What does a card cost?
Compare eight illustrative state program fees, then account for clinician, processing and product costs.
Read guideMedical cannabis cards, explained.
Find the right state program, understand the fees and keep your eligibility current.
Start with your state’s rules
A clinician may certify an eligible patient for medical cannabis, but certification and a state registry credential are not always the same thing. New York registers patients when they are certified and no longer issues physical cards. Ohio requires an active physician recommendation and registry card for medical purchases. Check the official program before paying a third-party service. New York OCM · Ohio DCC
What if it expires?
Find the two dates to check and see how five states handle renewal or active status.
Read guideWhat are the benefits?
Compare specific access and tax examples alongside eligibility and employment limits.
Read guideHow to apply
- Find your state’s official medical program and check its qualifying conditions.
- Ask a clinician authorized by that program whether certification is appropriate for you.
- Ask what the visit and later recertification will cost; check the separate state fee.
- Submit the application, proof of identity or residency, and payment your state requires.
- Confirm approval and keep both your certification and any registry credential active.
These steps vary by state. A $0 state fee does not make the clinical visit or purchases free. See the cost comparison for specific examples.
Travel and home growing need separate checks
A home-state credential does not promise medical checkout in another state. The visitor and reciprocity comparison distinguishes purchases, possession, visitor applications and adult-use alternatives. It does not authorize carrying cannabis across state lines.
Medical status also does not grant a universal right to grow. Check the home-growing comparison and the relevant state law guide before relying on a plant allowance.