Is the service of requesting a medical cannabis license online legal?
Our service offered is completely legal. Law 42-2017 authorizes doctors to prescribe Cannabis for medicinal use when treating certain conditions. Law 169-2018 authorizes the use of telemedicine and the online management service with the patient’s consent to process their application on their behalf at the Department of Health.
What is the process to apply for a medical cannabis license?
The process involves several steps:
- Start with you registering by filling out a short form where your demographic and health information is collected.
- In that form you also include a photo of your official government identification (driver’s license, passport, Real ID, etc.)
- When you complete the registration, you select your service plan and issue the corresponding payment.
- A doctor will contact you for an evaluation.
- If qualified, the doctor certifies a recommendation for the use of Medicinal Cannabis.
- With this recommendation and other documents, you can go to the Puerto Rico Department of Health to request your Medical Cannabis license. For a complete list of necessary documents please visit: Documents Required by the Department of Health.
- If you choose our full service plan, we will manage all the necessary documents and monetary requirements in the Health Department for you in an expedited manner.
- After 24 to 48 hours, you will receive by email your voucher that authorizes you to buy Medicinal Cannabis in any dispensary.
It depends on the availability of the Health Department.
How do you protect my patient information?
We use the highest standards to ensure the protection of your patient information, including that all our digital platform is encrypted and protected by SSL, as well as all digital communication. We comply with all the requirements of the Medical Insurance Transfer and Liability Act known as HIPPA.
How long does the process take to receive a medical cannabis license?
The average time to receive your patient card 30 days.
For what conditions can a medicinal cannabis license be requested?
- Anxiety Disorders
- Insomnia
- PTSD
- Depression
- Bipolar disorder
- Chronic pain
- Arthritis
- Glaucoma
- Migraine
- Severe Nausea
- Fibromyalgia
- Intestinal Inflammatory Disease
- Anorexia
- Epilepsy
- Autism
- Alzheimer’s
- Parkinson
- Persistent Muscle Spasms
- Hepatitis C
- Cancer
- HIV
- AIDS
- Spinal Cord Injury
- Multiple sclerosis
- Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
- Peripheral neuropathies
- Cachexia
- Incurable and advanced diseases that require palliative care
What evidence do I need of my condition to apply for a medical cannabis license?
The necessary evidence is at the discretion of the doctor who evaluates you. During the consultation, the doctor can administer certain tests that help you determine if you qualify. For example, the doctor can administer the GAD-7 test to determine if your anxiety levels qualify you for use of Medicinal Cannabis.
Additionally, you can support your condition with some of the following documents:
- A certification of your condition by your primary doctor or specialist.
- Recent reading of a plate (X-ray, CT-Scan or MRI).
- Prescribed medications that are no longer than 3 months.
How will the doctor communicate with me?
After 24 to 48 hours (* subject to the availability of the Department of Health) you will receive by email your voucher with a validity of 365 days that authorizes you to buy Medical Cannabis at any dispensary.
When will the doctor contact me?
In a period of 24 working hours after completing your registration.
What happens during the medical evaluation with the doctor?
Island Med is entirely online for your convenience. You will have a telephone conference with one of Puerto Rico’s licensed physician for a medical marijuana evaluation. Appointments are generally completed in 10-15 minutes.
Under no circumstance does Island Med guarantee the approval of your application. The determination of your application depends solely on the doctor’s decision.
At the time of being evaluated by the doctor, if during the consultation there is no evidence of suffering from at least one of the conditions approved by the Department of Health, no refund is made.
If you have already been evaluated by a doctor and your case is already filed with the Department of Health, there is no refund of money. Only specific cases are meticulously reviewed and handled for consideration of a possible unsecured credit.
What information do I need to provide to the doctor when we speak?
You must have completed the registration in our digital platform, selected the service plan, made the payment, your government identification and any evidence that helps to support your medical condition.
What is a medical recommendation for use of Medicinal Cannabis?
After a medical evaluation, if the authorized physician determines that you suffer from a condition covered by Law 42-2017 and that you would benefit from Cannabis treatment, he or she will make a written recommendation for the use of Medicinal Cannabis. This recommendation is NOT a prescription.
What are the authorized means for the consumption of Medicinal Cannabis?
- Cannabis flower vaporization or concentrate (non-smoked)
- Medicinal Cannabis edible products
- Concentrated food products
- Leaf (trim)
- Pills
- Oral drops
- Oral inhalers
- Topics, ointments, creams
- Suppositories
- Patches (“transdermal patches”)
How is the Medicinal Cannabis consumption medium determined by the doctor?
The doctor determines the authorized means of consumption according to their condition and severity of said condition presented during their evaluation.
What is the quantity limit that a dispensary can sell me?
The maximum daily supply limit that can be dispensed to a patient will be one ounce, equivalent to 28 grams of the Medicinal Cannabis flower or its equivalent. According to the new regulation, the proportion of flower to concentrate and edible will be the following:
- 28 grams of flower will equal eight grams of THC in concentrate
- 28 grams of flower will equal 800 milligrams of THC in edible
Patients or their authorized companions with a valid and current registration for the use of Medicinal Cannabis can acquire and possess up to a maximum supply of up to 30 days of Medicinal Cannabis in registered and licensed dispensaries.
What documents do I need to apply for a medicinal cannabis license?
- Medical Evidence
- Official Identification (Real ID, DTOP ID, Driver’s License or Passport)
What happens if I am not approved for a recommendation for the use of Medicinal Cannabis by the doctor?
At the time of being evaluated by the doctor if during the consultation there is no evidence of suffering from at least one of the conditions approved by the Department of Health, no refund is made.
When do I need to provide my photo for medical cannabis license?
During your registration in our digital platform.
How should my picture be?
The photo should be of your face, neck up, facing forward, and with the white background. You must not wear a cap or glasses.
Where do I send my photo?
The photo can be uploaded through our digital platform during registration or it can be sent to vouchers@islandmedpr.com. Attached to the photo you must attach your official ID and your social security number.
What IDs are valid when applying for my medical cannabis license?
The official IDs used to request your medical cannabis license are the following: Real ID, DTOP ID, Driver’s License or Passport.
When do I need to provide my identification?
During your registration in our digital platform.
Where can I pick up my voucher / license once it is issued?
You will be notified to pick up your voucher / license at one of our allied dispensaries that serve as a distribution center near your place of residence for your convenience.
How long is a medical cannabis voucher valid?
30 days.
How long is a medical cannabis license valid?
It is at the discretion of the doctor or doctor who evaluates, maximum term of up to 1 year.
What are the costs related to receiving a medical cannabis license?
They vary according to the service plan chosen
Only Medical Recommendation:
- $84 Medical Recommendation
Full service:
- $ 84 Medical Recommendation
- $ 25 Postal Stamp
- $ 25 Gestoría
- $ 20 Dept. of Health Charge for Expedited Digital Service
How much does it cost to renew my medical cannabis license?
It depends on the service plan you choose.
Where is IslandMed located?
1452 Manuel Fernández Juncos Avenue, San Juan, PR 00909
What payment methods do you accept?
All credit cards and ATH Mobile.
What are the requirements for a minor to apply for a medical cannabis license?
Minors must present the following when requesting:
- Medical evidence.
- 2 medical recommendations by doctors certified to recommend medical cannabis.
- Letter from both parents or legal guardian authorizing minor to receive medical cannabis treatment.
- If one of the parents is absent, produce documents of authority / custody.
- Official identification of the child’s status, whether it is a DTOP ID or passport.
- Designate an Authorized Companion either the child’s father or mother. It can be the minor’s guardian. They must be over 21 years old.
- Provide an official identification of the State and Criminal Record of the Authorized Accompanist.
What are the requirements for a person to act as an authorized escort for a minor applying for a medical cannabis license?
The Authorized Companion must be:
- Parent, legal guardian or legal guardian of the minor applicant
- Over 21 years old
- Provide an Official Identification of the State
- Providing Criminal Background of the Authorized Companion
If I already have my voucher or Patient Identification Card, where can I buy Medicinal Cannabis?
Patients can only buy Medicinal Cannabis in a dispensary duly licensed by the Department of Health.
What doctors can recommend the use of Medicinal Cannabis?
Only physicians duly certified with the Puerto Rico Department of Health can recommend the use of Medicinal Cannabis.
To be certified they need:
- Be licensed to practice medicine in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico
- Be licensed to prescribe controlled Class II drugs in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico
- Have completed a certified training course by the Department of Health on Medical Cannabis for at least eight (8) contact hours
- Certified check, manager’s check or money order in the name of the Secretary of the Treasury in the amount of $ 1,500.00.
All our doctors are duly certified.
If I already have my Patient Identification Card, where can I use Medicinal Cannabis?
According to the provisions of Law 42-2017, medicinal cannabis patients will only be able to consume medicinal cannabis in the privacy of their homes or in private places where their owners authorize the patient to consume medicinal cannabis. The use of medical cannabis is prohibited in public places.
Reimbursement
If you have been evaluated by one of our Medical Doctors and your case has been filed in the Department of Health there is no monetary reimbursement. Only specific cases are reviewed and handle meticulously for consideration of a possible non guarantee credit.
