There are three key steps to becoming a registered patient in Montana
DIAGNOSIS
Montana’s law specifies the medical conditions for which physicians are authorized to make cannabis recommendations (MCA 50-46-102):
“Debilitating medical condition” means: cancer, glaucoma, or positive status for human immunodeficiency virus, acquired immune deficiency syndrome, or the treatment of these conditions; a chronic or debilitating disease or medical condition or its treatment that produces one or more of the following:
cachexia or wasting syndrome;
severe or chronic pain;
severe nausea;
seizures, including but not limited to seizures caused by epilepsy; or severe or persistent muscle spasms, including but not limited to spasms caused by multiple sclerosis or Crohn’s disease;
or any other medical condition or treatment for a medical condition adopted by the department by rule.
DOCTOR’s RECOMMENDATION
You need a physician to sign the state health department’s cannabis recommendation form, which is available on the Internet at:
http://www.dphhs.mt.gov/medicalmarijuana/physicianformnewapp.pdf
FILE an APPLICATION
A patient must send his/her application form (and fee) to the state health department along with the signed physician recommendation. The application fee is $50, and the application form is available on the Internet.
The same form can be used to register a caregiver (each registered patient is allowed to have one). Links to a copy of Montana’s law, and to Frequently Asked Questions (and answers). A financial assistance program exists to help patients for whom the application fee is prohibitive. Please contact PFU for more information.