Marijuana Policy Project offers financial assistance to low-income patients for medical marijuana ID cards
Seriously ill Rhode Islanders can now submit applications for ID cards that will allow them to use and grow limited amounts of medical marijuana without fearing arrest by state and local authorities.
Applications are available here. To apply, each patient must fill out a patient form, and his or her physician will need to fill out a separate form certifying that the patient has a qualifying medical condition and that the doctor feels that marijuana's potential benefits outweigh its harms for the patient. The application must be accompanied by a $75 fee (or $10 for patients receiving Supplemental Security Income or Medicaid).
Because some patients could not afford the $75 fee and do not receive Supplemental Security Income or Medicaid, MPP has opened a financial assistance program to cover the ID card fee for low-income patients.
Here is the process for applying for help:
1) The patient fills out the application materials completely.
2) The patient sends the following to MPP: a) completed application materials, including the completed Patient Form and Physician Form; b) a statement describing the illness the patient has; c) a statement of the patient's income and some evidence of that income level, such as a copy of a pay stub, a tax return, or an SSI stub; and d) if the patient does not fall within the qualifying income levels but needs financial assistance, a statement of the patient's income and some evidence of that income level as well as a statement explaining the patient's financial need.
The materials should be mailed to: MPP ATTN: Karen O'Keefe P.O. Box 77492 Capitol Hill Washington, D.C. 20013
3) MPP reviews and determines the likelihood that the patient will qualify for the registry and checks to see if the patient's income level or financial need statement qualifies him/her for funding from MPP. Please note that the review process will take between two and eight days.
4) If the applicant qualifies for financial assistance and it appears that the patient should qualify for the registry, then MPP will attach a check and send the application and fee to the Department of Health. MPP will also notify the applicant of his/her acceptance and that the application has been sent to the Department of Health.
5) If the patient does not qualify for the fund or the registry (in MPP's judgment), MPP will return the application to the patient with a note stating the reason for funding denial.
The determination of qualification will be based on whether: a) the patient appears to qualify for the medical marijuana program, b) the patient either falls below 150% of the federal poverty level or demonstrates financial need in a written statement, and c) the program has enough remaining funds. The federal poverty line is available here.
There are limited funds for the financial assistance program, and we will unfortunately not be able to provide assistance once funding runs out. We are still soliciting and accepting donations to continue the program.