Can your health condition benefit from using medical marijuana, and you live in a state where recreational marijuana is legal? If so, you may be wondering if it is worth the effort to get a medical marijuana prescription. Here are some questions you likely have about medical marijuana.

How Can You Get a Prescription for Medical Marijuana?

If you have a medical condition that qualifies, all you need to do is speak to your doctor about getting a prescription for medical marijuana. Expect to pay a copay for this visit, since the consultation with your doctor will be no different than speaking with them for any other health condition. 

Does a Medical Marijuana Prescription Card Cost Money?

Each state has its own laws regarding how patients can get a medical marijuana prescription card. In general, expect to pay money for the ability to have access to medical marijuana. For example, in Illinois, it costs $100 for a registry card that lasts one year and $250 for a registry card that lasts three years. If you are looking into getting medical marijuana due to cost savings, you must consider how much you need for your health condition and if you will break even based on the cost of the card. Some patients prefer to buy recreational marijuana instead since they don't have to go through the hassle of seeing a doctor to get it. 

What Are the Tax Savings of Purchasing Medical Marijuana?

You will see significant tax savings by having your medical marijuana prescription since you will not have to pay the recreational taxes due to your prescription being considered a medical need. With state taxes being as high as 47.1% in some parts of the country, this is definitely something to consider when the alternative is paying the higher amount for recreational marijuana. Even though you need to pay for a doctor's appointment and for the card, you could start seeing the savings immediately.

Is Purchasing Medical Marijuana Easier?

Since recreational marijuana has become legal in many states, there have long lines at local dispensaries in order to purchase it. Thankfully, medical patients have been given priority over recreational users. This means not having to wait in line, having special hours where you can make a purchase, and having dispensaries hold a portion of the stock exclusively for medical users. The buying process will be much more convenient for you so there is not a roadblock to getting your medical marijuana prescription filled.