So it’s time for your medical marijuana card renewal in California, since you still need a doctor’s recommendation all the way through 2018. That wouldn’t be a big deal if it wasn’t for the hassle that comes along with visiting the doctor. Fortunately, that’s not a problem when you renew your medical marijuana card online. It’s hardly a well-kept secret that all the documentation needed to become a legal medical marijuana patient and frequent local dispensaries can be attained 100% online, and you can be sure the evaluation is quicker and easier than visiting an in-person doctor. Going through the medical marijuana renewal process over the web works in the exact same way that a physical, face-to-face evaluation would, except you don’t even have to leave your house.

What is a Medical Marijuana Card and Doctor’s Recommendation?

You need a doctor’s recommendation in order to legally purchase medical marijuana in any form in the State of California. Luckily, a cannabis card isn’t super hard to get, but the recommendation needs to be given by a licensed doctor in California in order to be accepted by local California cannabis dispensaries. You can get one from your any osteopath, physician, or surgeon for a variety of medical issues, including seizures, glaucoma, AIDS, cancer, and literally any other condition that comes with symptoms that can be treated by medical marijuana.

That being said, not every doctor will give you medical approval for cannabis. That’s why there are special licensed doctors who do just that, and many sites & companies have already discussed the detailed process for how to get a medical marijuana card. These specialized doctors have facilities all over California, so getting your rec or card renewal at one of their 420 evaluation clinics is certainly an available option, although as we’ll discuss momentarily, completing your 420 evaluation online is certainly the cheapest and most convenient route to take. Once you get the doctor’s recommendation and necessary documentation, you can also register for the Medical Marijuana Identification Card Program (MMICP), which adds you to an online registry for California cannabis patients and allows you to receive a state-issued medical marijuana card.<

Having this card is voluntary for patients, but incredibly convenient. Once you’ve registered to a dispensary, you can usually just show them your card whenever you go in. Also, it’s much easier to carry around than an 8.5”x11” sheet of paper. Registering for a cannabis card makes it easier to look you up in the healthcare database and, once you’re in the system, your registered patient identification number can be easily searched and verified through the California Department of Public Health database by dispensaries and law enforcement. It’s important to note though that your patient-status then becomes publicly available, and that the same legal protection and qualified patient-status can be achieved by going through a third party (like NuggMD) that’s not connected to the state run program, where your information stays completely confidential and protected by HIPAA law.

What is a Medical Marijuana Renewal, and Why Do I Need One?

If you’re wondering what a renewal is, then you probably already have your doctor’s recommendation or medical marijuana card. When Proposition 215 and the California Senate Bill 420 were established in the state of California, all doctors with a California medical board license became able to recommend marijuana for medical use to any patients suffering from medical conditions that are treatable with cannabis. So, if you decide not to go to your regular physician for your recommendation renewal, any licensed medical doctor in the state of California is able to get you the marijuana recommendation renewal you need to continue visiting dispensaries.

No matter where you go or who you get your recommendation from, the maximum amount of time a medical marijuana recommendation is valid for is one year. When your recommendation expires, so does your weed card. Before it gets to the expiration date on your doctor’s recommendation, you’ll want go in for your cannabis card renewal.

Save Time and Money, Renew Your Medical Marijuana Card Online

Getting your weed card renewal is already really easy, but usually it entails an appointment, going on an inner-city trip, sitting in a waiting room with strangers, and all the other things that come along with a visit to the doctor. When you actually get to the point where you get your documents renewed, you normally don’t need a full evaluation, and the whole process goes by incredibly fast, making the online option much more favorable for most patients. Believe it or not, you can skip all that troublesome travel in between, and skip straight the point when you renew your medical marijuana card online.

For example, take a look at the online medical marijuana renewal process NuggMD has for patients. All a patient has to do is upload their current medical documents, then have a quick face-to-face video chat with a licensed doctor. After a speedy evaluation, they’ll have their cannabis recommendation completely renewed and mailed out the same day (in addition to a temporary PDF copy which becomes available immediately via email). Patients even have the option of renewing their card along with their rec, so they can get it all done in one go. The entire service is offered for the same low price of $39, and patients can do it from the comfort of their own home.

If I Don’t Have Internet Access, Where Can I Renew My Cannabis Card?

If you don’t have Internet access, you’re probably asking yourself “Where can I renew my medical marijuana card?” Well, no worries. There are still places to go out and see a licensed medical marijuana doctor in all major cities in California. To help you out, here are some of the top-rated spots to renew your medical cannabis card in the major California cities.

Medical Marijuana Renewal San Diego – San Diego 420 Evaluations

With nearly five stars on Yelp, and some patients even specifically talking about speedy renewals, if you can’t get your medical marijuana card renewal online, reviews say that this is the place to go.

Medical Marijuana Renewal San Jose – San Jose 420 Evaluations

Yelp reviews say this place is great for friendly and fast renewals, and a clean environment for you to go and get your documents taken care of. 342 ratings and nearly 5 stars can’t be wrong!

Medical Marijuana Renewal Los Angeles – 420 Evaluations

With an arsenal of Yelp reviews saying that the renewal process is quick, easy, and low-cost, if you’re in the LA area, you can stop by one of their locations.

Cannabis Card Renewal San Francisco – Green Evaluations

Set up inside of the legendary Amoeba Records, Yelp patients have reported that the staff inside of Green Evaluations are fast and informative, but be sure to make an appointment beforehand!