Welcome to the best guide on applying for a medical marijuana card in Michigan!
By the end of this page, you will have the answers to these questions:
All the information on this page comes from the official Michigan Cannabis Regulatory Agency (CRA) website. So, you can trust you are reading an accurate and up-to-date resource. Let’s get started.
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You can apply for your Michigan medical card online or via a paper application.
To submit a paper application:
The physical application involves a lot of paperwork. And delays are likely. For instance, if you fail to include even one necessary document, you must start all over. In addition, the MMMP may reject your application if you use any whiteout on your registration documents.
You can also skip these steps and instead opt for an online application.
So, what do you need to apply for your Michigan medical marijuana card online?
First, get in touch with a Michigan medical marijuana doctor who can complete your physician certification. Fortunately, you already have access to the best MMJ doctors in Michigan with Quick Med Cards.
Getting a signed physician certification from a Michigan medical marijuana doctor is the first step when applying for your medical card. And yes, a physician certification is necessary whether you register for your MMMP card online or through a paper application.
Quick Med Cards provides telemedicine appointments with licensed MMJ doctors in Michigan at cheap consultation rates. Also, our customer care team is ready to help you throughout the registration process.
Follow the steps below to get your physician certification in minutes!
1. Create your account with Quick Med Cards.
2. Book your online consultation.
3. Attend your online medical marijuana evaluation via video call.
4. If the doctor approves, they will sign your physician certification.
5. Get your physician certification.
That’s all it takes!
Now that you have your physician certification, you can apply for your Michigan med card online. Remember, you can only apply online if you are a qualifying adult patient and don’t require a caregiver.
The instructions below explain how to go about the online application process.
1. Visit the LARA Registry website (Accela Citizen Access) .
2. Create your patient account.
3. Log into your account with your email and password.
4. Navigate to the Registry Cards tab, read the General Disclaimer, and check the acceptance box.
5. Next, click Continue Application .
6. Select the Registry Cards drop-down then choose Patient Only Registry Application.
7. Click Continue Application to proceed.
8. Enter your information as required and ensure you answer all fields marked with a red asterisk.
9. After entering your personal information, you will have the option to upload a copy of your physician certification or have your physician certify you online.
10. Next, upload the required documentation. For instance, your Michigan driver’s license.
11. If you choose for your physician to certify you online, they will receive a notification to complete their portion of your application.
12. Finally, pay for your Michigan medical marijuana card.
And just like that, you are done with your online Michigan medical marijuana card application. Now, you will wait for the Michigan Medical Marijuana Program to review your application. If you followed all the steps, you will get your Michigan medical marijuana card via mail.
One of the many advantages of applying for your Michigan medical card online is that you can check the status of your application online as well.
Ordinarily, the Michigan Medical Marijuana Program (MMMP) has 15 days to review your application from the day you submit it. And waiting approximately three weeks for a response may be nerve-wracking. But not if you registered with the MMMP online.
The steps below detail how you can check the status of your Michigan MMJ card.
1. Navigate to the LARA Registry website (Accela Citizen Access).
2. Log in to your patient registry account with your email and password.
3. Click on the Registry Card tab.
4. At the bottom of the page, you will see the status of your application.
Renewing your Michigan medical marijuana card online is like a first-time application. And yes, only adult patients without a caregiver can renew their MI med cards online.
Your Michigan medical marijuana card will be valid for two years from the issue date. But you can begin the renewal process 90 days before the expiration date.
Follow the steps below to renew your Michigan medical marijuana card online.
1. Start by obtaining a physician certification from one of our MMJ doctors in Michigan.
2. Visit the LARA Registry website (https://www.michigan.gov/CRAonline)
3. Create your patient registry account if you don’t already have one.
4. Log into your account with your email and password.
5. Select the Registry Cards tab and click Renew Application.
6. Next, select Continue Application to proceed.
7. If you had a caregiver in your previous registration, you must remove them. Alternatively, you must send a paper application to keep your caregiver.
8. Afterward, enter your personal information and upload the necessary documents.
9. You can upload your physician certification or opt to have our physician certify you online.
10. Finally, pay the $40 fee for your Michigan medical marijuana card.
And you are done! You just renewed your new Michigan medical card.
It costs $40 to renew your med card in Michigan. And once you pay the state fee, your new medical marijuana card will be valid for two years.
Besides the $40 you spend on your MMMP card, you must also pay for your physician certification. A physician certification from an MMJ doctor in Michigan is necessary to access medicinal cannabis. Quick Med Cards is one of the cheapest providers in Michigan. Our fees for telemedicine appointments range from $45 to a maximum of $149.
Same-day appointments available.
There is no age restriction for medical marijuana in Michigan. But qualifying patients below 18 years old can only register with the MMMP with the consent of their parents or legal guardians. Dispensaries in Michigan cannot sell marijuana to minors. So, the minor’s parent or legal guardian must serve as their caregiver.
Sometimes, adult patients may need help with their cannabis treatment. As a result, they can have a caregiver assist them. Caregivers in Michigan can legally buy, possess, and grow cannabis for their patients. But not until they register with the Michigan Medical Marijuana Program (MMMP) and receive approval.
Minors in Michigan can get a medical card once the MMMP approves their paper application. And as mentioned earlier, only a minor’s parent or legal guardian can complete the registration. Additionally, the parent or legal guardian must be the child’s caregiver.
The application process is simple.
1. Download the MMMP paperwork from the CRA website.
2. Fill out all the necessary information.
3. Include copies of all the required documents with the MMMP paperwork in a single envelope.
4. Send the application to the Michigan Medical Marijuana Program.
Use the checklist below to confirm that your application contains all the must-have documentation.
You cannot apply directly for a Michigan caregiver license on your own. That is the responsibility of the patient you intend to assist with medicinal cannabis.
Qualifying patients in Michigan can designate a caregiver when applying for their medical cards.
So, to become a caregiver in Michigan, your patient should:
1. Accurately fill out the MMMP paperwork.
2. Include all the required documents plus the $40 med card fee (as a check or money order) in a single envelope.
3. Send their application to the Michigan medical marijuana program.
Use the checklist below to ensure that your patient has a complete application.
What if the patient you want to care for already has a Michigan medical marijuana card? Then they can submit an add or change caregiver amendment.
Your patient should send the caregiver amendment with the following documents to the MMMP.
Michigan legalized medical marijuana in 2008 after voters approved the Michigan Medical Marihuana Act. As a result, the Michigan Medical Marijuana Program (MMMP) was set up to implement the contents of the medical marijuana laws.
The MMMP is a state registry of medical professionals, patients, and caregivers participating in the program. Residents ailing from qualifying medical conditions can access safe and reliable medical marijuana products through the program. And doctors can legally recommend medicinal cannabis as a treatment for certain illnesses.
The Michigan Medical Marijuana Program is an arm of the Cannabis Regulatory Agency (CRA). The CRA oversees the production, testing, sale, and licensing of dispensaries in Michigan.
As a direct effort by Michigan voters once more, the state legalized recreational cannabis in 2018. Yes, recreational and medical marijuana co-exist in Michigan.
So, is a Michigan med card still beneficial with the availability of recreational cannabis? The answer is a resounding yes!
Medical cannabis is distinct from recreational marijuana in potency and quality. The purpose of medicinal cannabis is to heal and improve the quality of life among those suffering from debilitating illnesses. Moreover, thanks to medical supervision by MMJ doctors in Michigan, med cardholders can access cannabis products that work for them.
Still in doubt on the usefulness of the Michigan med card and the MMMP? Data from the Cannabis Regulatory Agency shows that as of January 2023:
With a Michigan med card, you have access to the many benefits of medicinal cannabis. And while it is legal to buy, possess and grow cannabis with a medical marijuana card, there are still several rules you must follow. For instance, you should observe the possession and growing limits. So, by understanding the Michigan medical marijuana rules, you can get the most out of the MMMP.
Do you still have questions about applying for a medical marijuana card in Michigan or the MMMP? You might find the answers below.
You must get a physician certification and submit a paper or online application to the state marijuana program for an MMMP card.
With an MMJ certification, visit https://michigan.gov/CRAonline and submit your online application. It is worth noting that online registration is only available to adult patients without caregivers; otherwise, you must submit a paper application.
The answer is, unfortunately, no. Michigan does not prohibit a user of medical marijuana from obtaining a concealed carry permit. However, federal gun laws prohibit users of controlled substances from owning firearms.
And since marijuana is still illegal under federal law, even in states where it is legal for medical use, federal law supersedes state law in this case.
Caregivers can serve up to five patients and grow a maximum of 72 plants. In 2021, lawmakers attempted to tighten the caregiver rules through the Michigan Cannabis Safety Act.
The bill sought to make caregivers apply for a specialty medical growers license to keep their 12-plant-per-patient limit. Alternatively, caregivers without a license would be limited to a single patient. To date, Michigan legislators have not passed the bill.
The possession limit for edibles in Michigan is 40 ounces of solid marijuana-infused products.
Michigan marijuana laws allow the possession of a maximum of 2.5 ounces of usable marijuana. And 16 ounces of solid marijuana-infused products translates to a single ounce of usable cannabis. So, it will take 40 ounces of marijuana-infused products, such as gummies or infused chocolate, to reach the MI possession limit.
No. Smoking marijuana in public is illegal in Michigan, even with a valid medical marijuana card.
And the same goes for recreational users in the state. So, it is best to consume marijuana on private property to avoid legal issues.
A gram of medicinal cannabis in flower form from a dispensary in Michigan costs about $3, according to 2023 data from the Cannabis Regulatory Agency.
Yes, you can register for your Michigan medical card online if you are an adult without a caregiver. But first, you must have a physician certification from an MMJ doctor in Michigan.
You can get your physician certification in under 15 minutes with Quick Med Cards. We support telemedicine consultations. So you can get certified after a video call with one of our cannabis doctors in Michigan.
Depending on the speed of the U.S. Postal service, you could receive your medical card within a week of submitting your application.
Data from the Cannabis Regulatory Agency shows that it took less than a day for the MMMP to approve online applications for the Michigan medical marijuana card in January 2023. And it took less than three days for the MMMP to accept paper applications.
Unfortunately, yes. Michigan medical marijuana laws do not obligate employers to condone the use of medicinal cannabis. So, it is necessary to understand your workplace policies on drug tests.
Do not consume medical marijuana at the workplace to avoid any issues with your employers. Moreover, do not show up at your place of work while under the influence of marijuana.
Still, your Michigan medical marijuana card could prove beneficial to avoid disqualification from unemployment benefits in the event of a positive drug test.
You can replace your Michigan medical card online or by mail. To replace your med card online, visit the LARA website, log in to your account, and request a replacement.
To replace your card via mail, you must complete and mail the Request Replacement Card Form to the MMMP. Remember to include all the required documentation when you submit your request.
Yes. Michigan recognizes out-of-state medical cards.
As a visiting patient, you must provide an unexpired out-of-state medical card and government-issued ID to buy MMJ from Michigan dispensaries. Most importantly, you must follow the Michigan medical marijuana rules, for example, the 2.5-ounce possession limit.
Several states have reciprocity with Michigan. Therefore, Michiganders with medical cards can buy and possess medical marijuana in these states. Also, visiting patients from these states can use their out-of-state medical marijuana cards to purchase MMJ from dispensaries in Michigan.
States that accept the Michigan medical marijuana card include:
Yes. You can grow 12 marijuana plants in an enclosed facility with a Michigan medical card.
Additionally, MMMP-registered caregivers can grow 12 marijuana plants for their patients. Caregivers who double up as patients can grow up to 72 marijuana plants if they serve five patients.
There is no limit to how much you can spend on marijuana in Michigan dispensaries. Just as long as you do not exceed the 2.5-ounce possession limit of useable cannabis.
You can buy at most 2.5 ounces of useable marijuana or its equivalent from dispensaries in Michigan.
For concentrates, Michigan marijuana law caps the limit to 15 grams at one time.
One ounce of usable marijuana translates to:
No. The MMMP requires time to review your application. Afterward, it depends on how quickly the U.S. Postal Service delivers your card. Fortunately, it takes between one and three days for the MMMP to review medical card applications.
A physician certification is necessary to apply for a Michigan medical card. And you can get yours in less than 15 minutes with Quick Med Cards. Since we support same-day appointments and video call consultations, you can get approved for your MI med card quickly.
Yes. You do not need a med card to buy marijuana from dispensaries in Michigan if you are an adult aged 21 and over. But you can only buy recreational cannabis.
If you wish to buy medicinal cannabis, you need a Michigan medical marijuana card. Thankfully, the processing time to get a medical card in Michigan is short. Usually, between one and two weeks after you submit your application.
Getting your medical marijuana card is simple whether you apply online or submit a paper application.
The online application is way faster since you can complete the entire process in one sitting, and it does not involve any paperwork. The paper application may get complicated if you mistakenly omit a required document. Either way, from start to finish, getting a medical card in Michigan is easy.
Insurance does not cover the cost of medical marijuana in Michigan because federal law still classifies cannabis as a Schedule I substance.
The main difference between medical and recreational marijuana in Michigan is potency. Medicinal cannabis is more potent since its purpose is to ease the symptoms of chronic illnesses. Recreational marijuana, on the other hand, is for leisure.
Medical marijuana is also cheaper since it is not subject to a 10% excise tax like recreational cannabis. Additionally, medical marijuana is only available to Michiganders with a medical marijuana card. Contrastingly, any adult 21 years and older can access recreational marijuana.
A Michigan medical marijuana card gives you access to medicinal cannabis in the state. The benefits? First, medical cannabis is potent and effective in treating debilitating conditions.
Secondly, medical marijuana is cheaper than recreational cannabis. Also, a Michigan medical card lets you buy and use MMJ in other states with reciprocity.
State Agency: Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Cannabis Regulatory Agency
Phone: 517-284-8599
Mailing Address:
Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs
Cannabis Regulatory Agency
Michigan Medical Marijuana Program
P.O. Box 30083
Lansing, MI 48909