How to get a medical card in Arizona
The process is entirely online once you have your certification:
- Get certified by an Arizona-licensed physician. The evaluation confirms you have a qualifying condition and can be done by telehealth. The physician completes the official ADHS Physician Certification form.
- Apply on the ADHS portal. Create an account on the ADHS Individual Licensing Portal, upload your certification and proof of Arizona identity/residency (driver's license or state ID), and pay the $150 fee ($75 with SNAP documentation).
- Get your digital card. ADHS reviews applications within about 5–10 business days. Once approved, you download your electronic registry ID card from the portal and can buy at any licensed dispensary.
Adults may apply without a caregiver; minors must have a designated caregiver (a parent or guardian) and additional documentation. Since adult use is legal at 21+, weigh whether the card's tax and limit benefits are worth it for you — see medical vs. recreational.
Qualifying conditions in Arizona
Arizona uses a fixed statutory list. A physician cannot certify a condition that isn't on it. Qualifying conditions are:
- Cancer
- Glaucoma
- HIV/AIDS
- Hepatitis C
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
- Crohn's disease
- Agitation of Alzheimer's disease
- PTSD
- A chronic or debilitating condition (or its treatment) that causes cachexia/wasting syndrome, severe and chronic pain, severe nausea, seizures, or severe and persistent muscle spasms
Conditions like insomnia, ADHD, and anxiety are not on the list and don't independently qualify (though symptoms tied to a listed condition may). ADHS accepts petitions to add new conditions each January and July. Our qualifying conditions overview shows how Arizona's fixed list compares to open-standard states.
Cost breakdown
Two costs, plus ongoing tax savings:
- State fee — $150 (or $75 with SNAP documentation). The same fee applies to renewals. Caregiver registration is $200, and card changes/replacements are $10.
- Physician evaluation — typically $100–$200. Set by the provider, not the state; telehealth services often sit toward the lower end. Insurance doesn't cover it.
- Tax savings. Medical purchases are exempt from Arizona's 16% cannabis excise tax — you pay only the standard transaction privilege (sales) tax of about 5.6% plus local. Adult-use buyers pay that 16% on top, so regular patients often recover the card's cost quickly. See our cost of an MMJ card guide.
Possession & purchase limits
Medical patients get higher limits than adult-use buyers:
- Up to 2.5 ounces of usable marijuana every 14 days (versus 1 ounce per transaction for adult-use).
- Home cultivation is limited. As a medical patient you may grow up to 12 plants only if you live more than 25 miles from the nearest licensed dispensary and requested cultivation rights on your application (your card then shows that authorization). Plants must be in an enclosed, locked, non-public space.
Note that any adult 21+ may grow 6 plants (12 per household) under recreational law regardless of distance. See possession limits by state for the full comparison.
Renewal rules
Arizona's two-year card means renewals are infrequent:
- Cards are valid for two years from the date of issue.
- Renewal requires a new physician evaluation plus the same $150 fee ($75 with SNAP), submitted through the ADHS portal. You can renew before the card expires so there's no gap. The renewal process mirrors the original application and can again use telehealth.
Official source: Arizona Department of Health Services — Medical Marijuana (Arizona Medical Marijuana Act, A.R.S. Title 36, Chapter 28.1). This page is educational and is not medical or legal advice — confirm current rules with ADHS before acting.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a medical card if recreational is legal in Arizona? +
Not to buy, if you're 21 or older. But a medical card exempts you from Arizona's 16% excise tax, raises your possession limit to 2.5 ounces every 14 days, lets you qualify at 18, can grant home-cultivation rights, and adds workplace protections under the AMMA. For regular buyers, the tax savings alone usually outweigh the cost.
Can I get an Arizona medical card by telehealth? +
Yes. An Arizona-licensed physician can complete your certification over a telehealth visit. You then submit the certification and your documents through the ADHS online portal — the whole process is digital.
How much does an Arizona medical card cost? +
The state fee is $150, reduced to $75 if you provide SNAP documentation. The physician evaluation is separate, usually $100–$200. Insurance doesn't cover either, but the 16% excise-tax exemption typically pays back the cost for regular buyers.
What conditions qualify in Arizona? +
A fixed list: cancer, glaucoma, HIV/AIDS, hepatitis C, ALS, Crohn's disease, agitation of Alzheimer's disease, PTSD, and any chronic or debilitating condition that causes cachexia, severe and chronic pain, severe nausea, seizures, or severe muscle spasms. Conditions not on the list — like insomnia or ADHD — don't independently qualify.
How long is an Arizona medical card valid? +
Two years from the date of issue. Renewing requires a fresh physician evaluation and the same $150 fee ($75 with SNAP) through the ADHS portal. You can renew before expiration to avoid any gap in coverage.
Can I grow my own, or use an out-of-state card in Arizona? +
Medical cultivation (up to 12 plants) is allowed only if you live more than 25 miles from a dispensary and were granted cultivation rights — though any adult 21+ may grow 6 plants under recreational law. Arizona recognizes valid out-of-state medical cards for possession and use, but visiting patients generally can't buy medical cannabis at Arizona dispensaries; those 21+ can still buy adult-use.