How to Get a Medical Marijuana Card in Massachusetts
Schedule an Evaluation with a Certified Physician
Schedule an appointment with a licensed medical marijuana doctor.
Submit Your Application
Submit an application for a medical marijuana card through the Massachusetts Medical Use of Marijuana Program website. The state does not charge a fee.
Receive Your Card
Once your application is approved, you’ll be able to print a temporary MMJ card right away, and your official card will be mailed to you.
Massachusetts Medical Marijuana Qualifying Conditions
To be eligible for a medical marijuana card in Massachusetts, you must be diagnosed with one of the following qualifying conditions:
- Cancer
- Glaucoma
- HIV/AIDS
- Hepatitis C
- Lou Gehrig’s disease (ALS)
- Crohn’s disease
- Parkinson’s disease
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Other debilitating conditions (as determined in writing by a certified physician)
Where Can I Buy Medical Marijuana in Massachusetts?
There are over 400 marijuana dispensaries operating in Massachusetts. As a registered patient or caregiver, you can purchase a variety of products, including edibles, topicals, tinctures, and cannabis flower, and you can possess up to a 60-day supply of cannabis, or 10 ounces.
About Massachusetts Cannabis Program
The Massachusetts medical marijuana program was established in 2012 following the approval of Question 3, which allows for the use of marijuana for qualifying patients. Under the program, patients with debilitating medical conditions such as cancer, glaucoma, and Parkinson’s disease can receive certification to access medical marijuana.
Each patient must register with the state's Medical Use of Marijuana Program to obtain an MMJ card that can be used to purchase cannabis from state-licensed dispensaries.
How to Renew Your Card in Massachusetts
In Massachusetts, medical marijuana patients must renew their MMJ cards annually. To renew your card, complete the following steps:
- Schedule Your Renewal Appointment:Book with with a licensed physician.
- Receive Your Doctor’s Recommendation: Once your doctor approves you for medical marijuana, they’ll email you a new electronic recommendation that you can use to continue shopping at Massachusetts dispensaries.
- Apply for a New Medical Marijuana Identification Card (Optional): If you want the legal protection and tax benefits of a Massachusetts medical marijuana identification card (MMIC), you can apply for a new one in person at the health department in your home county. The cost of renewing an MMIC varies from county to county.
How to Become a Medical Marijuana Caregiver in MA
A caregiver is someone who assists a qualifying medical marijuana patient with the purchase, transport, administration, and/or cultivation of medical marijuana. In Massachusetts, caregivers must be state residents who’re at least 21 years old.
To become a caregiver in Massachusetts, complete the following steps:
- Submit Your Application: Submit a caregiver application through the Massachusetts Medical Use of Marijuana Program website. The state does not charge a fee.
- Receive Your Card: Once your application is approved, you’ll receive your caregiver ID card in the mail.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can get your Massachusetts medical marijuana card online. The state allows telemedicine marijuana evaluations.
The state of Massachusetts does not charge a fee to apply for an MMJ card. However, you may have to pay for your doctor’s evaluation.
Once the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission approves your MMJ card application, you should receive your card in the mail within 7-14 business days.
Yes, if your doctor deems your anxiety debilitating, you can get certified for medical cannabis in MA.
Yes, Massachusetts minors can access medical marijuana, but only if they receive two doctors' recommendations and a parent or legal guardian agrees to serve as their caregiver.
In Massachusetts, medical marijuana patients can possess up to a 60-day supply of marijuana, or up to 10 ounces.
Adults who're 21 and older can purchase recreational cannabis without a medical card in MA, but you must have an MMJ card to purchase medical cannabis products.
In Massachusetts, a medical marijuana patient is allowed to cultivate up to six plants for personal use. If a residence has more than one adult over the age of 21 who wants to cultivate cannabis, the maximum number of plants that can be grown is 12.
No, Massachusetts does not honor out-of-state medical marijuana cards.
Whether you can use your Massachusetts MMJ card in another state will depend on that state's reciprocity laws. Some states honor out-of-state medical cards, while others don't. Be sure to research other states' cannabis laws before traveling.
Yes, adults who're 21 and older can legally purchase and possess recreational cannabis in Massachusetts.
In Massachusetts, a medical marijuana card is valid for one year from the date of issuance.
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