Medical marijuana is legal in Delaware for patients with qualifying conditions such as cancer, PTSD, severe debilitating pain, ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease), and agitation due to Alzheimer’s. Applicants must be 18 and obtain certification from a licensed MD, DO, APRN, or PA.
Those with qualifying conditions can purchase marijuana from state-regulated, not-for-profit compassion centers. However, home cultivation is prohibited.
Medical marijuana doctors
Medical marijuana is improving health and transforming the lives of Delaware residents with debilitating symptoms. However, many residents still have questions about everything from how to obtain a medical cannabis recommendation card to where to purchase the medication.
The Delaware Department of Health oversees the state’s medical marijuana program. The law permits patients with qualifying conditions to receive a medical marijuana prescription from qualified doctors. Typically, these physicians are licensed MDs, DOs, or APRNs. They must be registered with the state to write medical marijuana recommendations.
Although some physician organizations oppose the legalization of marijuana, other doctors have come around to its benefits, primarily when used for specific ailments. For instance, oncologists have reported that cannabis can relieve cancer-related pain and nausea. It can also stimulate appetites in those losing weight due to chemotherapy.
In Delaware, obtaining a medicinal marijuana card is an easy process. First, the patient must meet with a doctor who can write a recommendation. Next, the patient must complete an online application with the state. The state will review the applications and notify applicants within 45 days. Approved applicants will be sent their medical marijuana card in the mail. If a patient is under 18, they can apply for a card with parental consent. Patients must have a valid driver’s license or state identification to obtain a medical marijuana card.
Heally
The enactment of medicinal cannabis laws has raised several concerns for healthcare professionals, including those who certify patients for the state program. They worry they may jeopardize their federal DEA registrations, ability to prescribe other controlled substances, and Medicare reimbursements. Furthermore, they feel that their employer-mandated drug tests may reveal marijuana use. Some employees have even been fired after disclosing their status as medical marijuana patients.
Delaware has strict marijuana regulations, with age and possession requirements that registered patients must abide by. At least 18 must possess a valid government ID; additionally, they cannot possess more than six ounces at one time, and they can grow no more than three plants with the assistance of caregivers in their home environment. Furthermore, patients cannot smoke or vape marijuana in public without first consulting their caregiver.
In a recent survey, pharmacists reported having limited knowledge of the Delaware medical marijuana program. The majority correctly identified cancer-related pain (90%), seizures or epilepsy (73%), and terminal illness with less than a year of life expectancy (69%). But they failed to correctly identify conditions like glaucoma, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Tourette’s syndrome, or Crohn’s disease; furthermore, some believed obtaining medical marijuana required a valid prescription.
Telehealth
In Delaware, medical marijuana is legal for residents who have lived there for at least one year. Applicants must visit a doctor and verify their conditions as qualifying for medical cannabis treatment by the Division of Public Health. Once a physician signs the application, the patient must pay a state fee. Applicants can also designate caregivers to purchase medical marijuana on their behalf.
Although Delaware legalized possession of up to an ounce of marijuana in 2015, use or possession is still unlawful without a medical marijuana card. Cardholders can purchase various products, including smokable marijuana, edibles, capsules, and vapes, from licensed dispensaries within their state without risk of criminal penalties for possessing more than six ounces per month without facing legal issues. Over 7,000 patients across Delaware hold valid state-issued ID cards, giving access to cannabis dispensaries across their state where patients can legally purchase cannabis products up to six ounces monthly without facing legal risk from legal authorities. More than 7,000 cardholders possess up to six ounces without risk, making their purchases legal rather than illegal when buying products outside licensed dispensaries due to legal regulations on usage and possession restrictions in compliance.
The certifying physician must concur that the patient has a severe illness and will probably benefit therapeutically or palliatively from medical marijuana. They must also sign a written certification form. However, a growing number of doctors are reluctant to sign medical marijuana certificates for fear of being subject to malpractice lawsuits.
Innovations in telehealth technology may help alleviate this problem. For example, the telehealth service allows patients to meet with physicians over video to complete their applications for a medical marijuana card. That makes it possible for more patients to obtain medical marijuana.
Compassion Centers
Delaware has legalized marijuana, but it still does not allow retail sales. It does, however, have compassion centers that dispense the drug to registered medical patients. The centers are also licensed to grow it. Its doctors understand the challenges of treating people with chronic conditions and are committed to helping them find relief from their symptoms.
Under certain conditions, eligible patients may legally purchase up to six ounces of marijuana as long as their doctor has submitted a written recommendation to the Department of Health prior to making any marijuana-related purchases. Qualifying conditions could include severe pain, nausea, seizures, glaucoma, or autism, among many other conditions.
State-licensed and regulated not-for-profit compassion centers are in charge of running the program. These facilities grow and dispense the drug. They must be inspected, and all staff must undergo background checks. Compassion centers cannot advertise medical marijuana sales and may not share office space with doctors.
The state is considering expanding the number of licensed dispensaries during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the meantime, the health department has requested that patients mail their applications rather than deliver them in person. Applicants must have a doctor’s signature and provide a detailed explanation of their condition and how it might be treated with marijuana. They must also submit a photo ID and proof of residency.
