Receiving a much-anticipated medical cannabis card from the state can seem like a cause for joyous celebration. You finally have access to medicines you are confident will help you feel better. But you still need to make that first visit to the local medical cannabis pharmacy. It could be tricky.
Buying medical cannabis is not like buying a traditional prescription medication. You have to jump through a lot more hoops. For starters, you need to obtain the previously mentioned medical cannabis card. Fortunately, organizations like Salt Lake City, Utah’s BeehiveMed exist to help patients with that. But even after obtaining a card, there is plenty to learn about how the system works.
Below is a selection of dos and don’ts for first time medical cannabis buyers. Nail these things down, and your first visit to a pharmacy should go pretty smoothly.
1. Do Bring Your Card With You
Be smart and bring your medical cannabis card with you. Most states will not let you make a purchase without it. In Utah, BeehiveMed, in Salt Lake City, UT says that pharmacy operators are required to check cards at the door. They verify a physical card or a digital copy on the patient’s phone, then check card information against the state’s electronic verification system (EVS).
2. Don’t Leave Home Without Your Photo ID
You are going to need to verify your identity before you can make a medical cannabis purchase. So don’t leave home without your driver’s license, non-driver ID card, or other state-issued photo ID.
Pharmacies are required to check photo ID against the data attached to a medical cannabis card. The goals are twofold:
- Verifying that the person presenting the card is the same person to whom the card was issued.
- Verifying that the person is who they claim to be.
Requiring both a medical cannabis card and photo ID ensures people do not abuse the system by lending their cards to others. Only a person who has been issued a card and can prove identity with a photo ID can make purchases.
3. Do Bring Cash or a Bank Card
Although there are exceptions to the rule, most medical cannabis pharmacies do not accept credit cards, debit cards, or personal checks for payment. They only accept cash. So plan to bring cash or a bank card to access an on-site ATM.
On rare occasions, pharmacies might accept mainstream cryptocurrencies. So if yours does, make sure you have your phone with you. You will need to make the crypto transfer while you are at the pharmacy.
4. Don’t Expect to Purchase Unlimited Amounts
Do not expect to be able to walk into a pharmacy and purchase unlimited amounts of medical cannabis. Each of the states regulates how much cannabis can be purchased with each visit. As a general rule, a patient can purchase what the state considers a one-month supply.
5. Do Bring an Opaque Bag With You
Many states require that patients transport medical cannabis in some sort of opaque bag. In other words, you can’t walk down the street openly displaying what you just purchased. So bring some sort of bag or container in which you can conceal the product.
You may have questions about different brands, your dosage, or how you use the medical cannabis you purchase. Don’t be afraid to ask those questions. Between pharmacy technicians and the on-site pharmacist, you can get the answers you need before you head home.
Your first experience at a medical cannabis pharmacy is likely to be an interesting one. But relax. You will get to know how the system works quickly enough.