How to Get A Medical Marijuana Card in Michigan Step by Step
Michigan medical marijuana patients have been able to legally possess as much as 2.5 ounces of medical cannabis to treat their qualifying conditions since the Michigan Compassionate Care Initiative was passed in 2008. But it was only after the Michigan Medical Marihuana Facilities Licensing Act was signed into law in 2016 that medical marijuana dispensaries were able to provide products to card-wielding patients.
Obtaining a Michigan medical marijuana card isn't difficult, but does require several steps. If you are a Michigan resident and need assistance getting your marijuana card, contact the Sanctuary for help. What follows is our step-by-step guide to obtaining your medical marijuana card.
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Step 1: Identify Your Qualifying Condition
The first step to getting a medical marijuana card in Michigan is checking if your ailment is on the state's list of qualifying conditions. Michigan approves the following conditions as treatable by medical marijuana:
- Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
- Cancer
- Crohn's disease
- Glaucoma
- Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
- Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS)
- Agitation of Alzheimer’s disease
- Nail patella
- A chronic or debilitating disease or medical condition or its treatment that produces one or more of the following: cachexia or wasting syndrome, severe and chronic pain, severe nausea, seizures (including, but not limited to, those characteristic of epilepsy), and severe and persistent muscle spasms (including, but not limited to, those characteristic of multiple sclerosis)
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Obsessive compulsive disorder
- Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
- Cancer
- Crohn's disease
- Glaucoma
- Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
- Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS)
- Agitation of Alzheimer’s disease
- Nail patella
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Obsessive compulsive disorder
Step 2: Meet with a Licensed Physician
After you verify your qualifying condition is on Michigan's list, make an appointment with a licensed and practicing Michigan physician who can certify you for cannabis use. Appointments can be in-person or telemedicine, contingent on the doctor providing them.
The health check with your examining physician will include a review of any pertinent medical records that would help identify patients who could best use cannabis for personal wellness.
The Michigan Medical Marijuana Program (MMMP) can approve or deny your medical card application. The MMMP can also request more information from the physician if there is a concern.
If you need assistance finding a doctor who can certify your condition, the Sanctuary can help. Contact us to learn more about our services for Michigan qualifying condition evaluations.
Step 3: Compile the Necessary Paperwork and Register With MMMP
After getting your medical marijuana doctor’s letter of certification for your condition, make certain to collect all the required documents for filing your application and register with the MMMP.
To apply for a Michigan medical marijuana card, you will need:
- Your completed and physician-signed certification form
- Copy of your Michigan driver's license, identification card, or voter registration card
- Proof of Michigan residency (such as a utility bill)
- A $60 patient application fee
You will also need to create an online account with the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) and download the medical marijuana card application form. Instructions for creating your account can be found here.
If you’re a minor or otherwise unable to navigate the Michigan Medical Marijuana Program’s application process yourself, a designated caregiver can do so on your behalf.
Step 4: Complete and Submit Your MMMP Application
Next, you will need to complete the application form, making sure to answer all of the questions completely. Remember that if you want to be able to cultivate your own medical marijuana, you must declare as much on your application form.
Submit the form with the other documents you've already collected together.
Michigan is required by law to notify you within 15 days if your application was accepted.
If you’re approved for a medical cannabis card, you may legally possess 2.5 ounces of adult-use medical marijuana. Growing marijuana is permissible, but only if approved to do so.
LARA will issue you an MMJ card within 30 days of receiving your application if everything is in order.
Step 5: Receive Your Medical Marijuana Card in the Mail
If you’re approved, you will receive a medical card in the mail. To visit a dispensary in the state of Michigan, patients and their primary caregivers must present their medical cards and a valid government-issued photo ID card.
At Michigan dispensaries, patients can purchase a wide variety of medical marijuana products, including smokable marijuana, topicals, edibles, concentrates, and more. There are numerous dispensaries in Michigan, including ones in major cities like Lansing, Ann Arbor, and Detroit.
Without a medical marijuana card, marijuana possession laws can be quite harsh.
Need Help Obtaining A Michigan Medical Marijuana Card?
Applying for a Michigan medical marijuana card and unsure where to start? The Sanctuary is here for you. We connect Michigan patients with a qualifying condition with licensed physicians who can certify you for medical marijuana.
Contact us today to schedule your free evaluation. We’re happy to answer any questions you may have.