What should you know about medical marijuanas MA as a cannabusiness operator?
Massachusetts has laws and regulations surrounding its medical marijuana space. Failure to adhere to these rules and procedures can result in criminal and civil penalties.
As more and more states legalize medical marijuana, business owners would do well to familiarize themselves with the laws surrounding its sale and use.
Although the specifics vary from state to state, there are a few general things that all business owners should know. In this article, we’ll discuss how medical marijuanas MA works and what business operators should know.
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Qualifying Conditions for Medical Card in MA
State regulations determine which medical conditions qualify for medical marijuana in Massachusetts. Here’s a complete list of the conditions that qualify patients for medical marijuana cards in MA:
Anxiety, Depression, & Mental Health Disorders
While traditional medications are often prescribed to treat anxiety, depression, and other mental health disorders, some patients find that medical marijuana is a more effective treatment.
Professional help from psychologists, psychiatrists, or counselors should always be the go-to, but medical marijuanas MA may help patients who have any of the following conditions:
- Agoraphobia
- Insomnia
- Intermittent Explosive Disorder (IED)
- Major Depression
- Mania
- Nightmares
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
- Panic Disorder
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS)
Chronic Pain
One of the most common qualifying conditions for medical marijuana is chronic pain. Patients with chronic pain often find relief with cannabis, which can provide an alternative to addictive and harmful opioid medications.
The medical marijuanas MA offers could be an effective treatment for a variety of chronic pain conditions, including:
- Ankylosis
- Arachnoiditis
- Arthritis
- Arthritis (Rheumatoid)
- Arthropathy/Gout
- Back Pain
- Back Sprain
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Chronic Migraine
- CRPS (Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Type II)
- Damage to Spinal Cord Nervous Tissue
- Degenerative Arthritis
- Degenerative Arthropathy
- Endometriosis
- Fibromyalgia
- Fibrous Dysplasia
- Friedreich’s Ataxia
- Headaches, Cluster
- Headaches, Tension
- Hypertension
- Hyperventilation
- Hypoglycemia
- Hydrocephalus
- Impotence
- Interstitial Cystitis
- Intractable Pain
- Lupus
- Lyme Disease
- Lymphoma
- Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
- Osteoarthritis
- Peritoneal Pain
- Peripheral Neuropathy
- Post-traumatic arthritis
- Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)
- Prostatitis
- Radiation Therapy
- Raynaud’s Disease
- Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy
- Reiter’s Syndrome
- Residual Limb Pain Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Rosacea
- RSD (Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Type 1)
- Severe Pain
- Shingles (Herpes Zoster)
- Sinusitis
- Whiplash
- Writers’ Cramp
Digestive Issues
Massachusetts state law outlines Crohn’s Disease as one of its qualifying conditions. But a certified physician may cite patients for a Massachusetts medical marijuana card to treat other digestive issues, such as:
- Acute Gastritis
- Colitis
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Diverticulitis
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
- Intractable Vomiting
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Disorders, Diseases, & Conditions
Massachusetts remains sympathetic to those who struggle with various disorders and diseases. Many of these problems are characterized by discomfort, frustration, and more.
Here’s a list of other issues physicians might prescribe medical marijuana to treat:
- Acquired Hypothyroidism
- Alcohol Abuse
- Alcoholism
- Alopecia Areata
- Alzheimer’s Disease
- Amphetamine Dependency
- Amyloidosis
- Angina Pectoris
- Anorexia
- Anorexia Nervosa
- Anxiety Disorders
- Any Chronic Medical Symptom that Limits Major Life Activities
- Arnold-Chiari Malformation
- Arteriosclerotic Heart Disease
- Asthma
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADD/ADHD)
- Autism/Aspergers
- Autoimmune Disease
- Bell’s Palsy
- Bipolar Disorder
- Bruxism
- Bulimia
- Cachexia
- Causalgia
- Cerebral Palsy
- Cervical Disk Disease
- Cervicobrachial Syndrome
- Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
- Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy
- Chronic Pancreatitis
- Chronic renal failure
- Cocaine Dependence
- Conjunctivitis
- Cystic Fibrosis
- Darier’s Disease
- Delirium Tremens
- Dermatomyositis
- Diabetes, Adult Onset
- Diabetes, Insulin Dependent
- Diabetic Neuropathy
- Diabetic Peripheral Vascular Disease
- Dysthymic Disorder
- Dystonia
- Eczema
- Elevated Intraocular Pressure
- Emphysema
- Epidermolysis Bullosa
- Epididymitis
- Epilepsy
- Felty’s Syndrome
- Gastritis
- Genital Herpes
- Glaucoma
- Glioblastoma Multiforme
- Graves Disease
- Hemophilia A
- Henoch-Schonlein Purpura
- Hepatitis C
- Hereditary Spinal Ataxia
- Hospice Patients
- Hydromyelia
- Huntington’s Disease
- Lipomatosis
- Melorheostosis
- Meniere’s Disease
- Mitochondrial disease
- Motion Sickness
- Mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS)
- Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
- Muscle Spasms
- Muscular Dystrophy
- Myasthenia Gravis
- Myeloid Leukemia
- Nail-Patella Syndrome
- Neurofibromatosis
- Obesity
- Opiate Dependence
- Porphyria
- Post Concussion Syndrome
- Post-Polio Syndrome (PPS)
- Psoriasis
- Pulmonary Fibrosis
- Quadriplegia
- Scoliosis
- Sedative Dependence
- Seizures
- Senile Dementia
- Severe Nausea
- Severe Vomiting
- Sickle cell disease
- Sjogren’s Syndrome
- Skeletal Muscular Spasticity
- Sleep Apnea
- Sleep Disorders
- Spasticity
- Spinal Cord Injury
- Spinal Stenosis
- Spinocerebellar Ataxia
- Sturge-Weber Syndrome (SWS)
- Stuttering
- Syringomyelia
- Tardive Dyskinesia (TD)
- Tarlov Cysts
- Temporomandibular Joint Fisorder (TMJ)
- Tenosynovitis
- Terminal Illness
- Thyroiditis
- Tic Douloureux
- Tietze’s Syndrome
- Tinnitus
- Tobacco Dependence
- Tourette’s Syndrome
- Traumatic Brain Injury
- Trichotillomania
- Viral Hepatitis
- Wasting Syndrome
- Wittmaack-Ekbom’s Syndrome
Licensing a Business for Medical Marijuanas MA
First, you’ll need to check the laws and regulations surrounding the medical-use of marijuana. This will involve checking all regulatory requirements for licensure in the town or city you plan to operate your medical marijuanas business.
Keep in mind, some municipalities are more demanding than others. For example, the City of Boston has additional steps you’ll need to complete before you submit your application to the Commission. With this being the case, it’s always best to discuss your plans with the municipality and learn more about the requirements for those operating medical marijuana establishments in the region.
You’ll also need to come up with a plan. Start researching medical marijuanas MA allows and the activities surrounding it. Then, write out your business’s operational plans. These plans are essential for submitting your application to the Commission.
Keep in mind, your plan must comply with the medical-use regulations in place to get approval.
In your plans, you might want to include a business plan, security plan, diversity plan, plan for positive impact, and plan to adhere to all local codes and ordinances. However, you should avoid using a templated plan and instead, create one that’s made for your application, including regulation-required items.
You should also hold a community outreach meeting and get a host community agreement signed. This is how you’ll work with your municipality on the Host Community Agreement, which is essential as a component of the application process.
You’ll then submit your application with all background checks and applicable license fees. After you submit your application, you’ll need to wait for the approval. Then, you’ll have an additional inspection you’ll need to open your doors.
Medical Marijuanas MA FAQ
While you might not be a patient, it’s good to understand the questions your customers are asking. Here’s a list of the most frequently asked questions related to medical marijuanas MA and their answers:
How easy is it to get a medical card in Massachusetts?
In order to get a medical marijuana card in Massachusetts, you must be a resident of the state and have been diagnosed with one of the qualifying conditions. You must also register with the Department of Public Health (DPH).
The process of getting a medical marijuana card can be lengthy, as DPH will need to verify your information and diagnosis.
What are the qualifying conditions in Massachusetts?
There are a number of qualifying medical conditions in Massachusetts, including cancer, glaucoma, HIV/AIDS, hepatitis C, Crohn’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and Tourette’s syndrome.
Other conditions may also qualify a patient for medical marijuana use.
What qualifies for medical marijuanas in MA?
Medical marijuana patients in Massachusetts can qualify for medical pot use with a variety of medical conditions.
The most common are cancer, glaucoma, HIV/AIDS, hepatitis C, Crohn’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and Tourette’s syndrome.
Other qualifying disorders may also be present.
How much is a medical marijuanas card in Massachusetts?
The application fee is $50. However, you can submit proof of low-income status to ask for a waiver. Make sure to check over the application to ensure all of the information provided is accurate. Then, simply submit the application and wait for it to be approved.
Can you get a medical card for anxiety in Massachusetts?
Which diagnoses qualify patients for medical cannabis? Medical marijuana is legal to use with qualifying conditions in Massachusetts. In order to be approved, the applicant must live in MA and have been diagnosed with one of the specific conditions listed on the application form. However, a physician can approve cannabis for any ailment they think it might help to treat. This includes anxiety, insomnia, chronic pain, PTSD, and more.
Closing on Medical Marijuanas MA
Medical marijuana is legal in Massachusetts and can be used for a variety of qualifying medical conditions.
If you’re thinking about starting your own business handling the medical marijuanas MA allows, make sure to check what’s needed in your municipality. You’ll also want to create a business and security plan that meets the regulations set by the state.
The process of getting started with medical marijuana can be lengthy, so be prepared to submit your application and wait for the approval.
Be sure to also familiarize yourself with the frequently asked questions surrounding medical cannabis so you can provide accurate information to your customers. This will help you educate and retain medical marijuanas MA patients.
