As marijuana use continues to become more mainstream and more states legalize recreational use, it can be confusing determining if you still need a medical card. The hassle of having to find a credible, reliable doctor to provide recommendation, and finding the time to actually make it to the doctor’s office during a busy work week can be a big deterrent for the casual smoker. The good people at NuggMD have created a solution that saves both time and money for qualifying patients in California, Nevada and New York.

NuggMD is a 100% online medical card evaluation service that connects an individual with a licensed, professional, HIPAA compliant and confidential doctor via video chat. It only takes a few minutes to get approved, and once you are, NuggMD’s dedicated and knowledgeable support team will check over your application to ensure it’s accurate and complete. They can also answer any questions you may have regarding marijuana in general.

California

California, the green coast, the American promised land of cannabis. California has legalized adult use, and it’s readily available in dispensaries and through delivery services all over the state. However, there are still some major incentives to securing a medical card through NuggMD. The most obvious being that it provides access to medical dispensaries.

Most cities have decided against allowing recreation-only stores, so it can be a difference of traveling a few blocks or many miles to get your fix. Additionally, the potency levels are higher for medical products; REC is limited to 1,000mg for tinctures and lotions, where MED permits up to 2,000mg. You’re likely to find better quality cannabis flower because you have a greater selection at your disposal as a medical consumer. While edibles are limited to 100mg per package for all users, orally dissolving products, like lozenges, allow up to 500mg per pack in 10mg doses for medical use only. The recreational age limit is 21, just like alcohol, but individuals as young as 18 are eligible to obtain a card.

The card also provides additional legal protections. REC users must abide by a possession limit of one ounce of flower or eight grams of concentrates, and can grow up to six plants. Cardholders can possess up to eight ounces, and be approved to grow more than six of their own plants, with proper medical justification.

Despite two initial fees, acquiring your card will also save you plenty of money in the long run. A $39 expense will provide you with your physical medical card, which provides the benefits listed above. Additionally, you can purchase a state MMIC from your county that waives the 15% sales tax applied to all products, which can save hundreds if not thousands of dollars down the road. This MMIC will cost you $100, but Medi-Cal patients receive a 50% discount.

Nevada

It’s been a bit of a rocky road for legalization in Nevada, but both the MED and REC programs are finally up and running. Obtaining a medical card here has a lot of the same benefits as doing so in California, just with slightly different possession limits and taxes. The lower age limit remains the same here.

A NuggMD evaluation and certification here costs $79. Medical patients are allowed up to 2.5 ounces every two weeks, while recreational users are limited to one ounce or 3.5 grams of concentrates. Recreational users are prohibited from growing their own plants if they live within 25 miles of a commercial growing facility. Patients can acquire an exemption from this ban, and are also exempted from paying the 10% retail excise tax.

New York

New York’s MMJ program is the youngest of these three states. It started just back in 2014. Despite the market opening, only 1,300 New Yorkers were able to get their medical card between then and March 2017. The state made it incredibly difficult for people to do so; finding a doctor was nearly impossible, there were only 10 qualifying medical conditions, and access was limited to just eight dispensaries in the entire state.

Thankfully, NuggMD is now available in New York, providing easy access to reputable doctors with just a few clicks. Also, there are now at least 20 dispensaries open to patients now, with plans to license at least 20 more. Chronic pain and PTSD, conditions that affect roughly 450,000 New Yorkers, have also been added to the list, opening up access to a new mass of patients.

The recreational market is currently nonexistent here. Although Governor Cuomo has proposed legalizing REC, it will be quite a while before we see any recreational dispensaries open their doors to the public. This makes getting your medical card through NuggMD a no-brainer, especially because they have the lowest price to do so.

Simply provide proof of NY residency and medical conditions, fill out a quick questionnaire, and then video chat with your doctor. First-time patients will be charged $149 for their evaluation and certification, or $99 for a renewal. You’ll then register with the NYS Department of Health online for $50, and receive your card in the mail a few days later.

Why Not?

There’s truly no downside to possessing a medical card. It saves you money, gives you added legal protections, and now you can get one by just sitting on your couch. Those in California and Nevada can access even higher quality bud and concentrates to use in their new Ooze Kettle than their REC friends. New York patients only have access to tinctures, capsules and oils, which are perfect for using with the new Slim Twist Pro. Just think of all the brand new pieces you’ll be able to afford with the money you’ll save on REC taxes!