How difficult is it to get a medical marijuana card?

[The Straight Story]

How difficult is it to get a medical marijuana card?

PORTLAND, Ore. - Medical marijuana is exploding in Oregon.

There are 33,000 people who hold medical marijuana cards in the state, and there are so many new people applying for them that it’s creating a backlog.

I wanted to know if all these people really need treatment with marijuana and how easy it is to get a medical marijuana card. So I went undercover to find out.

My quest to get a card began with a visit to a local medical marijuana clinic. As I approached the clinic, I was greeted by a man on a smoke break. He proceeded to review my medical records right on the sidewalk with his cigarette in his mouth.

....

When I applied for the card, I did not make up any medical issues. My neck and back pain relate to three car accidents of which I was not at fault and scoliosis - a curvature of my spine.

They’re conditions charted in my medical records by my doctor and for which I’ve fairly successfully treated over the years with massage therapy but not with marijuana.

But my conditions are enough for the doctor to sign off on my card saying, on the document I would have to turn into the state to receive my card, that not only do I qualify (which is crossed off) but I would benefit from medical marijuana.

http://www.katu.com/news/local/94555524.html

[Greyhound]

1. In Oregon?

:rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl:

Do you see this as a problem?

[The Straight Story]

2. Apparently the reporter didn't think she should qualify, seems a bit odd

If you are alive you should qualify IMHO :)

[Greyhound]

9. That's what I got as well.

She has chronic, persistent pain, and since she isn't writhing on the floor in pain, she should just live with it?
:crazy:

[Oregone]

5. A little bit

If you read the article, it mentions a black market grower essentially preying upon the clinics for a customer base. Illegal dealers can now get easy access to customers that have no legal worries, which only amplifies the criminal elements involved in drug trafficking, rather than mitigates them (these guys are still going to be guarding their stashes with guns and maybe also pushing harder drugs on clients). If you are going to use medicinal laws as some technicality to de facto decriminalization for people who do no necessarily need it, it could potentially create a backlash that strips it from the people who need it the most.

Without a crystal ball, we really don't know if this is going to remain the status quo, be a path to wider acceptance and legalization, or just be the high-water mark we nostalgically remember

[Greyhound]

8. The solution for that is for the clinics to drop prices. All black/grey markets exist

because there is unmet demand, and filling that demand is the only way to stop them.

[Oregone]

13. True

If a legal supply can be provided that significantly undercuts the black market, it will eventually destroy the black market

[Scuba]

16. But if we legalize it....

...then our pot-smoking citizens won't be criminals and they won't be scared. We like 'em scared.

[Webster Green]

3. Very easy.

At least in California and Oregon.

It's good for just about any condition you can think of. The miracle herb.

[Oregone]

6. Its definitely pretty miraculous

People who think its just about killing pain and/or making you happy have no clue. Its given me much of my active life back.

[Webster Green]

17. It's been a long time comin'.

I did chemo in 1978. My doctors knew I would be toking up on the fire escape prior to my injections. They hinted to other patients that they might want to join me.

Without pot: Puke bucket for the ride home.
With pot: Stop for cheezburgers on the way home.

[BakedAtAMileHigh]

4. Read the Reporter's Medical History

OF COURSE it was easy for her to get a card: she herself says she has been in three severe car accidents and has major scoliosis.

Congratulations, brave reporter -- you have just proven that the law works exactly as it should.

What a fucking joke.

[eShirl]

20. I know

My former boyfriend had severe scoliosis (sunken chest, lower ribs sticking out on one side in front, uneven hips). At the time, I was going to massage therapy school, so I practiced on him a lot. We both noticed that massage and cannabis together were much more effective for his pain relief than either one alone.

[Better Believe It]

7. What kinds of medical records are needed and do you have to be a resident of the state where you

apply?

[leftofcool]

12. If you get a good answer on this, please post it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Ramulux]

22. Depends on the doctor

Some places require records, some dont. At least in California.

[Ron Green]

10. Getting the card is one thing; getting an employer to honor it is another.

I haven't seen many employers alter their drug testing policies to accommodate a worker or jobseeker with an OMMP card.

[Froward69]

11. HAHAHAHA "creating a backlog" LOL Here in Colorado

the backlog is about 6-8 months, to receive A legitimate card. So copies of your paperwork are all that is needed.

[Oregone]

14. 6-8 months is too damn long for people who need it

[Froward69]

15. ok " copies of the mailed in paperwork

you sent in. are all that is "Needed to purchase or grow your own six plants."... I missed the verb in my point.

Thus why the sudden push-back from the right in regulating dispensaries...

Regulation is fine for hemp, it is "necessary" where as regulation for Oil drilling is not... :shrug:

[marlakay]

18. Here in WA state in rural area it takes a long time

My husband who qualifies from past cancer treatments, back problems, etc has had local doctor try to get him on. She said he qualified but had to start him on another medicine first to prove that didn't work then he could try pot. So he had to buy bogus medicine he won't take. It was weird stuff, said he will wait and say it didn't work and hopefully get it but he has been trying for over 6 months now but i will admit not pushing them since we live in small town and want her to go with him.

[Duer 157099]

19. My Kaiser doc said Kaiser doesn't allow it

He agreed that I would qualify for it, but said that Kaiser's policy is to not sign off on it.

Sound like a lawsuit maybe? Why should I have to go and pay another doctor for such approval, when I already pay for Kaiser?

[Froward69]

21. Kaiser + Big pharma = no pot.

I say sue them. but then again Insist upon a Second opinion. You will not be able to be reimbursed (for the second doc or for the medicine.) as kaiser won't pay for any medicine, other than pharmaceutical friends.

[Greyhound]

23. You don't need their approval, merely verification of what ails you.

They are required to provide that.

[Warren DeMontague]

24. My guess is, she probably WOULD benefit from it.

The larger fact of the matter is, we as a society would benefit immensely if we would stop criminalizing this relatively benign drug and make it legal, regulated, taxed and available for consenting adults who choose to use it, no matter the reason.

Meanwhile, how much has all this cost us? This, from a recent article in the Oregonian on the drug war:

$121 billion to arrest more than 37 million nonviolent drug offenders, about 10 million of them for possession of marijuana.

Bottom line? Prohibition is a fucking joke and a disaster.