State Specific FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Q- What is a medical cannabis patient license?
A- A medical cannabis patient license allows an individual with an approved application to legally buy, use and grow medical cannabis and medical cannabis products. The license will be in the form of an identification card that can be used to prove an individual is a licensee holder. This card will contain the individual’s name, photo, date of birth, city and county of residence, the type of license, the date the license expires and the patient’s unique medical cannabis license number.
Q- How long does my patient’s license last?
A- A patient license renewal process varies state to state and could require yearly or bi annual renewals.
How do I apply?
A- Application and payments will be collected through an online system. You will need a valid email address to login to this system. This email address will be used to send you notices once you create an account.
Q- What is marijuana/cannabis?
A- Marijuana also known as Cannabis refers to the dried leaves, flowers, stems and seeds from the Cannabis sativa or Cannabis indica plant. The plant contains the mind altering chemical THC and other similar compounds called cannabinoids and terpenes. The two most studied cannabinoids are THC and CBD. THC can have a psychoactive effect while CBD does not, however both have shown medical benefits.
Q- How is cannabis medicine?
A- The body has a complex system for receiving and processing cannabinoids, and delivery of THC/ CBD is believed to affect the Endocannabinoid System in such a way as to alleviate symptoms including pain. The ECS is key to physical and cognitive processes including fertility/pregnancy, appetite, mood and memory.
Q- What kinds of conditions are treated with cannabis?
A- Cannabis is still federally recognized as a schedule 1 controlled substance, studies proving efficacy of cannabis for most ailments are few. Patients have reported relief from symptoms stemming from: chronic pain, PTSD, epilepsy, glaucoma, Crohn’s disease, alzheimer’s, cancer, migraine, MS, ALS, lupus, RA, traumatic brain injury, HIV/AIDS and fibromyalgia. Though Oklahoma’s law currently states no qualifying conditions for marijuana treatment recommendation, each one of the listed ailments is in at least one other states medical marijuana/cannabis law.
Q- How does a plant become consumable marijuana/ cannabis?
A- Female marijuana/cannabis plants are grown from seed and allowed to flower outside of the presence of fertilizing male plants, ensuring the plan devotes its energy prior to harvest into growing the high THC content flowers. At harvest time, the leaves are trimmed away from the flowers that from the stems. The stems are then dried in a process that cures the flowers and turns them into buds, which are then trimmed from the stems. Additional processing of buds can create concentrated marijuana (by removing the THC, leaving the buds impotent). The application of pressure and heat on buds produces a waxy substance know as dabs or wax. Applying solvent (such as butane) and agitation to buds produces a sap like substance known as a shatter. Other more liquid concentrates are known as oil and honey.
Q- How much does a dose of medical marijuana/cannabis cost?
A- A patient should probably expect to pay about $40-$50 for one-eight of an ounce (about 3.5g) of buds, which for some patients could last a week or longer. Others with most severe conditions can use up to one quarter ounce per day. One gram of concentrates, which may provide a minimum of 10 doses, can cost about $30 or more. In edible form a dose could be considered 5-10mg of THC and could cost $10 or more. A 7 percent state excise tax likely would be included in the price, but dispensaries would also collect the local sales tax.
Q- How does a patient consume marijuana/cannabis?
A- Flower: The buds are ground into loose material that can be rolled like a cigarette or smoked in any of the many varieties of pipes designed for delivering inhalation/smoke. Smoking is not typically considered an appropriate delivery method for medical cannabis as the smoke itself can have some harmful effects. Flower also may be used in specially manufactured vapor devices, like smoking without the smoke.
Concentrates: most are inhaled as vapor (vaporizers can be large, boxy devices or as small as pens) without direct exposure to an open flame. Some oils can be consumed with food or alone by oral delivery.
Edibles: Anything that you consume via mouth and swallow such as “weed brownies” contain no actual flower. Most are created by infusing fat (oil or butter to be used in baked goods) with activated THC, known as “cannabudder.” Some states allow concentrates to be made into edible candies such as lollipops and gummies.
Salve: An ointment used to promote healing of the skin or protection
Tincture: sublingual made with alcohol to be taken under the tongue.
Q- What’s the difference?
A- Smoking marijuana /cannabis typically produces a stronger immediate intoxication compared to edibles. Vaporizing concentrate also provides an intoxicating high, but the variety of options and delivery devices can make consistent dosing a challenge, so beginners or those using a new vaporizer should take it slowly.
Edibles are more known for a “body high” but can be challenging to dose because of how long it takes to feel any effects. Those eating an edible should try to dose no more than 5mg at first and wait at least two hours before (possibly) dosing another 5mg. Patients with a higher THC tolerance may find 10mg to be an insufficient dose, however. The lack of an immediate high from edibles can increase the risk of excessive intoxication, sometimes called a “marijuana overdose.” By trying to feel quicker effect, a patient can introduce so much THC in such a short time the body heightens some of the natural physical responses to marijuana intoxication, mainly anxiety and paranoia.
Q- Can marijuana/cannabis expire?
A- yes. properly cured buds stored in a cool, dry place can last years. Buds that have been exposed to moisture after the curing process should be discarded because of the likelihood of mold growth and the damage mold can do when inhaled.
Q- What can I do if I get too high?
A- Adding a dose of CBD has been shown to help ease paranoia/anxiety, which is the only tangible negative symptom of excessive THC intoxication. Most other physical responses to excessive intoxication can be mitigated with controlled breathing mindfulness or a few jumping jacks.
Q- Can you drive after consuming THC?
A- Just like with other controlled drugs and alcohol, its not legal to drive while intoxicated. Unlike alcohol, THC does not break down in consistent way among different users and therefore there is no legal measurement for what counts as “impaired”. For most patients, the intoxicating feeling and most severe cognitive effects wear off about an hour after after having smoked marijuana. Most patients should avoid operating a vehicle or boat for at least two to three hours after consuming THC.
Q- Are there different kinds of marijuana/cannabis?
A- Marijuana/cannabis is often grown from seeds that typically have a known lineage and genetics, The different kinds are known as strains, and each strain has a unique combination of cannabinoids. These diverse strains mean a patient can zero in on the marijuana/cannabis that produces the specific chemical compounds that should be most effective at relieving their symptoms. Plants of specific strains can also be cloned to create new plants with the same chemical properties. Marijuana/cannabis has two subspecies: sativa (generally known more for uplifting cerebral effects) and indica (known for a more sedating “body high”). Most strains comprise some combination of sativa and indica in various ratios.