Medical card

A medical card (also "patient card," "registry card," or "medical marijuana identification card") is a state-issued credential certifying that the holder is a registered medical cannabis patient with a qualifying condition diagnosed by a certified practitioner. Cards are typically issued by the state health department (e.g., Florida Department of Health's Office of Medical Marijuana Use; Colorado CDPHE) or the cannabis regulatory agency (e.g., New York OCM). Application generally requires: a certified practitioner's written recommendation or certification; proof of state residency (with limited exceptions for reciprocity states); government-issued ID; and a registration fee typically ranging from $25 to $250. Card validity is most commonly one year, extended to two years in New York (2025 law) and for some Florida patients. Benefits over adult-use purchase typically include: higher possession limits; lower or waived cannabis taxes; access to higher-potency products; priority access during supply shortages; and in some states, home-cultivation rights not available to adult-use consumers. The card itself is a state document only; federal law does not recognize medical-patient status. *→ See also: Patient registry, Qualifying condition, Recommendation, Reciprocity