Does an MMJ Card go on your insurance?

[WesMan6868]

Hi

I was just wondering if a mmj card goes on your insurance, or is it just a card? If someone where to look at my medical record, would they know i had a card? Do you have to show insurance when you go to the doc?

Thanks

WesMan6868 Reviewed by WesMan6868 on 02-06-2008. Does an MMJ Card go on your insurance? Hi I was just wondering if a mmj card goes on your insurance, or is it just a card? If someone where to look at my medical record, would they know i had a card? Do you have to show insurance when you go to the doc? Thanks Rating: 5

[Portfolionation]

This is a really important and good thing to ask, and let me tell you the interesting things I know...

Getting a state card is likely a very bad idea. It will show up on any background test, and it is hard to know when you will need to pass a background test. Specifically, it means you can not hold any government job, due to the drug-free workplace laws. This includes simple hourly jobs or even contracting jobs where you are not technically an employee. This latter example is something I have encountered - and I would have never predicted this. Government jobs account for a HUGE percentage of the economy, and i think any young or middle aged or even older person would be silly to risk it.

As for cards issued by clinics, each case seems to have different and unpredictable results. There have been battles over whether busted clinics have to turn over patient records to the state, and also over what to do with information that has already been turned over. This is not a small matter. Consider getting a recommendation from a private doctor who does not do this for a living exclusively, and keeping it handy, but avoiding being associated with the clinics that sell. Also know that you can get a card retroactively if you really do qualify in your state.

I hope this helps. It is an interesting issue and many people do not think about it enough. As for your insurance, your doctor would not know you have it unless you tell them. Yes I know this all sucks, I feel your pain, etc etc....

[indoorgirl]

Also know that you can get a card retroactively if you really do qualify in your state.

What does this mean exactly? I'm a little slow today:hippy:

[JDMBoy420]

no one will be able to find out if you get the card.. the card is optional people. its for convinience and a price.. 10 to 15 bucks. It's the paper recommendation you will get and need. Also that will not be pulled up with your name in any database. Other then the pot shop you go to guten nacht.:rasta:

[Portfolionation]

JDM -
This is only kind of true. If a shop gets busted (i.e. a clinic) you or may not have a flag on your background checks for government work. Generally speaking these checks are much more through than standard background checks. If you get a state card (such as is offered here in California) you will certainly go on a 'list' to keep you off the payrolls of any state or federal agency. A work-around is to get a recommendation from a low-key physician and avoid the club cards.

Using a recommendation retroactively is about vacating a charge. This has been accomplished by some people successfully, but may not be convenient, such as trying to get a recommendation from jail. It is also likely to be expensive and difficult.

Specifically I am speaking about government background checks, such as those that teachers or contractors go through. For example I have a friend who shoplifted when they were 17, the charge came off her record, but when she became a credentialed teacher at age 30 she was asked about it. Typical background checks would not show this, but a school district did. It did not prevent her from getting the job - but they had the discretion to do what they wanted to do with the information. I am merely saying... make a note of it! You may wish now that you had a card, but these things tend to be taken very seriously by the authorities, and can alter the course of your life. I, for one, would not like to see a potential excellent teacher, for example, be unable to take this career course because of this issue.

Anyone to tell you differently, in my opinion, is woefully ignorant or in denial of serious issues and should be ignored.

[Nailhead]

Portfolionation, you seem to be confusing "the card", or at least I'm not sure which card you are talking about.

To be legal in California you don't need any card, that is just a popular myth. The reality is that to be a legal medical marijuana patient, all you need is a written recommendation from a licensed doctor. If you are arrested, all you have to do is show your recommendation to the judge, they call and confirm his license is still active, and if so, they drop any charges against you.

However, to protect patients California also wrote in a mandate that requires all counties to provide official cards for medical marijuana users. In theory, these are intended to bring protection to medical marijuana patients, but this is a theory I personally do not believe. Either way, the card seems to be popular among patients because it has helped some people by avoiding arrests, but because no time was set for how quickly a county must begin distributing these optional cards to patients, many counties have drug their feet with producing them.

But the card is completely optional, and is not legally required, I am legal but do not have one, (or want one). Some doctors who specialize in writing medical marijuana recommendations offer cards, mostly as a gimmick for advertising, but in theory some argue they could offer security, but make no mistake, the cards offered by doctors are worthless plastic, they have no real legal value. That card, too is optional.

But official card or not, I am not aware how having either of these optional cards could possibly be found in a background check. I'm not saying I think it's a good idea to have the government keep you on a list as a medical marijuana patient, but I'm just saying I'm unaware of any news that so far this has been an issue for people working in government jobs. As far as I know, currently this privacy within the state has not been compromised. And because it is a state list, no federal official even has access to that list as of now so I'm not sure how federal employees could possibly be affected.

[Portfolionation]

Nailhead, thank you for trying to clarify my post. You, uh, hit the nail on the head?

Suffice it to say, this has been a problem among my group of friends. Specifically, I am talking about county cards and likely not for every job. However there certainly have been court cases about whether or not patient records for clinics are subject to perusal by feds. Conspiracy laws offer significant leverage for feds to pursue this avenue.

There have been efforts to protect the anonymity of patients, for example by not keeping any data. The bay area county system is leaning in this direction - in fact I believe an anon system has been implemented, but I'm not sure.

There is an interesting web site called ontherecord.org that has some posts about this issue.

You are totally correct and on the point that all a person really needs is a doctor's note. There are many doctors that will do this low-key. Correcting this myth (that to be legal you need a county card) is a worthwhile project, especially because of the issues stated above. In my mind, the more you can keep yourself away from a self-identified list the better

I think, however, this does not help the person who wants to be able to go to a clinic for meds. It's all really a mess, in my opinion.

[psteve]

Hi

I was just wondering if a mmj card goes on your insurance, or is it just a card? If someone where to look at my medical record, would they know i had a card? Do you have to show insurance when you go to the doc?

Thanks

In Oregon and Washington, the answers are...
No, No and NO.
No one knows unless you tell them.

[memoryburner]

man...if i got a signed recommendation from my doctor, i would have it laminated and wear it around my neck...but thats just me :jointsmile:

[Nailhead]

There have been efforts to protect the anonymity of patients, for example by not keeping any data. The bay area county system is leaning in this direction - in fact I believe an anon system has been implemented, but I'm not sure.

I've heard about this too, and while I'm not sure, I hear that they shread your data after you are given the card. However, I'm not sure how your card can be confirmed legit by law enforcement if there is no one to call to confirm this...but it would be nice.

But the reality to medical marijuana privacy is that it does not exist. Every co-op you visit has your information, so if the DEA wants to start arresting patients they don't even need the state list, they can get a much larger list straight from the clubs they raid. I don't think they would do this, but after seeing "Waiting to Inhale" I believe those terrorist assholes will do anything to keep freedom at bay.