Medical Marijuana Doctors

In 2015, Puerto Rico joined the ranks of other U.S. states and territories when its governor signed an executive order to legalize medical marijuana. Although the country has since issued additional regulations to add clarity, its Medical Cannabis Act allows patients to pursue marijuana for the treatment of many debilitating conditions.

Qualifying Conditions for Medical Marijuana in Puerto Rico

The debilitating conditions that qualify for medical marijuana treatment programs include but are not limited to:

• Cancer
• HIV/AIDS
• Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
• Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
• Epilepsy
• Parkinson’s Disease
• Alzheimer’s Disease
• Crohn’s Disease
• Fibromyalgia
• Spinal cord injuries
• Hepatitis C
• Arthritis
• Anxiety disorders
• Anorexia

You could also be approved by a certifying physician if you have a condition that isn’t on this list, if you haven’t responded well to traditional forms of treatment.

Medical Marijuana Program in Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico has its own set of regulations for Medical Marijuana that is influenced by current legislation in U.S. states where medical marijuana is legalized. The Medicinal Cannabis Regulatory Board (MCRB) is part of Puerto Rico’s Department of Health, which oversees the entire medical marijuana treatment program.

The MCRB not only authorizes medical marijuana cards to qualified patients, but it also:

• Provides training and certification to physicians who wish to recommend medical cannabis
• Regulates and authorizes medicinal cannabis establishments
• Provides occupational licenses to those who want to work at a medicinal cannabis establishment

The program doesn’t allow patients to smoke medical marijuana, but other methods, such as vaporization, are permitted.

Getting a Medical Marijuana Card in Puerto Rico

Medical marijuana cards can be obtained by both residents of Puerto Rico and visitors who have a medical marijuana card in their state. Residents must follow this process:

1. Meet with an MCRB registered physician.
2. Receive a recommendation from that physician.
3. Fill out an MCRB application and the associated forms.
4. Submit the doctor’s recommendation, the application, application fee and identity documents in person to the Medicinal Cannabis Regulatory Board.
5. Wait for a medical marijuana card.
6. Choose one medicinal cannabis establishment to receive medications from.

Visitors with a medical marijuana card from their home state can go in person to the Medicinal Cannabis Regulatory Board to fill out an application and pay a fee to purchase cannabis medications while in Puerto Rico.

Medical Marijuana Statistics for Puerto Rico

In November 2017, the Medicinal Cannabis Regulatory Board released the following statistics:

• There are over 12,000 patients in Puerto Rico’s medical marijuana program.
• 51 percent of medical marijuana patients are male.
• Most patients are middle-aged, and 22 percent are between the ages of 51 and 60.
• Patients use medical marijuana for chronic pain and anxiety disorders more than anything else.

Check Out More Resources for Medical Marijuana Patients in Puerto Rico

• Medical Marijuana in Puerto Rico
• Medical Marijuana Laws in Puerto Rico
• Qualifying for Medical Marijuana in Puerto Rico
• Puerto Rico Medical Marijuana Card & Program Information