We have good news for anyone who has previously avoided attempting to obtain a Medical Cannabis Card based on age or the lack of a qualifying condition under state law. The state unveiled a new electronic verification system (EVS) last month. In so doing, they also made it easier to petition the Compassionate Use Board (CUB).
The CUB is tasked with reviewing all Medical Cannabis applications pertaining to underage patients and those without qualifying conditions. It is the board’s responsibility to approve or deny such applications on a case-by-case basis. Up until recently, however, petitioning the board has been cumbersome. That is no longer the case with the new EVS.
We recently published a post discussing the new EVS. If you read that post, you are aware of the fact that the state introduced the new system as a more streamlined experience. Multiple improvements were made in hopes of giving both medical providers and patients a better online experience when applying for new cards, renewing existing cards, and checking records.
How does the new EVS improve petitioning the CUB? By giving medical providers the ability to submit CUB petitions and documents directly from within the system. Prior to August 2024, petitions in documentation had to be submitted through a separate platform.
The new EVS makes it possible for a medical provider to initiate the petitioning process right from the start. But the system is also programmed to automatically invite medical providers to submit CUB petitions on behalf of patients who need them. In essence, the medical provider no longer needs to remember to do it. The system automatically invites them to do it.
Medical providers will see an automatic CUB petition that requests information the board needs to make its decision. Information covers a variety of issues, including:
On its website, the state points out that a patient’s medical team doesn’t have to support the decision to apply for a Medical Cannabis Card. But they do need to be made aware of the petition.
Doing everything online, through the new EVS, eliminates some of the burden previously borne by both Qualified Medical Providers (QMPs) and Limited Medical Providers (LMPs) alike. By eliminating the secondary step of having to submit petitions and documentation through a separate channel, medical providers are more likely to take care of everything on the spot, during a visit with the patient.
So, what does all this mean to you? Perhaps you have avoided trying to get a card because you don’t think you qualify. Or maybe you are the caregiver of a minor you believe could benefit from Medical Cannabis. With the new EVS in place, it is now easier for you and your medical provider to petition the CUB. Now might be the best time for you to apply.
Note that everything else about the process remains the same. After submitting the petition and documentation, you must wait for the CUB to take up your application at their next meeting. The board has the final word on whether you are approved.
If your application is approved, you will be issued a Medical Cannabis Card electronically. That card represents your legal right to visit any Medical Cannabis pharmacy in the state to purchase medicine.
