What Are The Pros and Cons of Getting a Medical Marijuana Card in Nevada?
Now that cannabis is legal recreationally in the state of Nevada, one might wonder whether it is still necessary to have a medical marijuana card. It’s been nearly twenty years since proposition 215 passed in California, which allowed residents of the state to access cannabis if they could prove that it was medically necessary. This law opened to door to legalized medical cannabis.
Today it’s legal to purchase medical marijuana in 33 states, plus Washington DC. Furthermore, 11 of these states, including DC, allow for recreational cannabis consumption by adults 21 and over. But medical marijuana cards aren’t for everyone. And we mean that in two ways. First, not everyone will qualify for a Nevada medical marijuana card, although restrictions have lightened in recent years. Second, having a Nevada medical marijuana card is not all sunshine and rainbows. There are pros and cons to getting a medical marijuana card in Nevada. In this article, we’ll discuss some of the pros and cons of obtaining a medical marijuana card in the state of Nevada.
Requirements For Obtaining a Nevada Medical Marijuana Card
There are lower age requirements for medical marijuana buyers. You can apply for a medical marijuana card in Nevada if you are 18 and older. Some minors that are suffering from serious illnesses such as cancer or epilepsy can also access medical cannabis. However, their parent or designated caregiver needs to fill out a minor release form.
Recreational buyers do not need state-issued medical marijuana cards to purchase cannabis if they are 21 years of age or older. However, recreational buyers are limited to purchasing only one ounce of marijuana flower per day. Another advantage to getting a Nevada medical marijuana card is that you have a higher individual purchase limit. This means that as a medical marijuana cardholder in the state of Nevada, you are legally allowed to purchase up to 2.5 ounces of “usable” marijuana within a 14 day period. In other words, you can purchase more than twice as much cannabis in a single visit.
You May Pay Less as Medical Marijuana Card Holder
Because major insurance providers do not reimburse for the expense of purchasing medical cannabis, working with this medicine can be expensive. Thankfully, as a medical marijuana cardholder, you are exempt from the 15 percent excise tax that is charged to recreational cannabis consumers.
Additionally, Nevada dispensaries often extend additional discounts to medical cannabis patients. These discounts will vary depending on each location you visit. Many dispensaries also allow their medical cannabis patients to use a separate line from recreational customers so that they can get their dispensary errand trip done within record time. This is especially helpful during rush hours. As a result, it can be quite convenient to be able to check in quickly, get your medicine, and go. Especially if you are living with a condition such as chronic pain! The last thing you’re going to want is to spend hours waiting in the dispensary line.
There’s Stronger Cannabis at Your Disposal
Another benefit to having a Nevada Medical Marijuana card is that you have access to higher potency limits. Nevada has really strict laws when it comes to dosages. All approved Nevada cannabis edibles come in 10mg doses and are labeled as such. This is to protect the novice consumer from accidentally over-consuming cannabis, especially edibles which can come on slow, but have many undesirable side effects if taken at excessively high doses.
However, medical cannabis patients often require higher-strength cannabis strains in order to relieve their symptoms. Depending on the condition and the medication they are taking, the cannabinoids will behave differently in their bodies, providing much-needed symptom relief. As a medical marijuana cardholder in the state of Nevada, you have access to products with extra potent doses of THC, the cannabinoid responsible for creating the euphoric effect commonly described as “high”.
Recreational marijuana consumers may only legally purchase 100 milligrams of THC per container of edibles or concentrates. On the other hand, medical marijuana patients are legally allowed to purchase products with up to 1,000 milligrams of THC per container. In fact, our OMG THC chocolate bars come in medically-dosed versions with 500mg per bar (or 50mg per dose). That’s a big difference!
Other Neat Facts
Another cool perk of having a Nevada medical marijuana card is that it entitles you to purchase medical cannabis from licensed dispensaries in both Michigan and Rhode Island. Finally, you are allowed to grow up to 12 plants for your own personal use, but only if you live at least 25 miles away from a dispensary. According to Nevada state law, it is only legal to cultivate cannabis if that person cannot reasonably obtain it from a dispensary, and they have a medical marijuana card. Having a medical marijuana card is necessary in order to legally be able to cultivate cannabis for personal use in the state of Nevada.
The Negative Aspects of Getting a Nevada Medical Marijuana Card
Now that we’ve discussed some of the benefits, or pros of having a Nevada Medical Marijuana Card, let’s discuss some of the cons. First off, the big boy. The granddaddy. The one that makes a lot of very sick people who need medical cannabis in Nevada honestly just say “screw it” and go for recreational. If you’re a medical marijuana cardholder in Nevada, you cannot legally own a firearm.
The ATF has declared that medical marijuana users are not allowed to purchase or possess firearms. Just having a state medical marijuana card means that you fall into Sect. 922(g) of the federal criminal code, from the 1968 federal Gun Control Act. This law states that anyone who is an unlawful user of or addicted to a controlled substance is banned from having or receiving guns or ammo. This is based on the assertion that such possession implicates interstate commerce.
Now, the vast majority of people in the state of Nevada felt that this was a horrible rule to enforce on medical patients, especially in a “Wild West” type state like Nevada. After all, we love our guns here. Young, old, Republican, Democrat, conservative, progressive. People in the US are big fans of their Second Amendment rights. And imposing regulations like this on the medical community seems downright pointless. However, after recreational cannabis was legalized, it made even less sense.
Now, a person who has been diagnosed and recommended to be state-approved for cannabis usage can’t have a firearm, but ANY RANDOM PERSON can walk into a dispensary and purchase recreational cannabis and have as many guns as they want. It’s completely backward. No matter how illogical this seems, this is something to consider if having access to firearms for personal defense is important to you.
Say Goodby to Your Commercial Driver’s License
You are also not allowed to have a commercial driver’s license if you have a medical marijuana card in Nevada. So for example, if you worked as a transportation employee, and you test positive for cannabis use in a drug screening, producing a medical marijuana card will not protect your job.
There is some common sense thinking in terms of not wanting people to be impaired while operating vehicles and machinery. However, you’d think the laws would go to greater lengths to include language outlawing the use of alcohol when doing these things too. Alcohol causes an untold number of deaths and accidents every year. Yet, there are few restrictions on alcohol consumption outside of work hours. Unfortunately, that’s the way it is for now, as the Federal Government still refuses to admit they’ve been wrong about cannabis for well over 100 years now. And you think they would have learned after alcohol prohibition failed so miserably, but sadly, no.
Paying a Price
Coming up with the fees every year will add another expense to your budget. However, even with the renewal fees, you’ll wind up spending less in the dispensary than you would as a recreational customer. Having a medical marijuana card can also be a career liability. This is especially true if you work with the federal government. For instance, employees of the Department of Transportation are barred from using cannabis, even if they are medical marijuana patients. If you work for the federal government, a failed drug test could end your career. I’ve seen it happen. Even though you live in Nevada where cannabis is legal for recreational use, the Fed has the final say. And we all know how they feel.
Furthermore, if you’re not a fan of bureaucracy, you won’t enjoy the amount of paperwork you have to fill out. And if you mess anything up or leave something out, you’re basically out of luck. Additionally, it can take up to 30 days from the time you submit your application to receive approval. After that, you’ll have the honor of waiting at the DMV for hours to get your medical marijuana card. Finally, there are many steps you need to go through in order to submit your application. They require fingerprinting and a background check to get your card. Again, all things which recreational users need not do.
Don’t Choose the Wrong Doctor
It’s important to remember that the federal government still considers cannabis an illegal controlled substance. Yes, we know. They’re a bit behind the times. And in my humble opinion, it would make more sense for them to monitor alcohol than it would cannabis. Not that much more, but we’re taking baby steps and we’ll take what we can get. For now, know that the federal government is closely scrutinizing physician that prescribes medical marijuana. They want to ensure that doctors aren’t abusing their power. They’re trying to keep doctors from over-prescribing cannabis or approving medical marijuana for patients that don’t truly need it for therapeutic benefits.
If the government feels your doctor is not taking their responsibilities as a physician seriously, this could expose their medical practice to lawsuits, and even result in your doctor being stripped of their medical license. If your doctor gets in trouble, you can lose your medical card. Keep that in mind when choosing your doctor.
Is It Really Worth Having a Nevada Medical Marijuana Card?
When considering the pros and cons of getting a medical marijuana card, the decision will depend on the individual. Factor in the severity of your health condition, financial needs, and lifestyle preferences. Doing so allows you to make the best choice for yourself.
When you considered the financial savings, increased potency, and VIP level service, the pros outweigh the cons. However, it’s good to take a pragmatic approach to the cons mentioned above. Decide whether you can live with them and whether they are worth going through mountains of paperwork. It’s a very personal decision, but knowledge is power.
About OMG THC
We’re homegrown in Las Vegas, Nevada. We embrace niches others in the Cannabis market ignore or reject. Vegan? Diabetic? Gourmet cook? Old-school hash connoisseur? Looking for a specific ratio of CBD and THC in your products? You got it!
Additionally, we care about quality and the effects our products have on people’s lives & health. OMG THC use only CO2 and ethanol extraction methods. We NEVER use butane or other petrochemicals to extract our oils. We want our products to be easy on the body and safe for our team to make.
Our products are simple and they are great. From the cannabis oils, we use to the packaging and the varieties of our products. Finally, and best of all, our edibles are damn delicious! In other words, if we wouldn’t want to eat them, we aren’t going to sell them to anyone else. We NEVER cut our concentrates with anything – period! EVER! We use top-of-the-line C-Cell hardware – always. We ensure quality and purity.
For Adult Use Only
All products are for adults 21 years of age and older. Unless of course, you have a medical marijuana card. Keep our products out of reach of children and pets. Furthermore, be smart about handling and use, and dosage. Be Vigilant. Keep yourself in check. Finally, enjoy our products responsibly and keep everyone safe.
As always, feel free to Contact OMG THC with any questions or comments you might have. We’re here for you and we’re responsive to your needs. If you’d like to locate OMG THC products, check out our dispensaries list. You can also find out more about OMG THC on Leafly.
References:
- https://hellomd.com/questions-and-answers/marijuana-is-now-legal-in-nevada-for-medical-cardholders-or-not-what-are-the-pros-and-cons-of-this-system
- https://wayofleaf.com/mmj-cards/101/pros-cons-medical-marijuana-card
- https://www.shouselaw.com/nv/defense/nrs/453-3393-marijuana-cultivation/
