can legally get access to medical cannabis with the help of this recommendation. All the states that have legalized medical cannabis allow minors to use marijuana products like oils, edibles, etc. for their condition. But, a caregiver should be assisting the minor.
You Can Grow Personal Cannabis
There are many states that allow you to grow your own medical cannabis. This is not the case for every state with legal medical marijuana though. And if you live in a state where recreational marijuana is authorized, you can grow more than any recreational consumer. Most of the states allow a medical patient to grow a bit more (if needed) than a recreational user. One of the prime examples is Oregon. In Oregon, a recreational consumer can grow up to four plants, whereas a medical patient can grow up to six plants.
Even though more and more states are legalizing recreational cannabis, medical cannabis hasn’t lost its significance. People who have medical conditions prefer to get a medical marijuana card online then use recreational marijuana. And rightly so! What do you think? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below.
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