Find a Doctor & Get a Medical Cannabis Card in Connecticut
Is cannabis legal in Connecticut?
Medical cannabis was legalized in Connecticut through legislation passed in 2012. As of July 1, 2021, cannabis became legal for recreational use.
However, there are many benefits to being a medical cannabis user in Connecticut.
Medical cannabis is administered by Connecticut’s Department of Consumer Protection. The registration process for medical marijuana patients is also administered by this state department.
The Connecticut medical marijuana patient card is usually referred to as a “registration certification”.
Who qualifies for a medical cannabis card in Connecticut?
A qualifying patient, may only register for a medical marijuana certificate if he or she is a Connecticut resident being treated for a debilitating medical condition by a Connecticut-licensed physician, physician assistant or advanced practice registered nurse.
For Adults, Debilitating Medical Conditions Include:
- Cancer
- Glaucoma
- Positive Status for Human Immunodeficiency Virus or Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome
- Parkinson’s Disease
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Damage to the Nervous Tissue of the Spinal Cord with Objective Neurological Indication of Intractable Spasticity
- Epilepsy
- Cachexia
- Wasting Syndrome
- Crohn’s Disease
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
- Sickle Cell Disease
- Post Laminectomy Syndrome with Chronic Radiculopathy
- Severe Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis
- Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
- Ulcerative Colitis
- Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, Type 1 and Type II
- Cerebral Palsy
- Cystic Fibrosis
- Irreversible Spinal Cord Injury with Objective Neurological Indication of Intractable Spasticity
- Terminal Illness Requiring End-Of-Life Care
- Uncontrolled Intractable Seizure Disorder
- Spasticity or Neuropathic Pain Associated with Fibromyalgia
- Severe Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Post Herpetic Neuralgia
- Hydrocephalus with Intractable Headache
- Intractable Headache Syndromes
- Neuropathic Facial Pain
- Muscular Dystrophy
- Osteogenesis Imperfecta
- Chronic Neuropathic Pain Associated with Degenerative Spinal Disorders
- Interstitial Cystitis
- MALS Syndrome (Median Arcuate Ligament Syndrome)
- Vulvodynia and Vulvar Burning
- Intractable Neuropathic Pain that Is Unresponsive to Standard Medical Treatments
- Tourette Syndrome
- Chronic Pain of at least 6 months duration associated with a specified underlying chronic condition refractory to other treatment intervention
- Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome Associated with Chronic Pain
- Chronic Pancreatitis
- Movement disorders associated with Huntington Disease
For Patients Under 18, Debilitating Medical Conditions Include:
- Cerebral Palsy
- 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
- Chronic Pancreatitis for patients whose pain is recalcitrant to standard medical management
Qualifications for a Registration Certificate:
- Qualifying patient must be a Connecticut resident.
- Qualifying patient cannot be an inmate confined in a correctional institution or facility under the supervision of the Connecticut Department of Corrections.
How do I get a medical cannabis card in Connecticut?
Those who live with qualifying medical conditions are able to apply for the Connecticut medical marijuana program.
A qualified medical cannabis patient can apply for a medical marijuana card online. You can apply to be a medical cannabis patient in two easy steps:
Step 1: Make an Appointment with a Physician, Physician Assistant or Advanced Practice Registered Nurse. Compassionate Clinics of America offers a licensed medical marijuana doctor working in Connecticut who can initiate your application by certifying for the Department that your medical conditions qualify you for a marijuana card in Connecticut.
At this appointment, qualifying patients will need to provide a valid and current phone number and email address.
Step 2: Submit to the Department your proof of identity ( see examples ), your proof of Connecticut residency ( see examples ), and a $100.00 registration fee (checks/money orders should be made payable to “Treasurer, State of CT”).
This fee is separate from the fees of getting medical cannabis certifications from a medical marijuana doctor.
What are the benefits of having a medical cannabis card?
There are several significant benefits that a medical marijuana patient in Connecticut has that those without a Connecticut medical marijuana certificate do not have.
The benefits of being a medical marijuana patient in Connecticut are:
- Access to products with higher levels of THC, as the state caps the levels of THC on recreational cannabis flower and products at 30%. That limit does not apply to medical strains. The similar applies to other cannabis products. In recreational dispensaries, you will not see edibles with more than 5mg of THC content. However, you may find cannabis products up to 100mg in a medical dispensary.
- Protection from shortages, as the state requires growers to submit a plan for how they will keep a certain number of cannabis plants for those who hold a Connecticut medical card. This is called a “Medical Cannabis Preservation Plan” that details how medical marijuana products will always remain available for those who hold a marijuana card in Connecticut.
The ability to possess medical marijuana products, is another benefit of having a marijuana card in CT. Pursuant to Section 28 (c) of RERACA, the Commissioner of Consumer Protection has increased the monthly allotment of medical marijuana for registered medical marijuana patients to 5.0 ounces per month.
Another benefit of a CT medical marijuana card includes legal protection due to having official medical records that show you have had a medical marijuana evaluation from a licensed medical marijuana doctor.
How much does it cost to get a marijuana card?
The state fee put forth by the Connecticut department administering the medical marijuana card in Connecticut program is $100.
The cost to get a medical marijuana doctor certification from Compassionate Clinics of America to buy medical marijuana in Connecticut is $179 for a new patient and $149 for recertification for a marijuana card in Connecticut.
We offer Sezzle payment options to break up the cost into separate, affordable payments.
Do I need a doctor’s referral to get a medical card?
Yes, a doctor’s referral, also known as a medical marijuana certification or recommendation is needed to certify patients live with a qualifying condition and are eligible to create a medical marijuana application within the Department of Consumer Protection for a medical marijuana card.
You cannot begin the application process without a doctor certifying you qualify for medical marijuana treatment. If your primary care physician does not believe in the benefits of medical cannabis, you may visit a different doctor at Compassionate Clinics of America.
What information and forms are required when a patient applies for a Connecticut medical marijuana card?
Once a doctor has initiated your application, you will need to supply the following to the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection: Department your proof of identity ( see examples ), your proof of Connecticut residency ( see examples ), and a $100.00 registration fee (checks/money orders should be made payable to “Treasurer, State of CT”). This fee is separate from the fees of getting a medical cannabis certification from a medical marijuana doctor.
Can I apply to be a primary caregiver within the Connecticut medical marijuana program?
Yes. To register with the Department, a patient identify them as their medical marijuana patient’s primary caregiver on their registration application.
The patient must provide identifying information about their caregiver, including a valid email address, a primary telephone number, and must submit to the Connecticut department proof of identity and a $25 caregiver application fee.
Checks/money orders should be made payable to “Treasurer, State of CT”.
How long is my ID card valid in Connecticut?
A registration certificate expires one (1) year from the physician’s certification date.
When can I renew my ID card?
Medical marijuana patients who start their medical marijuana card registration process with Compassionate Clinics of America, will receive emails well in advance letting you know that it’s time to renew your medical marijuana card in Connecticut, and a licensed marijuana doctor will be ready to meet with you for your recertification.
What is required for a medical marijuana card renewal?
You will need to meet with one of Compassionate Clinics of America’s medical marijuana doctors to verify you still live with a qualifying condition to get medical marijuana in Connecticut.
I’ve heard that I can renew my medical cannabis card in Connecticut for $20. Where can I renew my Connecticut medical cannabis card for $20?
We have heard too that some companies are offering a renewal of a medical cannabis certification for $20, and it’s important to note that no such provider in Connecticut exists.
When you get your medical cannabis certification renewal from Compassionate Clinics of America, we are with you every step of the way. If you are not approved for your renewal, you will get all fees back.
The cost for a renewal of your medical cannabis certification in Connecticut is $149.
Can medical marijuana patients use medical marijuana anywhere in Connecticut?
Connecticut medical marijuana law prohibits consuming marijuana in a bus, a school bus or any moving vehicle; in the workplace; on any school grounds or any public or private school, dormitory, college or university property; in any public place; or in the presence of anyone under 18. It also prohibits any use of palliative medical cannabis use that endangers the health or well-being of another person, other than the patient or caregiver.
Are registry identification cards from other state medical marijuana programs valid in Connecticut?
No, in order to obtain a Connecticut medical marijuana card, you must be a resident of the state.
How long does it take to process my application?
While it takes only a few minutes to certify patients as eligible for a Connecticut for medical marijuana card online, the state department does not provide a timeline for when a registration certificate will be issued.
Can a doctor complete a medical marijuana certification via telehealth?
Yes! At Compassionate Clinics of America, we understand that people with certain conditions such as severe rheumatoid arthritis, chronic neuropathic pain, degenerative spinal disorders, intractable headache syndromes, and other conditions such as post traumatic stress disorder find it difficult to go to a doctor’s office.
That’s why we have replaced the waiting room with a virtual waiting room and the doctor’s office with a virtual office, where you can see the doctor from the comfort of your own home.
Can I have a gun in Connecticut and be a medical cannabis patient?
In Connecticut, having a medical marijuana card essentially makes you ineligible to obtain a Connecticut Pistol Permit (CTPP), which is required to acquire and carry firearms within the state. This restriction arises from the fact that marijuana is classified as a Schedule I substance under federal law.
Therefore, even if you were to obtain a Connecticut pistol permit, federal law would still prevent you from purchasing or carrying a firearm. This means that in Connecticut, you must choose between having a medical marijuana card or owning firearms, as federal regulations currently do not allow for both simultaneously.
When does the physician certification expire?
A certification for medical marijuana in Connecticut from Compassionate Clinics of America is valid for a period of one (1) year.
Questions About Medical Cannabis Certification in Connecticut?
Feel free to connect with us anytime at [email protected] or call us at (888) 611-4820.
To access Frequently Asked Questions specific to the Connecticut state medical cannabis program, please click this link:
