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What is a Travel Med Card? Tips for Using Medical Cannabis in Puerto Rico

Mary Ekundayo

by Mary Ekundayo

March 15, 2024 08:00 am ET Estimated Read Time: 6 Minutes
Fact checked by Kymberly Drapcho
What is a Travel Med Card? Tips for Using Medical Cannabis in Puerto Rico

Have you ever wondered what people refer to when they talk about a travel medical card? Or maybe you’re curious if it’s something more than just a regular medical card. No worries: the Veriheal team is here to help you out.

Puerto Rico now allows visitors to obtain a travel med card. A travel medical card is just like every other medical card, but it comes with some perks. You can refer to it as a document containing important details about your medical history, allergies, medications, and emergency contacts. 

Having a travel medical card with you whenever you travel is essential, especially when you travel abroad. This can come in handy if you ever have a medical emergency and need urgent help. It also makes it easier for healthcare providers to get quick access to your health records, which will help them cater to your specific needs. 

Medical Cannabis for Visitors in Puerto Rico

In Puerto Rico, medical cannabis patients with valid recommendations and ID cards from U.S. states can benefit from reciprocity for up to 30 days, provided those states maintain accessible patient verification databases. Remarkably, Puerto Rico doesn’t demand residency for qualifying patients, allowing non-residents to acquire local medical cannabis cards by simply visiting authorized healthcare providers, completing an application, and paying a $25 fee.

However, this reciprocity duration limitation poses a challenge for non-residents needing cannabis beyond 30 days, as they must then comply with Puerto Rican laws to become certified patients.

Furthermore, visitors from states without medical cannabis IDs can apply for Puerto Rican cards after consulting authorized healthcare providers, granting them access for a maximum of 30 days.

Strict regulations surround cannabis consumption in Puerto Rico. Smoking cannabis, even for medical purposes, is strictly prohibited. While vaporizing cannabis flowers is allowed under specific conditions – when determined as the ideal administration method by a healthcare provider, when no suitable alternatives exist, or in cases of terminal illness – it is tightly regulated. Dispensaries are also prohibited from supplying cannabis flowers to patients without explicit vaporization authorization in their medical cannabis recommendation. This raises questions about whether non-resident patients can access cannabis flowers without a Puerto Rican card.

To address this uncertainty, non-resident patients are advised to obtain a note from their healthcare provider, accompanied by their home-state medical cannabis recommendation and card, to present to dispensary staff as potential documentation for flower access.

Benefits of a Travel Medical Card 

When visiting Puerto Rico — or anywhere in the U.S. or abroad — keeping your medical information on you is a crucial aspect of making sure you’re using cannabis safely and legally. Other benefits of having a Travel Med Card include:

1. It Contains Emergency Information

When it comes to urgent medical situations, let’s all remember that every second counts, and having all your vital medical information in one place makes everything more efficient. A travel medical card contains important information about your health. It contains essential medical information such as your allergies, if there’s any pre-existing medical condition that they need to take note of, or if you’re on any specific medication. It’s essential during emergencies when you may not be able to explain and communicate with the medical team effectively. 

Why You Should Get Your Medical Marijuana Card

Veriheal has satisfied millions of patients nationwide by giving them access to these benefits

  • Larger purchase limits
  • Peace of mind
  • Enhanced legal protection
  • Access to higher potency strains
  • Save up to 25% on cannabis purchases
  • Skip the line at the dispensary

3. It Aids Communication When There’s a Language Barrier

Your travel medical card will serve as your voice when you are unable to speak or face a language barrier. It can easily bridge those barriers and ensure that healthcare providers can understand your medical needs even if they do not speak the same language as you. 

4. A Travel Med Card Helps You Find Peace of Mind

A travel med card can enhance your sense of calm. After all, you have a tangible resource that can provide essential information about your health In case of any emergency while you’re traveling. Even in an unfamiliar environment, the healthcare providers will have access to your medical information, allowing them to serve you better. 

Tips for Medical Cannabis Consumption in Puerto Rico 

If you’re traveling to Puerto Rico and you’re unfamiliar with the rules of medical cannabis consumption, here are some helpful tips to help you stay out of trouble and enjoy your holiday.

Get Familiar With The  Laws 

The first thing you need to do to have a peaceful and memorable cannabis experience in Puerto Rico is to get familiar with the Puerto Rico laws and regulations as regards the use of medical cannabis. Medical cannabis in Puerto Rico has become a booming industry since its legalization, with the government issuing about 77+ dispensary licenses with several cannabis dispensaries scattered all over the state. 

Make sure to stick to the legal guidelines like consumption restrictions and possession limits to avoid legal issues. 

Consult a Medical Professional

Before you start using medical marijuana, it is best that you consult a medical marijuana expert. This consultation is to help you know a few things about the potential benefits and associated risks. The healthcare provider will help determine if medical marijuana is the most appropriate treatment option for you and also guide you on dosing and consumption methods.

Start With Lower Dosing 

If you’re new to cannabis or haven’t used cannabis in a while, then this tip is for you. It’s a gradual process, and starting with low doses will help you gauge how well your body can tolerate it and will also help to minimize the risk associated with cannabis use. After all these have been confirmed, you can now gradually increase your dosage as needed 

Choose The Appropriate Consumption Method 

Smoking cannabis is not legal in Puerto Rico, but many other consumption methods are. To make the most of your time on the Island of Enchantment, 

Visit Licensed Dispensaries Only 

Ensure you visit dispensaries authorized by the Puerto Rico Department of Health. Over there, you have different options of medical marijuana products ranging from tinctures, edibles, topical concentrates, and oils. Veriheal can also help you find a medical marijuana doctor near you.

Store Cannabis Products Safely 

To keep enjoying your cannabis consumption, you need to make sure your cannabis products are in good condition. They’re to be in cool, dark, and dry places. Also, ensure they are kept out of reach of kids and far away from pets. Proper storage will help maintain your marijuana’s potency and keep it fresh. 

Having a medical card is very important and should never be overlooked. Those with specific medical conditions need to be with it at all times to enable them to get medical care at any time. When in doubt, do your research on regulations and laws in the area you’re visiting to make the most of your vacation. 

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