Photo from Unsplash

Originally Posted On: https://medcard.app/how-to-get-a-medical-marijuana-card-in-wisconsin/

 

Wisconsin – Medical marijuana cards, or MedCard, is a state issued ID card that is used at local dispensaries that provide access to medical marijuana. For those interested in obtaining a medical marijuana card, Wisconsin is far behind the times when it comes to medical marijuana. Although the state is not completely in the dark ages — Wisconsin does have medicinal cannabis laws on the books — those laws are so weak that non-profit marijuana advocacy group Marijuana Policy Project doesn’t even consider Wisconsin a medical marijuana state.

Wisconsin residents looking for some of the medical relief that cannabis can provide do have some options.

Wisconsin Medical Marijuana Qualifying Conditions

What are the Qualifying Debilitating Conditions Required to Receive High CBD Low THC Medical Marijuana in Wisconsin?

• seizure disorders such as epilepsy

Below are examples of Qualified Conditions in other states that may qualify patients in Wisconsin when medical marijuana is approved.

• Alzheimer’s
• Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
• Anxiety
• Cancer
• Cachexia
• Chronic Pain
• Crohn’s Disease
• Epilepsy
• Fibromyalgia
• Glaucoma
• Hepatitis C
• HIV
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease
• Migraine
• Multiple sclerosis
• Muscular Dystrophy
• Muscular Spasticity
• Nausea
• Opioid Use Disorder
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
• Seizure disorder
• Terminal Illness
• Tourette’s Syndrome
• Traumatic Brain Injury
• Ulcerative Colitis
• Vomiting,  or
• Wasting Syndrome

Wisconsin Marijuana Q&A

Can You Get A Wisconsin Medical Marijuana Card?

Technically, you cannot get a medical marijuana card in Wisconsin. But what you can get is a doctor’s recommendation to use CBD oil. And CBD oil really does benefit countless patients with a wide variety of medical issues. It’s a start. Let’s take a look at the program.

In the Spring of 2014 bill A.B. 726 was signed into law. The measure was very narrow in scope. In essence the bill provided exemption from criminal penalties for the possession of CBD oil (aka cannabidiol) for patients suffering from seizure disorders such as epilepsy. The bill was so narrow in fact, that it did not provide any specifics as to what constituted legal CBD oil, nor did it provide guidance on how CBD oil would be produced, tested, and sold.

An important distinction to make here before we continue is that there are two types of CBD oil — the type made from marijuana which also contains THC that is the compound in marijuana that causes intoxication, and the type made from hemp which is essentially devoid of THC and does not cause a high. Cannabis extracts made from marijuana are federally illegal, while CBD oil produced from hemp was recently legalized by the federal government.

The intention of the CBD oil bill was to permit possession of “non-psychoactive” CBD oil by patients suffering with seizures. However, the bill did not specify a legal limit for levels of THC. It only specified that it must be non-intoxicating and have no psychoactive effects. (Even the term “psychoactive” is used incorrectly as CBD is also psychoactive. A more correct term would be psychotropic.)

At the time the bill was signed, the production of hemp and CBD oil was not fully legalized in Wisconsin. Therefore, patients had no legal way to purchase regulated and lab tested cannabis without breaking the law.

Some progress was made in 2017 when a new Wisconsin industrial hemp law started the ball rolling for CBD oil production in the state. However, to give you some sense of the confusion and gray areas in the law, in April 2018, Attorney General Brad Schimel issued a memo which stated that companies licensed to grow hemp were prohibited from extracting CBD oils. After a public uproar, Schimel later rescinded the ill-advised memo.

There is some good news. That same year, the CBD oil law was expanded to include patients with any medical condition as long as their doctor was willing to give them a written recommendation for CBD oil.

Conditions for which patients use CBD oil to help treat

Do You Really Need To Get A Note From Your Doctor For CBD In Wisconsin?

If you decide to treat a medical condition with CBD oil, whether you plan to buy it in another state, online, or at a local shop, do you really need to get a recommendation from a doctor. Here’s why you might want to:

When operating in the gray area of the law, there’s always a risk of running afoul with law enforcement agencies. If you’re arrested with CBD oil that is found to contain any THC at all, it is possible that  you could be charged with possession of marijuana and spend as long as six months in prison. Get convicted a second time or get caught growing your own cannabis, and you’re looking at as many as 3.5 years in prison. In certain cases, first-time offenders might be eligible for a conditional release program. But you can’t count on that, and even then you’ll be buried in the hassles and expenses involved in dealing with the charges.

Although the law doesn’t require a patient to be a Wisconsin resident, out of state medical marijuana cards and recommendations are only valid in Wisconsin for the possession of CBD oil.

Complete Guide to CBD In Wisconsin

How Do I Become A Medical Cannabis Patient In Wisconsin?

There is no application process to become a medical cannabis patient in Wisconsin. In order to qualify for protection under the law, all you’ll need is a physician’s written recommendation and you’re legally allowed to possess CBD oil. How you obtain it is another matter.

Theoretically, if you’re looking for CBD in Wisconsin, your options are limited. CBD oil may only be dispensed by physicians and pharmacies that have been issued an investigational drug permit by the FDA. And, theoretically, the law allows patients to travel to other states that allow the production and sale of lab tested CBD oil and bring it back to Wisconsin which is, to say the least, quite inconvenient.

Although the federal government has legalized CBD oil, the law also specifies that pharmacies will only be allowed to dispense CBD oil when the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) signs off on it. Although the FDA did sign off on a CBD-based drug called Epidiolex for the treatment of certain forms of childhood epilepsy, it has not yet given the all clear for CBD oil in general. Although the FDA may approve of the use of CBD oil in foods, it will never have the ability to approve CBD oil as a drug as each batch has different levels of active compounds and might produce different effects.

What’s The Future Of Medical Marijuana In Wisconsin?

There is a chance that Wisconsin could implement a legitimate medical marijuana card program in the future. The idea does have some level of bipartisan support. With the neighboring states Illinois and Michigan going medical first, then recreational, and Minnesota dispensaries up and running with a flourishing medical marijuana program, it’s only a matter of time.

Things actually seemed like they were going to change in the recent past as Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers was proposing that the state adopt not only a legitimate medical marijuana program but also to decriminalize marijuana. That dream came to an end, however, when republican lawmakers in the state rejected the proposal.

Get Pre-Registered for Medical Cannabis In Wisconsin:

For potential WI medical marijuana patients we make it easy to connect with a recommending MedCard doctor. You will also receive updates & news relative to marijuana in Wisconsin. If you are interested simply fill out the patient registration form and a clinic representative will contact you as available. Legal Residents Only Please.

 

Wisconsin Medical Marijuana FAQ’s

Frequently asked questions we receive regarding WI marijuana.

Once I have my WI MMJ card, where can I buy marijuana?

You will go to a state licensed dispensary. Once active, you can find them on Nationwide Dispensaries.

Once I have my WI MMJ card, can I grow my own marijuana?

To be determined.

How much legal weed can I have in WI with a card?

To be determined.

Can I Smoke Weed Once Qualified?

To be determined.

Can I take my medical cannabis to a different state?

Medical marijuana patients in all states may face federal and local charges of transporting marijuana if they cross state lines with the drug. This is true even if the states between which they are traveling allow medical marijuana. Should you need to travel with your marijuana it would be best to contact the state’s Bureau of health to understand the exact laws of the state you are traveling to in order to not risk breaking the law.

Who Can Use Marijuana in Wisconsin?

No one – yet.

CBD is for sale online in the forms of oils, topicals, flower and tinctures. CBD products for sale are also in head shops, pet stores and holistic shops around town. Is this CBD Oil legal in Wisconsin?

Hemp CBD oil which is derived from the hemp plant is legal throughout the United States.

Will CBD, Hemp, or cannabidiol oil get me high?

No

What is the difference between CBD & THC?

Psychoactive Vs. Non-Psychoactive. THC creates a euphoric effect due to the way it connects to the bodies endocannabinoid system. The endocannabinoid system has been recently recognized as an important modulatory system in the function of brain, endocrine, and immune tissues. Cannabidiol, or CBD reacts differently and is used with patients that require or prefer non euphoric care.

Is CBD for Pets really a thing?

Yes, CBD for Dogs, CBD for Cats, and CBD for pets in general is becoming a popular treatment for caring for pets that have arthritis, chronic pain and other ailments.

Where can I get CBD for pets?

You can find CBD for pets online, at some pet stores, and at holistic shops.

Are THC edibles allowed in Wisconsin?

No.

How Much Should I consume?

You should always consult with a licensed Wisconsin medical marijuana doctor before using medical marijuana in any forms.

Where To Purchase CBD In Wisconsin

Although there are no government-licensed shops in Wisconsin that sell medical cannabis products such as CBD oil and CBD-infused edibles, vape oils, skin creams, tinctures, and so forth, there are plenty of shops around the state of Wisconsin that are selling CBD oil. These establishments are especially prevalent in the larger cities in the state such as Milwaukee, Madison, Green Bay, and Kenosha.

If you don’t want to leave the comfort of your own home, you can buy CBD products online and have them delivered right to your door.