How To Get a Medical Marijuana Card in Minnesota

Medical cannabis was legalized in Minnesota in 2014, and adult-use cannabis in 2023, all regulated through the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM).

Two characteristics make the MN medical cannabis program different from all other state medical programs: there is no physical or online card at all, where the registry alone makes you eligible, and second, there is no charge involved to sign up and renew your application.

Even though legal cannabis usage for those 21 years old and above exists, medical usage still carries many advantages over recreational cannabis.

The Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) regulates Minnesota’s Medical Cannabis Program, which includes the Medical Cannabis Registry, licensed dispensing sites, and practitioner certifications.

• Website: mn.gov/ocm 
• Registry website: Medical Cannabis Registry (accessed through email upon certification)

To qualify for Minnesota’s Medical Cannabis Program, you need to meet the following criteria:

• Must be a Minnesota resident with proof of residency
• Must be at least 18 years old (children may apply if they have a designated caregiver)
• Must have a medical condition recognized by an approved Minnesota health practitioner

No felony prohibitions exist in Minnesota’s medical cannabis program.

Who Can Certify Patients?

The provider should be licensed in Minnesota and be registered with the OCM. The eligible providers are doctors and other professionals, such as PAs and APRNs. Telemedicine is an option now since the allowable date is August 1, 2023; hence, the entire evaluation can be done at home.

Veterans: In Minnesota, it is permissible for the OCM to self-certify the veterans through the use of a specific form.

Currently, Minnesota allows 19 qualifying conditions. Doctors still have the authority to prescribe cannabis for other non-qualifying conditions that could help the patient. The qualifying conditions are:

• Alzheimer’s disease
• ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis)
• Autism spectrum disorder
• Cancer (with associated severe pain, nausea, or wasting)
• Chronic pain
• Crohn’s disease
• Glaucoma
• HIV/AIDS
• Multiple sclerosis
• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
• PTSD
• Seizures (including epilepsy)
• Terminal illness (requiring end-of-life care)
• Tourette’s syndrome

Minnesota patients are allowed to apply for new qualifying conditions every year (June-July) via the Office of Medical Cannabis.

Step 1: Get Certified by a Registered Provider

Make an appointment with a licensed physician, physician assistant, or APRN from the state of Minnesota who is registered with the OCM. At the time, provide your email address, as OCM will need it to send you the enrollment link. You will get electronically certified after meeting the eligibility criteria.

Note: Enroll yourself in the health insurance program within 60 days of getting the email certification.

Step 2: Receive Your Enrollment Email

After a few days of the electronic certification process, you will receive an email in your email account with the subject line “MN Dept. of Health: Patient Enrollment.” The email will have a particular link that leads to the Medical Marijuana Registry website.

Step 3: Complete Your Online Enrollment Application

For registration, you have to click on the link and complete your registration form. For registration purposes, you will be required to provide the following documents:

• Government photo ID, which includes a Minnesota driver’s license, a Minnesota State-issued ID, and a passport
• Proof of residency of Minnesota, which may include utility bills, bank statements, or lease agreements (only if your residence address does not appear on your photo ID)
• Photo ID of parents/guardians along with their marriage/certificate, birth certificate (only for minors)

In addition to the above, an affidavit from a caregiver/health service provider confirming your Minnesota residency may also be used.

Step 4: Complete the Patient Self-Evaluation

Before each visit to the dispensary, sign into your registry account and complete the Patient Self-Evaluation form – a brief form that has been pre-approved by the dispensary before or at the time of your purchase. Your registry account itself is your proof of registration, not a card.

Step 5: Wait for Approval

Your OCM application will be reviewed in 30 days. If approved, you can log onto your registry account, print out your verification letter if necessary, and proceed to any authorized medical marijuana dispensary in your state.

Show proof of registry validation at any licensed dispensary of medical cannabis in Minnesota. Every dispensary is run by pharmacists who will recommend the best product for you.

Allowed Products

Cannabis products approved by Minnesota include flower (usable via smoking after March 2022), oils, tinctures, edibles, topicals, lozenges, gum, mint, and vaporization products.

Possession Limits

Minnesotans who use medical cannabis can legally carry up to a 30-day supply, as recommended by their physician. There is no maximum weight restriction; the physician will decide on the proper amount depending on your medical condition.

Home Cultivation

The growth of cannabis plants at home is strictly prohibited in Minnesota for all medicinal cannabis users.

• Tax Exemption – exempt from all taxation levied by the state on marijuana, thereby saving 15-17%
• Age requirement – legal at the age of 18; however, you need to be at least 21 years old to use marijuana recreationally
• Pharmacists – dispensaries employ pharmacists who will provide dosing recommendations and product suggestions
• Caregivers – you can have caregivers purchase marijuana on your behalf
• License validity – licenses remain valid for three years

A patient can appoint more than one caregiver. As of July 1, 2024, there shall be no requirement for background checks for caregivers. The caregiver must be over 18 years old and registered under the patient’s registry account. Once he/she registers, the caregiver will be sent an email invitation to register on his/her own registry account and provide identification details.

Registration becomes effective from March 2025 and lasts three years. Renewal applications may begin 60 days before their expiration dates. New provider certifications and re-registration forms are necessary when renewing registration through the registry account. There shall be no costs involved from the states.

• Neither physical nor online cards will be provided by Minnesota; your registry account will serve as your permit.
• No registration fee is required to register or renew.
• The use of telehealth is acknowledged in certification and renewal.
• Apply for your registration within 60 days of your certification.
• Veterans can self-certify their eligibility without a doctor’s certification.
• Complete a Patient Self-Evaluation Form before visiting dispensaries.
• Your registration will be valid for three years (as of March 2025).
• It is not permitted to cultivate cannabis for personal use at home.