Medical Marijuana Reciprocity-What Does It Mean?

Planning a vacation can be a headache. From your luggage to your tickets, everything must be ready and checked before you leave. Another problem may arise if you possess a medical marijuana card. For example, does the state you are visiting accept your medical marijuana card? It is not recommended that you carry medical marijuana across state lines since it may be unlawful to do so. Therefore, you should check to see if your medical marijuana card is accepted in the state that you are visiting. This article will examine medical marijuana reciprocity laws and what you should know before you go across state lines or on your next vacation. 

What Does Medical Marijuana Reciprocity Mean?

Medical marijuana reciprocity is the process of a state recognizing the medical marijuana cards of other states. As long as the state you visit recognizes the card you have from another state, you are entitled to the same or similar protections as those in the state you are traveling to. To make things sound less abstract, we will use some actual examples. Let's say you are a Virginia resident and visit the state of North Carolina. You generally won't be able to purchase MMJ. In North Carolina, marijuana use is illegal except in very specific medical cases. Going with an example again, if you are a Virginia resident and visit a state like Colorado, you can purchase medical marijuana from a dispensary, but this is not due to medical marijuana reciprocity. Colorado does not offer reciprocity to out-of-state patients. However, if you are over the age of 21, you can buy marijuana at a dispensary. Now for the last example, if you are a Virginia resident and visit Arkansas, you may be able to purchase medical marijuana. Arkansas will honor your medical marijuana card if you meet certain requirements. First, you must fill out a visiting patient form, provide proof of your out-of-state medical marijuana registration, and pay up to $50 in an application fee. Now that you have all that done, you can finally buy your MMJ with certain limitations. You can only buy up to 2.5 ounces in a 14-day period for 30 days per application. That limitation varies from state to state.

As the example shows, reciprocity can be very complicated. In some cases, it exists, and in some, it does not. Reciprocity is crucial because it means people who need cannabis for medicine can get it without moving away from their traveling spot on complicated routes. The process and rules are more complex than you would want. There could be several hurdles, like spending money for a 30-day application. Laws vary from state to state, so be aware of the rules.

While reciprocity has not yet become universal, it is steadily growing due to activist efforts such as those by NORML (National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws) and others that continue to advocate for legislation both locally within individual states and across multiple jurisdictions.

Who Qualifies for Medical Marijuana Reciprocity?

Generally, to qualify for medical marijuana reciprocity, you must have a qualifying condition that makes you eligible under the state you visit. That includes:

• Cancer

• Epilepsy or another seizure disorder

• Crohn's disease

• HIV/AIDS 

• Amyotrophic lateral Sclerosis

You must also have a medical marijuana card from your home state and the ability to pay a registration fee.

Medical Marijuana Reciprocity- Virginia

Currently, Virginia does not offer medical marijuana reciprocity. This means that Virginia will not honor your MMJ card from another state. However, if you are a Virginia resident, states that accept reciprocity will accept your card. 

What States Accept Out-of-state MMJ Cards?

In states where medical marijuana is legal, holding a medical marijuana card does not automatically entitle you to purchase cannabis from a dispensary. Here is a list of states that have reciprocity laws in place, which means they will sell you medical marijuana if you have a card from another state:

•  Arizona

•  Maine

• Massachusetts

• Michigan

• Montana

• Nevada

• New Hampshire

• New Jersey

• New Mexico

• Oklahoma

• Rhode Island

• Utah

•  Washington D.C.

If you are a medical marijuana patient who is visiting another state, and you want to be able to access your medicine when you are away from home, it can be tricky. Depending on the laws of the state that you visit, getting a medical marijuana card in your home state may not be enough, especially if they don't have reciprocity with that particular state.

States With Temporary Cards

Temporary MMJ cards are used in some states. Patients with a medical marijuana card issued by another state and a government-issued state ID can obtain these cards. In addition, they must be certified as having a debilitating health condition in their home state. Temporary cards allow patients to access medical marijuana from dispensaries. These cards are typically valid for a limited time(30 to 90 days). States that have implemented temporary cards include:

• Arkansas

• Hawaii

• Oklahoma

The Rules Can Be Complicated

Finding out if your home state accepts out-of-state medical marijuana cards can be confusing, but it doesn't have to be. We recommend calling dispensaries in the state you plan to visit and verifying if they will accept a Virginia marijuana card. The important thing is that you do some research before deciding to visit other states. Laws vary from state to state and come with their own spin on things. For more information on getting a medical marijuana card in Virginia visit our page today.