How to get a medical card, state by state
Each guide is built from the state program’s own website. We only list fees and timelines a state publishes, and we leave states out until we can source them.
| State | Program | Fee (as published) |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission (AMCC) | The AMCC fee schedule lists a patient registration fee of $50 (physical card) or $40 (virtual card), the same amounts for annual renewal, and $25/$20 for a replacement card. |
| Arkansas | Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) Medical Marijuana Program | $50, paid by debit or credit card (American Express not accepted). Application fees are non-refundable. |
| Florida | Office of Medical Marijuana Use (OMMU) | $75 application fee for initial and renewal applications. A replacement or changed card costs $15. |
| Hawaii | Hawaii Department of Health Medical Cannabis Registry Program | $36.05 for a one-year registration ($35.00 DOH fee plus $1.05 administrative fee). |
| Illinois | Illinois Medical Cannabis Patient Program (IDPH) | From the IDPH fee table: $50 (1 year), $100 (2 years), or $125 (3 years) for a regular patient; $25/$50/$75 for reduced-fee patients; $25/$50/$75 for each designated caregiver. |
| Kentucky | Kentucky Medical Cannabis Program | $25 application fee for a qualified patient, per the program’s How to Apply page. |
| Mississippi | Mississippi Medical Cannabis Program (MSDH) | No application fee, but a non-refundable card fee of $25 ($15 for Medicaid participants). Disabled veterans and disabled first responders with documentation may get a fee waiver (MSDH). The practitioner visit costs extra and is not set by MSDH. |
| New Hampshire | Therapeutic Cannabis Program (NH DHHS) | $50 application fee by check or money order payable to “Treasurer – State of NH.” No cash, no online payment, and no hardship reduction. Replacement cards cost $10. Caregivers pay no application fee. |
| New York | New York Office of Cannabis Management Medical Cannabis Program | There is no fee to become a patient. Office visits related to certification may be covered by insurance in some cases, and are Medicaid-reimbursable, per OCM. |
| North Dakota | North Dakota HHS Medical Marijuana Program | $40 non-refundable application fee. |
| Ohio | Ohio Division of Cannabis Control medical program | The Division’s step-by-step page does not list a registration fee; check the registry when you activate. |
| Oklahoma | Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority (OMMA) | $100 plus a $4.30 card processing fee, non-refundable. Reduced to $20 plus $2.50 with proof of Medicaid (SoonerSelect) or Medicare enrollment, or 100% disabled veteran status. |
| Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania Department of Health Medical Marijuana Program | $50 for the patient or caregiver ID card. Participants in Medicaid, PACE/PACENET, CHIP, SNAP, and WIC may qualify for a no-cost card. |
| South Dakota | South Dakota Department of Health Medical Cannabis Program | $75 non-refundable for an initial or renewal card, or $20 for low-income applicants (with income documentation). Home cultivation registration adds $20. A caregiver added outside the renewal cycle costs $20. PayPal adds a 3.49% convenience fee plus $0.49. |
| Utah | Utah DHHS Center for Medical Cannabis | The application page does not state the fee amount; it is shown in the payment email after your provider certifies you. |
| West Virginia | West Virginia Office of Medical Cannabis (OMC) | $50 application fee. A financial hardship waiver can be requested. |
New to medical programs? Start with how medical cannabis programs work. A card does not override federal workplace testing; see cannabis employment law by state.
Common questions
How do you get a medical cannabis card?
In most states: see a practitioner the state has authorized to certify patients, have them enter a certification in the state registry, then apply online with ID and proof of residency and pay the state fee. Details differ by state, as the guides here show.
Do all states charge for a medical card?
No. New York charges no fee to become a patient, while the states listed here that publish a fee range from $25 (Kentucky, Mississippi) to $100 plus processing (Oklahoma). Practitioner visits are usually a separate cost.
Can I use my medical card in another state?
Only where that state allows it. Some programs (for example Oklahoma, Mississippi, and Kentucky) offer visitor registrations; Florida says it does not offer reciprocity.
Coverage
States with a medical program not yet covered here: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Iowa, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Washington, D.C.. Check each state’s health department or cannabis regulator in the meantime.