How to Get Your Medical Marijuana Red Card

(Step by Step with Documentation)

As more people are using medical marijuana to help them improve their health and well-being, the guidelines and processes for getting a Red Card are becoming more precise.  If you’d like to be able to visit medical marijuana dispensaries, you’ll need to get a valid Red Card, otherwise you will be limited to recreational dispensaries.  We’ve outlined this entire process below, so you can begin utilizing cannabis for your health!

Step One: Check to See if You’re Eligible

Your first step should be to check if you’re eligible for your Red Card.  The qualifying medical conditions from the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment vary between adults and minors.  Adults must be over 18 years old, be a resident of the state of Colorado, and have a qualifying medical condition.  A minor must have a qualifying medical condition and be a Colorado resident.  The minor’s primary parent or legal guardian must also be a Colorado resident.

Step Two: Set up a Consultation with a State-Certified Physician

If you have determined that you meet the qualifications to get a marijuana Red Card, setting an appointment with a physician is your second step.  Once you have set up your appointment, they’ll ask you to bring your state-issued Colorado ID and payment for the consultation to your appointment.

Step Three: Go to Your Consultation

When you meet with your Colorado state certified physician for your consultation, they may ask you about your medical conditions, your pain levels, and current methods of treatment.  Minors who qualify for a red card will have to see two separate physicians who both conclude that the child has been diagnosed with a condition that requires medical marijuana treatment.  Your application must contain that documentation from both physicians.  During your appointment, ask your physician to verify that all the information on your physician certification is correct, as sometimes there may be changes that you might not be made aware of.

Step Four: Decide if You Want a Caregiver

You’ll have to decide if you would like to designate a caregiver or not.  A caregiver isn’t required for a Red Card, but you do want to decide ahead of time whether or not you want one.  If you do decide to designate a caregiver for yourself, you’ll have to have a completed Caregiver Acknowledgement form filled out and signed before you apply for your Medical Marijuana Red Card.  Caregivers will typically encourage you to apply online, as this eliminates the hassle of paper.

Step Five: Apply for your Red Card Online

It’s important to collect all the required documents before submitting your application.  Check this website for the most up-to-date information from the state of Colorado.
Currently, any adult over 18 will need to have:

• Account login and password (you can create an account here)
• Filled out and signed physician certification (dated within the last 60 days)
• Credit card or banking information
• Caregiver Acknowledgement and Caregiver Registration ID (if applicable)
• Copy of a valid Colorado identification card (a clear photo in JPEG or PDF format if you’re submitting online.)

Parents and legal representatives of any minors will have to have slightly different documentation including:

• Account login and password (you can create an account here)
• Copy of the primary parent’s valid Colorado identification card (a clear photo in JPEG or PDF format if you’re submitting online.)
• A certified copy of the child’s state-issued birth certificate
• Two filled out and signed physician certifications (dated within the last 60 days)
• Caregiver’s Registration ID (if the parent isn’t the caregiver)
• Credit card or banking information
• Completed and notarized minor patient consent form

Step Six: Wait for an Approval or a Denial

Wait for your Red Card application to be approved or denied.  Applying online speeds up the application process, and you can check your application processing status by clicking here.  If you’re approved, your Red Card will be mailed to you by standard first class mail.  If the application is rejected, you’ll get a letter stating why.

Qualifying Medical Conditions and Conditions Denied by the State of Colorado

Although the state of Colorado officially legalized medical marijuana in 2000 and medical marijuana dispensaries are becoming more common, there are certain medical conditions the state accepts for Red Card approvals, and ones it will deny.

Qualifying Medical Conditions

• AIDS/HIV
• Cachexia
• Cancer
• Glaucoma
• Persistent Muscle Spasms
• Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
• Seizures or Epilepsy
• Severe Nausea
• Severe or Chronic Pain

State Denied Conditions

• Asthma
• Atherosclerosis
• Bipolar Disorder
• Clinical Depression
• Diabetic Retinopathy
• Hypertension
• MRSA (Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus)
• Opioid Dependence
• Severe Anxiety
• Tourette’s Syndrome
• Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes

Medical Marijuana can help many conditions, and Strawberry Fields is proud to serve our most distinguished patients in Colorado Springs.  If you are interested in getting your Medical Marijuana Red Card, we hope the resources and links above will help you to get the care that you need.  Spread the Red!