Apply for Your Minnesota Medical Marijuana Card
Now Offering Online Evaluation Appointments. No Need to Leave Your Home!
Virtual Appointments are Available
How to Get a Medical Marijuana Card in Minnesota Step By Step
Since 2015, when the state passed the Minnesota Medical Marijuana Law, residents of the state of Minnesota who have been diagnosed with specific qualifying medical conditions that the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) has determined are treatable with medical marijuana have been able to legally buy medical cannabis products.
The procedure for requesting and receiving a medical marijuana card is described in the law that created Minnesota’s Medical Marijuana Program (MMMP). You can get assistance with the application procedure for your Minnesota medical marijuana card by using the following step-by-step guide.
Step 1: Contact a Healthcare Practitioner
In order to be accepted into MMMP, you must first speak with a licensed health care provider who can certify your qualifying condition. According to MDH, the healthcare provider must be a doctor, a physician assistant, or an advanced practice registered nurse who is licensed in Minnesota. Additionally, MDH does not keep or publicly disseminate any list of practitioners taking part in MMMP.
In order to receive medical cannabis in Minnesota, a patient must be a resident of the state legally and must have a diagnosis for at least one of the qualifying conditions listed below.
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
- Autism spectrum disorder (must meet DSM-5)
- Cancer (if illness or its treatment produces one or more of the following: severe or chronic pain; nausea or severe vomiting; or cachexia or severe wasting)
- Chronic motor or vocal tic disorder
- Chronic pain
- Glaucoma
- HIV/AIDS
- Inflammatory bowel disease, including Crohn’s disease
- Sickle cell disease
- Terminal illness, with a probable life expectancy of less than one year (if illness or its treatment produces one or more of the following: severe or chronic pain; nausea or severe vomiting; or cachexia or severe wasting)
- Tourette’s syndrome
- Intractable pain
- Obstructive sleep apnea
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Seizures, including those characteristic of epilepsy
- Severe and persistent muscle spasms, including those characteristic of multiple sclerosis (MS)
Request an appointment summary and a list of your current medications before you leave your appointment.
The Sanctuary can assist if you’re a minor or need help locating a qualified healthcare provider who can certify your condition. To find out more about our Minnesota certification services, get in touch with us.
Wait for Your Certification Email and Then Register Online
You will receive an email from the Office of Medical Cannabis (OMC) shortly after your certification appointment with a medical marijuana doctor that contains a link to an online registration page and an important information sheet for your review.
Given that your certification is only good for 90 days, you should apply to the state’s medical cannabis program as soon as possible because it may take up to 30 days for approval.
You must send a photocopy of your state-issued driver’s license, photo ID card, or passport along with your $200 registration fee in order to register. Proof of participation in specific government assistance programs may be required to receive a reduced fee.
Each application is processed in the order it is received. If you’re approved, you’ll receive an official email telling you so.
Step 3: Visit a Medical Cannabis Dispensary
Upon receiving approval as a medical cannabis patient, you’ll be able to use your MMJ card to make purchases at authorized medical cannabis dispensaries in Minnesota. Log into your registry account and finish your patient self-evaluation report in advance of your appointment to speed things up. Someone else can finish the self-evaluation if they are a registered caregiver on your account. Before visiting the dispensary, this form must be filled out.
Next, schedule a time for your visit at the dispensary. Bring the following items:
- Your photo ID (your caregiver must bring their ID when picking up medicine)
- An appointment summary from your certifying health care practitioner (only for initial visit)
- A list of your current prescribed medications (only for initial visit, or if your orders change)
- Payment for your medicine
A dispensary pharmacist will review your account and make recommendations for you regarding particular dosage and type.
Need Help Obtaining a Minnesota Medical Marijuana Card?
The Sanctuary is available to assist you if you want to apply for enrollment into the MMMP but are unsure of where to start. We can match Minnesota residents with qualified medical professionals who can vouch for you in order to obtain a medical cannabis card.
To arrange your evaluation, get in touch with us today.
