First-Time Visit at a Medical Marijuana Treatment Center (MMTC)
It’s official. With the help of CannaMD’s Medical Marijuana Certification program, you have qualified for medical marijuana treatment, have your state-issued card, and are ready for that highly-anticipated moment when you can buy medical marijuana products at a licensed dispensary.
Whether you are a new cannabis patient or someone making the transition to legal purchases, visiting a dispensary for the first time can raise questions. To help make the most of your first visit, CannaMD has put together a summary of dispensary basics and frequently asked questions.
What ID Do I Need To Show At A Dispensary?
Identification requirements can vary by state and dispensary. Patients should bring their active state-issued medical marijuana ID card and a valid government-issued photo ID, such as a driver’s license, state-issued ID card, or U.S. passport.
In Florida, the medical marijuana treatment center must confirm that the patient has an active MMUR registration, an active identification card, and a valid physician order. Pennsylvania patients must present their Pennsylvania medical marijuana ID card when visiting a dispensary.
After a staff member verifies your identity and eligibility, you may be directed to a reception or check-in area before entering the sales floor. During busy periods, you may need to wait until a dispensary associate is available. These staff members are sometimes called “budtenders,” although titles vary by dispensary. You may also be asked to show your identification again when completing your purchase.
Some dispensaries require appointments for first-time visitors or have additional check-in procedures. Contact the dispensary before visiting to confirm what you should bring and whether an appointment is required.
Are Dispensaries Safe?
Medical marijuana dispensaries deal with two highly-valued products: cash and cannabis. To protect these assets – and to ensure the safety of customers – dispensaries employ a range of self-imposed and state-mandated safety protocols. These include:
- Well-lit exterior areas with video surveillance
- Secured reception areas with ID required for entry
- A secondary secured door separating the waiting area from the sales floor
- Mandatory continuous video coverage of the sales area
- Secured, closed-door zones for cannabis and cash storage and handling.
- Monitored alarms on all exterior doors, windows, and vaults.
It’s also worth noting that the areas surrounding dispensaries tend to be safe. An often-cited analysis of crime data in South-Central Los Angeles showed that while crime rates were elevated near retail outlets for tobacco and alcohol, marijuana dispensaries don’t increase crime rates, and in some cases lead to a decrease in certain types of crime. The most recent information on the subject comes from an Xavier University study of Florida crime rates that showed vehicle burglary and theft decreased in areas surrounding dispensaries. This phenomenon was attributed to an “eye on the street” effect created by the dispensary’s’ robust security measures.
How Much Cannabis Product Can I Buy At A Dispensary?
State medical marijuana programs limit how much medical marijuana a patient or caregiver may purchase. The amount available at any given time may depend on state limits, the patient’s certification or physician orders, and previous purchases recorded during the applicable rolling period.
Pennsylvania allows dispensaries to provide up to a 90-day supply, defined as 192 Medical Marijuana Units (MMUs). One MMU is equivalent to 3.5 grams of dry leaf, one gram of concentrate, or 100 mg of THC infused into a pill, capsule, oil, liquid, tincture, or topical product. The state’s electronic tracking system records purchases and calculates the patient’s remaining MMUs. A new 90-day supply generally cannot be dispensed until the patient has exhausted all but a seven-day supply from the previous certification.
Under section 381.986(4)(f), Florida Statutes, the OMMU established route-specific dosing and supply limits through Emergency Rule 64ER22-8.
In Florida, the standard limit for whole flower, ground flower, or pre-rolled marijuana cigarettes is 2.5 ounces within a rolling 35-day period. Patients generally may not possess more than four ounces of marijuana in a form for smoking at one time. Exceptions to the 35-day purchase limit and four-ounce possession limit may be approved by the Florida Department of Health.
Florida also applies rolling 70-day supply limits to other routes of administration. Standard limits include 4,200 mg of THC for edibles, 24,500 mg for inhalation products such as vaporizers, and 14,000 mg for oral products such as capsules and tinctures. A patient’s available amount may be lower based on previous purchases or the amount remaining on the current physician order. Qualified physicians may request exceptions to certain limits when medically appropriate.
How Do You Pay For Medical Marijuana?
While purchasing therapeutic bud or a pack of edibles may be legal at the state level, the US federal government still considers medical marijuana to be a controlled substance. This designation eliminates dispensary credit card purchases, as the cards’ supporting banking networks are federally regulated and could face significant legal and financial penalties for processing cannabis-related payments.
Cash is universally accepted at dispensaries. At accommodate customers who are concerned about carrying larger amounts of cash, most dispensaries provide secure ATMs on site, though it’s best to check before arriving.
Debit cards are another option as some dispensaries, but not as the usual swipe or tap-to-pay transaction for the exact purchase amount The sale will be processed as what is known as a point-of-banking or cashless ATM withdrawal. This pulls funds from checking or savings accounts in increments of $10 or $20, the same way as a standard ATM dispenses funds. The money is digitally credited directly to the dispensary, which will provide a cash refund for the difference between the withdrawal and the actual purchase price.
Digital apps are another increasingly popular option for purchasing medical marijuana. One of the best-known is CanPay, which is a fee-free payment platform that links directly from a smart phone to a bank account to provide secure digital payment.
How Do I Know if Dispensary Products are Pure and Accurately Labeled?
In contrast to the unknowns of illegal “street weed,” the nature and purity of cannabis products sold in medical marijuana dispensaries are well-documented from cultivation to consumption. Commercial growers must adhere to a range of state-level approvals and standards, and are listed on the DEA’s Marihuana Grower Registration database. Processors and manufacturers face similarly strict regulations. They must obtain specific commercial licenses, adhere to strict state and federal food-safety protocols and track all products from production to final sales.
The purity and content of medical cannabis products is determined by mandated third-party analysis. Independent laboratories test for contaminants and impurities such as pesticides, residual processing solvents, heavy metals, yeast, mold and E. coli bacteria. Product potency is measured to identify levels of THC, CBD and other cannabinoids, as well as the terpene profile.
Products meeting the required standards for sale are issued a Certificate of Analysis (COA). All medicinal cannabis products are required to show proof of COA compliance. Product labels will typically show key information of the analysis such as THC and CBD content. Dispensaries are required to provide full results of COA testing, and may make this information available on their website. Most products also display a QR code that consumers can scan to obtain a full report.
Are My Cannabis Purchases Private?
Patient’s medical marijuana purchases are recorded at the dispensary and may be uploaded to a shared database. This reporting is done to verify the identity of active patients, help dispensaries monitor inventory and ensure patient compliance with the rolling purchase limits mentioned above. Databases are created and maintained at the state level. They are not shared between states, not provided to any federal agency and will not show up on a standard background check.
The state of Florida manages the Medical Marijuana Use Registry which tracks the details of each individual’s purchases, their remaining dosage allotments and physician’s recommendations. This information is private and protected under state and federal medical privacy laws. Records can be accessed only by the registered patient, their attending doctor and the dispensary staff. Both treating physicians and dispensary staff are prohibited from sharing information with unauthorized individuals.
Florida law enforcement agencies can access records on a limited basis to verify an individual’s eligibility and enrollment in the state’s medical marijuana program, but they are not provided information on specific medical diagnosis.
Pennsylvania’s Department of Health patient registry keeps electronic records for patient eligibility and maintains a running tally of current purchases to ensure compliance with 90-day limits. Unlike the Florida database, this state-wide system focuses primarily on inventory control rather than patient profiles. It is used to track products from grower to processor and dispensary, while the details of a patient’s specific product purchases remain at the dispensary level, and are protected by robust privacy laws.
What If I Am Unable To Visit A Dispensary?
A majority of states with legalized medical marijuana also support medical cannabis caregiver programs. Qualifying individuals who are physically unable to visit a dispensary, or unable to self-manage their medication, can designate a caregiver who is legally authorized to buy and administer medicinal cannabis on the patient’s behalf.
In all states supporting these programs the caregiver must be at least 21 years of age, register with the appropriate state agencies and reside in the same state as the patient. Some state caregiver programs may also require background checks and the completion of required certification courses.
Under specific circumstances, it is possible for persons under the age of 18 to obtain medicinal cannabis products through caregiver programs. Caregivers of minor patients must be a parent or legal guardian over the age of 21. Both the caregiver and the patient must register with the state’s medical marijuana program.
Diagnoses for minor patients must come from a board-certified pediatrician specialist who can attest that cannabis-based medications may provide relief from debilitating, treatment-resistant conditions. Some states, including Florida and Pennsylvania, require the approval of a second treating physician. Qualifying conditions include debilitating or life-treating conditions that do not respond to conventional treatments, chemotherapy and end-of-life palliative care, and disorders such as severe epilepsy, autism spectrum disorders, sever motor spasticity and Tourette syndrome.
Do You Have Questions About Medical Marijuana?
Before purchasing marijuana from a Florida medical marijuana treatment center (MMTC) or “dispensary,” patients must first qualify for a medical marijuana certification; CannaMD provides qualified patients with the state-required recommendation to complete this process.
Find out if you qualify for medical marijuana treatment with our quick online application. Questions? Contact CannaMD’s experienced team at (855) 420-9170 today.
