Medical or Recreational Marijuana

Medical marijuana has made its way to the state of Connecticut, legally. It is still illegal to use this drug recreationally but it seems that recreational use of marijuana could be legalized in Connecticut in the future. After all, recreational use of marijuana is already legal in other states. 

But for now, only specific patients qualify for the use of this drug. Most of the time, medical marijuana is prescribed for debilitating medical conditions such as cancer, post-traumatic stress disorder, and epilepsy. While there are many other serious conditions included, it is strictly managed by the Department of Consumer Protection.

Qualifications For the Use of Medical Marijuana

Firstly, you must schedule an appointment with the doctor treating you for your condition. Your doctor or physician are the only people who can approve your use of medical marijuana. You are able to get certified for the treatment of medical marijuana when the potential benefits outweigh the risks involved with your conditions. 

Even with your physician approving this type of treatment for you and your condition, additional information will be requested to double check that you are eligible for the medical marijuana that you have been approved for. Patients must also be at least 18 years old and live in Connecticut to be approved. If you are an inmate in a correctional institution, you do not qualify for this treatment option no matter the circumstances of the medical condition. 

Rules and Regulations

Many people are curious if health insurance companies are required to cover the expense of this treatment and the answer is no. Your health insurance has the right to deny your request for financial aid and you then end up paying out-of-pocket.

Even if a patient is certified to use medical marijuana, it is still prohibited in most public places such as buses or any moving vehicle, workplace, school grounds, or in the presence of anyone under the age of 18. These patients also have a maximum amount of medical marijuana per month that they can receive, which is 2.5 ounces. Considering that is the most amount of marijuana a patient can have for one month, they may only need a very small portion depending on the disease or illness being treated. 

Schools, landlords, or employers are not legally allowed to refuse their services to someone simply because they are being treated with medical marijuana. Employers have the ability to punish an employee for not following the specified rules regarding the use of medical marijuana while working. If you don’t see your condition listed as one that is able to potentially receive this specific treatment, you can petition the Board of Physicians to add another medical condition that might need to be included on the list.

Getting Help

If you or someone you know has any questions regarding the laws of marijuana and how it could affect you, contact my office. If you have questions about medical marijuana and driving under the influence, I can also assist. Call the office and I would be happy to help in any way that I am able.