Medical Marijuana Financial Assistance Program

MPP has launched a landmark program to help low-income patients obtain government-issued registry cards that will allow the patients to use marijuana legally under state law.

Low-income patients or caregivers in Colorado, Montana, Nevada, Vermont, and Rhode Island are eligible to apply for financial assistance from MPP to cover their medical marijuana ID card application fee. Currently, due to high demand and extremely limited funding for this program, we will be accepting applications only from those who receive SSI, SSDI, or Medicaid benefits.

These scholarships are made possible by the donations of generous supporters, and MPP's ability to continue to provide this assistance is dependent on continued financial support. You can donate to sponsor a patient in need here.

*Nevada charges a $50 non-refundable fee to request the application and then $150 to join the program once accepted. Nevada also requires a) the patient be fingerprinted, for which the cost varies from $4-20, depending on where it's done; and b) a $11-22 fee paid to the DMV for photo-taking and making the actual physical card. MPP will typically reimburse the $50 application fee to the patient and pay the $150 fee directly to the registry program. The fingerprinting and DMV photo fees may also be reimbursed if the patient provides receipts showing how much he or she paid.

**The fee is $10 for patients on SSI, SSDI, or Medicaid.

Important information for applicants to the Medical Marijuana Financial Assistance Program:

• We will only accept patients who receive SSI, SSDI, or Medicaid benefits. We're sorry, but funding pressures require us to focus our financial resources on only those patients who are most in need.
• We will not reimburse you for an application fee already paid; we will pay your fee directly to the registry. (We will reimburse the $50 initial application fee for Nevada patients only, in addition to paying the $150 application fee directly to the state).
• We will not pay for any doctor visit costs or medical expenses whatsoever. We only pay the medical marijuana registry fee itself. We're sorry, but MPP simply does not have the resources to pay medical care for all the patients who would qualify.
• No need to overnight your application. There is also no need to enclosed stamps or stamped envelopes; we will pay the postage to send your application to the registry.

If you are a patient who would like to apply for financial assistance from MPP, please follow this process:

1. Fill out the state's application materials completely.

Colorado: http://www.cdphe.state.co.us/hs/Medicalmarijuana/marijuanafactsheet.html

Montana: http://www.dphhs.mt.gov/medicalmarijuana

Nevada: http://health.nv.gov/MedicalMarijuana.htm

You must call the Nevada Department of Health & Human Services at (775) 687-7594 to request information on how to receive an application packet.

Rhode Island: http://www.health.ri.gov/hsr/mmp/index.php

Vermont: http://www.dps.state.vt.us/cjs/marijuana.htm

2. Send the following to MPP:

• Completed application materials, including any physician or practitioner recommendations required by state law;
• A statement describing the illness the patient has;
• Proof of receving SSI, SSDI, or Medicaid benefits, such as an award letter.

Mail materials to:

MPP
Attn.: Tim Hemphill
236 Massachusetts Ave NE
Suite 400
Washington, D.C. 20002

3. MPP will review the application and determine the likelihood that the patient will qualify for the registry, as well as check to see if the patient receives SSI, SSDI, or Medicaid benefits qualifying him or her for funding from MPP. The review process will take up to 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 for the appropriate amount and send the application and fee to the department that runs the registry. MPP will also notify the applicant of his or her approval for financial aid and that the application has been sent to the department. In the case of Nevada, MPP will send the applicant a $50 check to reimburse him or her for the initial application fee.

5. If, in MPP's judgment, the patient does not qualify for the fund or the registry, MPP will return the application to the patient with a note stating the reason for funding denial.

A patient will qualify if:

1. the patient has one of the qualifying conditions,
2. the patient demonstrates financial need by showing proof of SSI, SSDI, or Medicaid benefits, and
3. the program has enough remaining funds.

Please note that there are limited funds for the financial assistance program, and we will unfortunately not be able to provide assistance once funding runs out. Moreover, funding in states not currently covered by the program is dependent on donors coming forward to fund the program for those states. We are, however, always soliciting and accepting donations to continue the program.