Medical Marijuana in Colorado

Just wondering if anyone here has gone thru the hoops required for Medical Marijuana in Colorado. Its pretty new here and wondering how the clinics are and how difficult it is to get your card.

Step one, go to any doctor and get a diagnosis. Don't say anything about Medical marijuana. If you don't really have a qualifying condition or your qualifying condition is challenged or is difficult to prove and you don't want to do a bunch of testing, "GERD" is a great indisputable catch all.

Step two, after getting a diagnosis, get your doctor's office to fax your medical records to either Canna Meds clinic in SE Denver (highly recommended) or THCF clinic in Lakewood/Arvada.

Step three, Make an appt. to see the canna med/thcf clinic doctor who will give you a recommendation for cannabis based on the diagnosis you have from your other doctor.

Step four pay the clinic $200 and write a check for $100 to the state. The clinic processes all of your paperwork and sends it in for you.

Step five, wait for your card to arrive in the mail in 2-3 weeks.

If you go to Canna Meds they will give you a list of about 20 different caregivers, support groups and other resources. They will also give you a temporary certificate that is signed by the doctor and allows you to purchase meds from caregivers during the 2-3 weeks it takes for your card to arrive. I don't think THCF offers either one of these last two services to their patients.

Good luck and let me know if you have anymore questions. ACCESS FOR EVERYONE!!!

Actually I have a rather long history of IBS and have been self medicating for years with smoke. So step one is completed.

Thanks for the info my next step is getting my records sent to Canna Meds.

Really appreciate the help. + Rep to you

Reeny said:

Actually I have a rather long history of IBS and have been self medicating for years with smoke. So step one is completed.

Thanks for the info my next step is getting my records sent to Canna Meds.

Really appreciate the help. + Rep to you

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Check out this NON PROFIT organization for All medical Marijuana Patients in CO .

THseaman said:

They will also give you a temporary certificate that is signed by the doctor and allows you to purchase meds from caregivers during the 2-3 weeks it takes for your card to arrive. I don't think THCF offers either one of these last two services to their patients.

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The temp certificate at Cannamed costs extra $50 and isnt needed, though nice. When the DR signs the state application (recommendation) that is all you need to possess, grow, medicate. It is optional (though highly recommended) to join the State Registry. The $50 Cannamed certificate is just a nice paper that says the same thing as the application you paid $200 for.

Erbalengineer wrote "Check out this NON PROFIT organization for All medical Marijuana Patients in CO ."

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I think you should put up a link... or a name or something? What exactly are we supposed to check out?

farmerbob said:

The temp certificate at Cannamed costs extra $50 and isnt needed, though nice. When the DR signs the state application (recommendation) that is all you need to possess, grow, medicate. It is optional (though highly recommended) to join the State Registry. The $50 Cannamed certificate is just a nice paper that says the same thing as the application you paid $200 for.

I think you should put up a link... or a name or something? What exactly are we supposed to check out?

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Are you the guy who had all that drama with herbologist down in CO Springs?

You're telling people they don't (technically) need their cards? WTF???

I highly doubt most caregivers will sell meds to patients with just a recomendation.

There seems to be some gray area and a lot of varying interpretations of the law when it comes to Medical Marijuana in Colorado. Every caregiver I have talked to has a different interpretation of the law. Ultimately, I would only listen to the advice given by the lady who runs the registry (debra?). I would definitely get my card and be listed on the registry. You show a traffic cop a "recommendation" and there is a much higher probability he's going to ask, "where the fuck's your card" and slap some cuffs on you rather than, tell you to have a nice day.

When it comes to MMJ law I wouldn't count on a street cop actually knowing it! Show them a really easy to read red card that says "medical marijuana patient."

Also, some caregivers interpret the law so that a patient can grow their own 6 plants, AND have a caregiver grow 6 on their behalf. After speaking with 2 different people at the registry I was told this is not the case, and that all 12 plants would be considered illegal if this were to happen. I don't know if she is right or not but I would rather be on the safe side personally.

Many of us have! Here is one good RIU forum link below...

https://www.rollitup.org/medical-marijuana/109217-card.html

I stand corrected, the "certificate" is a waste of money. I just called all 3 of the people I have been using as providers and all of them said they would have sold to me with just a recommendation as long as the paperwork had been sent in and was being processed. So don't spend the extra $50 on the certificate, but DO get your card.

Sunrise said:

Many of us have! Here is one good RIU forum link below...

https://www.rollitup.org/medical-marijuana/109217-card.html

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There is a lot of misinformation on that thread.

THseaman said:

There is a lot of misinformation on that thread.

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Which part?
Maybe we need get a fresh update on everything...

In a nut shell,
I didn't pay extra money for the pretty certificate.
I paid Cannamed , state license fee and requested a copy of the signed paperwork from the doctor who approved me. *(copy was free from docs office)
I considered myself legal after checks were cashed and signed paper from doctor was in my hand.

Sunrise said:

Which part?
Maybe we need get a fresh update on everything...

In a nut shell,
I didn't pay for the extra money for the pretty certificate.
I paid Cannamed , state license fee and requested a copy of the signed paperwork from the doctor who approved me. *(copy was free from docs office)
I considered myself legal after checks were cashed and signed paper from doctor was in my hand.

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Yeah, that certificate is BS. Bums me out I wasn't smart enough to refuse the "clear coat." lol (fargo joke)

The misinformation I found on that link was later resolved in subsequent posts. It pertained to specific fees and amounts.

So you went to canna med also? For me the differences in the two clinics seems as follows:

THCF: run their operation like a CLINIC and are heavily focused on covering their asses. WILL NOT cut through any red tape or cut corners to get patients their cards. Also, I think they are quite a bit busier than CM and as a result are more stressed out when they deal with their patients. Basically, they are not as customer service oriented. Honestly, I thought both the guy and the girl I talked to on the phone at THCF were a bit rude and didn't want to deal with them if I had other options.

CannaMed: Run their operation like a BUSINESS and are totally willing to cut through red tape and do what they've got to do to get people their cards. The point of contact for Canna Meds, forgot the guys name, was very cool and patient with me. I did not like the fact that the owner was always smoking cigerattes in the office. I am totally sensative to tobacco smoke, and the smoke that came out of his office into the main hallway was very irritating for me (although after talking with him he did seem like a cool, "old school" guy that probably has some really good stories from the old country). Lastly, this certificate thing turns out to be hogwash. I'm bummed out that they gouge people for an additional $50 certificate when it is apparantely unneeded. But at the end of the day, canna med gets people their card who would otherwise continue to be victims of the drug war. So I endorse them.

P.S. if I were (god forbid) ever to get into trouble with law enforcement doing this thing, I think there is a much better chance the owner of Canna Meds has the contacts one needs to make these kinds of things go away. So, it's good to have him as a potential resource in the future too.

I totally agree! Cigars, old school, the stories - one can only imagine

I didn't pay for the certificate because I didn't have the extra money.
It does have it's advantages.
It's pretty! You get to get meds that day with it.
I'd go back to Canna Med again if needed.
I really liked the doctor out there, nice man!

Sunrise said:

I totally agree! Cigars, old school, the stories - one can only imagine

I didn't pay for the certificate because I didn't have the extra money.
It does have it's advantages.
It's pretty! You get to get meds that day with it.
I'd go back to Canna Med again if needed.
I really liked the doctor out there, nice man!

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I guess you don't need the certificate to buy meds that day. I just confirmed with 3 different caregivers this morning that they WOULD provide meds to patients with ONLY A RECOMMENDATION signed by the doctor as long as the paperwork had been sent in to the state and was being processed.

You liked the DR? Really? I thought the doctor was a prick. He acted like a New Yorker. But everyone else was cool and the actual DR's appt was only 5 min of the entire experience so I didn't even bring it up in my previous "review."

Maybe you got a different doctor than I did. Did you see Sigmund Freud around anywhere?


*Oh and before I forget, Cannamed should really mention to patients that there is a lot of cigar smoke there along with stairs prior to showing up and finding out the hard way.

Sunrise said:

Maybe you got a different doctor than I did. Did you see Sigmund Freud around anywhere?


*Oh and before I forget, Cannamed should really mention to patients that there is a lot of cigar smoke there along with stairs prior to showing up and finding out the hard way.

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I'm pretty sure they only have one doctor. Maybe I got him on a bad day or was having a bad day myself and didn't realize it.

Is it cigar smoke? Man it was bad whatever it was. I didn't even think about the stairs being a hurdle for some patients, that's a good point too. I only had to go there twice though so I made it through the smoke with no complaints until now. I would go through it again in a heartbeat versus the alternative. I just hope these get out of jail free cards work if/when you need them.

Maybe one maybe several in that office. Not sure and kinda hard to verify since I get the impression they like to keep their anonymity so as to prevent unwanted annoyances.
Took me about an hour there though including waiting, all my doctor papers examined, questioned and mentally examined.

Canna Med smelled to me of both cigarettes and Cigar, but Mr Old School was smoking a cigar when I was there and it was definitely overwhelming.
Not a good environment for someone with allergies and asthma.

The state cashed my check and took my money for the lic. If I have any problems, I would go whine to them first.

Thanks for all the information. Talking to my Dr about sending over my medical records and put in an on-line request for an appointment with Canna Meds. They are much closer to me and I guess I can live with the cigar smoke.

Thanks again for all your assist guys. Hopefully all will go well.

Reeny said:

Thanks for all the information. Talking to my Dr about sending over my medical records and put in an on-line request for an appointment with Canna Meds. They are much closer to me and I guess I can live with the cigar smoke.

Thanks again for all your assist guys. Hopefully all will go well.

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Best wishes with it Reeny!
I need it to relieve pain.
Having it help my stomach was a surprise and a happy bonus for me

THseaman said:

I guess you don't need the certificate to buy meds that day.

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You do not need to buy the $50 certificate. A doctor recommendation is good enough in the state of Colorado. The Registry is HIGHLY recommended or you could be proving necessity from jail. You can take that DR form directly to the Health Dep lobby, give them the app and $90 fee and will get your card in about 2 weeks.

Crazy that a DR smokes a cigar in his office?!?

farmerbob said:

Crazy that a DR smokes a cigar in his office?!

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It's not the doctor, it's the owner who is in an office down the hall from the doctor. But still, all the patients have to deal with it so it's like smoking in a doctors office. He's old school.