Planning a vacation before the summer ends? It’s one great way to treat yourself to a fun and exciting trip after months of home quarantine. However, if you’re taking medical marijuana daily, questions such as “Can I purchase medical marijuana in another state?” or “Can I take medical marijuana across state lines?” will surely keep bothering you. As laws concerning medical marijuana get complicated, many patients get confused with the do’s and don’ts every now and then. Thankfully, you can find answers to these questions.
In accordance with the law, purchasing medical marijuana in other states is allowed. But you need to follow requirements in order to do so. Bringing of medical marijuana across state lines, unfortunately, it is prohibited by the law. In some cases, the authorities might just confiscate your medication and let you continue to your destination. But in other cases, you might face serious penalties. So it is best if you just leave your medicine at home.
Is It Legal to Buy Medical Marijuana Products From Another State?
At the moment, there are thirty-three states that have medical cannabis programs in effect, and more states are considering implementing their own. It’s just natural to wonder whether you’re allowed to take medical marijuana from another state. This is where the concept of medical marijuana reciprocity is an important thing to know about before you plan your out-of-state getaway. According to experts, this reciprocity is one state’s way of recognizing a patient’s medical cannabis card from another state. For instance, if you have a California medical marijuana card and want to travel for a week-long vacation, make sure to choose a place where out-of-state medical marijuana cards are allowed.
As you may know, many states authorize out-of-state marijuana certifications. So if you’re going to visit one of these reciprocal states, you are free from any criminal liability if you show your card. In some cases, medical marijuana reciprocity states will also allow you to use your card to purchase your medication from trusted dispensaries. However, some states will only protect you from criminal charges while not allowing you to buy anything from their dispensaries. This is why it’s a good idea to identify beforehand the nearest dispensary in the place you’re visiting that accepts out-of-state medical marijuana cards.
Additionally, you need to remember that purchasing out-of-state marijuana isn’t as simple as you think. Aside from the concrete requirements, you’ll also need to register as a patient in the visiting state. In some cases, you need to complete an application and pay a corresponding fee within 60 days before visiting. Only then will you receive an electronic certification that allows you to purchase cannabis when you arrive. So before anything else, make sure to prepare everything you need.
What are the Basic Requirements for Purchasing Medical Marijuana?
Before you can purchase certain medical marijuana products, you’ll need first to present some proof that your medical condition warrants marijuana treatment. Some states require proof of residency, while others do not. Usually, it is quite expensive to get a recommendation, and it involves a lot of paperwork. But here are the basic requirements that you should bring in case you need to visit a medical dispensary in other states:
Proof of Legal AgE
In most states, the age requirement to acquire medical marijuana is 18 years old and above. But in Alaska, Colorado, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Nevada, Oregon, Vermont, Washington, and the District of Columbia, the age requirement is 21 years old and up. You’ll also notice that for most medical dispensaries online, you need to verify first that you’re already 21 years old before you can continue browsing their website. So if you’re going to visit other states, make sure that you bring your valid ID to avoid any problems in case you need to purchase medical marijuana.
Government-Issued Documents
Purchasing medical marijuana is not just like purchasing alcohol from liquor stores. Today, medical marijuana patients who wish to visit a dispensary out of the state need a state-issued identification card, certificate, or other state-issued documentation of the visiting patient’s status. This will help the medical dispensary personnel to verify if the person is really an authorized medical marijuana patient in his/her state.
Cash for Payment
Most medical dispensaries only accept cash payments instead of cards. According to experts, this is because marijuana consumption is still considered illegal on the federal level. Thus, most banks do not allow any marijuana-related transactions for now. For this reason, you need to prepare enough cash before you visit a dispensary to avoid any inconvenience. If you don’t have cash with you, you can drop by the nearest ATM first to make a withdraw.
Wherever you're from, following the requirements and guidelines is always important. Here at Flora Verde, you know that you’re always in good hands. We aim to provide exceptional services and quality medical marijuana products to authorized patients. Our store is located at 954 Santa Fe Avenue, Vista, CA, and you can always visit our website at https://thefloraverde.com/ for further deals and details.