For over a decade, Delawareans have had access to medical cannabis cards through the Delaware Medical Marijuana Act (2011). But do you know how to get yours?
If you’re suffering from a medical condition that can be alleviated by medical cannabis, you’re probably here to learn where to get a medical cannabis card in Delaware. And that’s why My Virtual Physician is here to share how it’s done.
This document lays out the steps for how to get your medical cannabis card as a Delaware resident.
Before we jump into the details of getting your medical cannabis card, first—let’s talk about what’s legal and what’s not at the state level.
Marijuana is only available and legal for Delawareans who have a valid medical cannabis card issued by the Office of Medical Marijuana (OMM). With a medical marijuana ID card, you may purchase a limited amount of cannabis from a state-licensed dispensary. Growing at home is not permitted.
Adult use, or recreational marijuana, is not legal. That means that if you want to use marijuana for medical symptom relief in your private home, you’ll need to follow the process laid out below in order to get legal approval.
Before starting the process to get your medical cannabis card, you’ll want to verify that you have a qualifying medical condition. The following debilitating medical conditions qualify in Delaware:
If your condition isn’t listed above, keep in mind that citizens can petition for additional debilitating medical conditions to be added to the list above.
If your medical condition is already on the approved list of qualifying medical symptoms, continue reading below to learn the next steps to get your card for medical cannabis in Delaware.
The process to get a medical card for cannabis is simple. Here’s an overview of the process to get started.
Seeing your doctor is the first step to getting your medical cannabis card in Delaware. Before you schedule your appointment, though—we recommend that you begin the portal registration process with the OMM division of the Delaware Health and Social Services.
Start here before your doctor’s appointment to register and get the physician certification form.
During your consultation visit, your doctor will complete his or her portion of the physician certification form (you will need to provide this form to the doctor). This certifies the physician’s recommendation of medical marijuana as a treatment for your medical condition, but ultimately it’s up to the state to approve or deny your application.
Delaware may require an in-person doctor’s visit with your bona fide doctor for this certification.
After your appointment, you’ll leave with the signed certification form that you’ll need to submit with your medical cannabis card application. You’ll need to complete the application process within 90 days.
With your signed physician’s certification, you can finish uploading documents and submit your application online with the Delaware Medical Marijuana Program portal. Alternatively, you can print a paper application to mail in. The state has 45 days to respond to your application.
New participants can access the portal here to begin the process. When you’re ready to renew your card, you can access the portal here.
Paying for your medical cannabis card is a two-step process. First, you’ll need to pay your doctor for the consultation required for physician certification. This payment is made directly to your provider. My Virtual Physician charges $115 for this type of appointment.
The second step to pay for your medical cannabis card is paying the registration fees to the state when you submit your application. The current fee for Delawareans is $50 ($25 for qualifying low income patients). That puts your total cost at around $165 per year since your medical cannabis ID card is only valid for one year in Delaware.
If you’re ready to get your medical cannabis card in the Diamond State, My Virtual Physician can help. First, you’ll need to establish a bona fide patient-doctor relationship. Then, we can begin the process to get your medical cannabis card.
