FAQ - Connecticut Medical Marijuana Card

CAN I GET AN CONNECTICUT MEDICAL MARIJUANA CERTIFICATE ONLINE?

Yes, you can get a medical marijuana registration card online if you are diagnosed and being treated for a debilitating medical condition that qualifies you for medical marijuana in Connecticut. Consultations with the certifying health care providers are conducted via telehealth appointments and the application with the state is also done online.

As part of the application process, you will need to provide the following:

• Valid email address and Telephone number, which will be used by the state and the certifying professional to reach you
• Proof of Identity (examples)
• Proof of Connecticut residency (examples)
• Physician certification is submitted to the state for you by the approving medical professional after the certification appointment

A description of the Connecticut medical marijuana program registration process can be found here (PDF).

WHAT ARE THE QUALIFYING CONDITIONS IN CONNECTICUT?

A Connecticut resident may register for a Medical Marijuana Certificate if he or she is being treated for a debilitating medical condition:

ADULT Debilitating Medical Conditions include

• Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
• Cachexia
• Cancer
• Cerebral Palsy
• Chronic Neuropathic Pain Associated with Degenerative Spinal Disorders
• Chronic Pain of at least 6 months duration associated with a specified underlying chronic condition refractory to other treatment intervention
• Chronic Pancreatitis
• Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, Type 1 and Type II
• Crohn's Disease
• Cystic Fibrosis
• Damage to the Nervous Tissue of the Spinal Cord with Objective Neurological Indication of Intractable Spasticity
• Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome Associated with Chronic Pain
• Epilepsy
• Glaucoma
• Hydrocephalus with Intractable Headache
• Intractable Headache Syndromes
• Intractable Neuropathic Pain that Is Unresponsive to Standard Medical Treatments
• Interstitial Cystitis
• Irreversible Spinal Cord Injury with Objective Neurological Indication of Intractable Spasticity
• MALS Syndrome (Median Arcuate Ligament Syndrome)
• Movement disorders associated with Huntington Disease
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Muscular Dystrophy
• Neuropathic Facial Pain
• Osteogenesis Imperfecta
• Parkinson's Disease
• Positive Status for Human Immunodeficiency Virus or Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome
• Post Herpetic Neuralgia
• Post Laminectomy Syndrome with Chronic Radiculopathy
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
• Severe Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis
• Severe Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Sickle Cell Disease
• Spasticity or Neuropathic Pain Associated with Fibromyalgia
• Terminal Illness Requiring End-Of-Life Care
• Tourette Syndrome
• Ulcerative Colitis
• Uncontrolled Intractable Seizure Disorder
• Vulvodynia and Vulvar Burning
• Wasting Syndrome

Debilitating Medical Conditions for Patients UNDER 18

• Cerebral Palsy
• Chronic Pancreatitis for patients whose pain is recalcitrant to standard medical management
• Cystic Fibrosis
• Irreversible Spinal Cord Injury with Objective Neurological Indication of Intractable Spasticity
• Severe Epilepsy
• Terminal Illness Requiring End-Of-Life Care
• Uncontrolled Intractable Seizure Disorder
• Muscular Dystrophy
• Osteogenesis Imperfecta
• Intractable Neuropathic Pain that Is Unresponsive to Standard Medical Treatments
• Tourette Syndrome for patients who have failed standard medical treatment

CAN I STILL APPLY FOR A MEDICAL MARIJUANA CERTIFICATE IN CONNECTICUT IF I DON’T HAVE A QUALIFYING CONDITION?

No, if you do not have a qualifying medical condition, you will be denied your application for a medical marijuana card.

HOW SOON WILL I RECEIVE AN ANSWER AFTER PAYING FOR THE CONSULTATION APPOINTMENT?

Your medical provider will give you their advice and recommendations during your consultation. The provider submits your certification on the state’s portal.

Physician Process for Patient Certification can be found here: https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/DCP/drug_control/MMP/pdf/PhysicianQRpdf.pdf

WHAT HAPPENS DURING THE APPOINTMENT WITH A MEDICAL PRACTITIONER?

During your appointment with a medical cannabis practitioner, it's important to have all necessary documents ready, including proof of identity, proof of residency, and any available documentation about your existing medical conditions. Make sure to submit all the required info prior to the appointment.

Your application for a medical marijuana registration certificate can only be started by your doctor, physician assistant, or advanced practice registered nurse, who must confirm to the Department that you suffer from a qualifying medical condition. Upon deciding to certify you, they will request specific information, including a valid email address and a primary telephone number. The email address should be one you are willing to use for your medical marijuana registration communications, as it will be the main way the Department contacts you. Similarly, the telephone number should be a personal number for the Department to reach you regarding your registration.

WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THE APPOINTMENT WITH A MEDICAL PRACTITIONER?

When your medical practitioner identifies a qualifying condition and suggests medical marijuana, they submit this certification to the state. This allows the patient to proceed with the application for the CT Medical Marijuana Certificate.

Patient fills out the application and submits the proof of identity and proof of Connecticut residency through the online portal. Once approved, medical marijuana patients can purchase up to 5 ounces of cannabis per month.

HOW CAN I PAY FOR AN APPOINTMENT FOR A MEDICAL MARIJUANA CERTIFICATE?

You can pay for your appointment using major Credit Cards. All fees associated with Connecticut State Cannabis will be reflected as charges from BOOKINGPORTAL.ORG on your billing statement.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO GET A MEDICAL MARIJUANA CERTIFICATE DECISION IN CONNECTICUT?

You cannot enroll in the system until your doctor provides the state of Connecticut with a certification stating you have a qualifying condition for medical marijuana use, and they believe the benefits of using marijuana for symptom relief would likely surpass any health risks. Once approved by the state-licensed certifying health care provider, the certification is digitally submitted to the state by your medical practitioner.

After your doctor has approved your use of marijuana, the state will request further details and documents from you to verify your identity and residence, among other qualifications. Upon receiving the necessary information, the state will assess your eligibility for a registration certificate.

After the submission of the application, the department can take up to 30 business days to process the application.

WHAT IS THE TOTAL COST TO GET A MEDICAL MARIJUANA CERTIFICATE IN CONNECTICUT?

The cost of the appointment with the medical professional is your total cost to be able to obtain medical cannabis certification in Connecticut. As of 1 July, 2023 registration fees for medical marijuana patients and caregivers in CT were eliminated.

WHAT IS THE REFUND POLICY? HOW DOES MONEY BACK WORK?

If you do not receive approval for medical cannabis following your meeting with a medical provider, you can receive a full refund for your certification appointment. We cannot provide a refund for your certification appointment if your application for medical cannabis is denied by the state or if you are ineligible to apply as a medical patient.

Cannabis certification appointments are subject to the refund terms of a third-party booking and scheduling service.

DO YOU GUARANTEE A POSITIVE DECISION ON THE ISSUANCE OF A MEDICAL MARIJUANA CERTIFICATE?

The decision of a certifying health care provider is based on the medical condition of the patient. While we cannot guarantee that you will get approved, we guarantee the refund of the money if you meet the qualifications but the appointment does not result in an approval.

CAN I RENEW MY CONNECTICUT MEDICAL CERTIFICATE WITH YOU IF I WAS SEEN BY A DIFFERENT DOCTOR LAST YEAR?

Yes, renewing your medical card can be done by any qualified health care provider licensed by the state of Connecticut to certify cannabis patients.

WHY GET A MEDICAL MARIJUANA CERTIFICATE IN CONNECTICUT?

In Connecticut, having a medical marijuana card enables you to legally buy and consume medical-grade cannabis products. There are various reasons to get medical-grade cannabis versus the recreationally-accessible “adult-use” cannabis, with some of which are:

Tax benefits: Medical cannabis users pay no sales tax on marijuana in CT, while adult-use purchase is subject to an additional 6.35% sales tax, 3% tax to municipalities, and THC tax based on milligrams of THC. With an average cannabis user spending $300 per month on cannabis, the medical card can help save well over $300 in taxes over the course of the year.

Purchase Limits: Medical cannabis card holders in CT can purchase up to 5 oz. of marijuana per month, while a recreational user is capped to 1/2 oz. at a time.

Age Limits: Adult-Use program is open only for adults 21 years old or older. Medical cannabis program allows minors under 18 and adults 18+ to be certified by a practitioner.

HOW LONG IS A MEDICAL CANNABIS CERTIFICATE IN CONNECTICUT GOOD FOR?

A patient’s medical cannabis registration expires one (1) year from the date of the physician, physician assistant or advanced practice registered nurse written certification. The date of your card's expiration is also listed on the front of the card. The earliest a patient can be recertified is 30 days before the expiration date of the current registration.

Important: The State of Connecticut does not send out reminders to get recertified, it is up to the patient whether to recertify or not.

To renew the Connecticut Medical Marijuana Program Registration, a patient must:

• Visit a healthcare practitioner to have their condition recertified and resubmitted to the state,
• Update any other information in the online portal to the extent it has changed from the previous year.

HOW DO I CANCEL MY CONNECTICUT MEDICAL MARIJUANA PROGRAM CERTIFICATE?

Connecticut’s medical marijuana program registration expires after 1 year.

If you wish to leave the program prior to the expiration, you can get decertified by your medical practitioner.

CAN I USE MY CONNECTICUT MEDICAL MARIJUANA CERTIFICATE IN OTHER STATES?

Fifteen states and territories offer some forms of medical marijuana card reciprocity or allow patients from Connecticut to obtain a temporary out-of-state card while visiting:

• Arkansas
• Hawaii
• Louisiana
• Maine
• Maryland
• Michigan
• Mississippi
• Missouri
• Nevada
• New Hampshire
• New Jersey
• New Mexico
• Puerto Rico
• Rhode Island
• Washington D.C.

The following states offer legalized adult (recreational) use of cannabis:

• Alaska

• Arizona

• California

• Colorado

• Connecticut

• Delaware

• Illinois

• Maine

• Maryland

• Massachusetts

• Michigan

• Minnesota

• Missouri

• Montana

• Nevada

• New Jersey

• New Mexico

• New York

• Oregon

• Rhode Island

• Vermont

• Virginia

• Washington

• Washington D.C.

Note: According to the Federal law, possession of cannabis is illegal, and so is traveling with it across the state lines.

WILL HEALTH INSURANCE COVER THE COST OF MY CONNECTICUT MEDICAL MARIJUANA CERTIFICATE?

No. Since cannabis is considered a Schedule I substance, it is illegal at the federal level. This fact bars cannabis from coverage by health insurance.

Note: Once medical cannabis is rescheduled by the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) as a Schedule III or higher, then it may be officially included in the health insurer’s drug formulary list and/or paid for using Health Savings Accounts (HSA). Unit then health insurance doesn't cover it.

CAN I GET A MEDICAL CANNABIS CERTIFICATE IN CONNECTICUT WITHOUT A STATE ID?

In order to qualify for a CT medical cannabis patient license, you must show a state-issued ID as proof of your residency. Typical accepted documents include: Connecticut drivers license and Connecticut ID card.