Medical Marijuana Card in Delaware

How to get an MMJ card in Delaware

Delaware's process runs through the Office of the Marijuana Commissioner (OMC):

1. Confirm you're eligible. You must be a Delaware resident with a physician willing to certify that you have a condition cannabis could help. There's no fixed list to check your diagnosis against — the physician decides.
2. Get evaluated by a physician. A Delaware-licensed physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner reviews your medical history and issues a certification if appropriate.
3. Register with the OMC. You submit your patient application, proof of Delaware residency, and your physician's certification to the Office of the Marijuana Commissioner.
4. Choose your card length and pay the fee. Delaware lets you pick a 1-year ($50), 2-year ($75), or 3-year ($100) registry card. Patients with a terminal illness can receive a card with no expiration date.
5. Get your card and register online. Once approved, you register your card through the state's dispensary tracking system before your first purchase.
6. Buy from a licensed compassion center. Delaware calls its dispensaries "compassion centers" — staff there can help you select appropriate products.

Out-of-state visitors may also be able to apply through Delaware's separate out-of-state patient application process — check the Office of the Marijuana Commissioner's website for current requirements.

Qualifying conditions in Delaware

Delaware previously required a specific debilitating condition from an official list. House Bill 285 changed this: physicians now have discretion to certify any patient they determine has a medical condition that would benefit from cannabis treatment, rather than checking a diagnosis against a fixed list. Conditions commonly certified include:

• Cancer
• Epilepsy and seizure disorders
• Glaucoma
• HIV/AIDS
• PTSD
• Terminal illness
• Cachexia (wasting syndrome) and severe or debilitating pain

Because there's no official list to check against, a condition not shown here can still qualify — it comes down to your physician's judgment. See our qualifying conditions overview for how Delaware's physician-discretion model compares to other states.

Cost breakdown

Delaware's registry fee scales with how long you want your card to last:

• State registry fee — $50 (1 year), $75 (2 years), or $100 (3 years). You choose the length when you apply; a longer card costs more upfront but means fewer renewals. Patients with a terminal illness can qualify for a card with no expiration date.
• Physician evaluation fee — set by the provider, not the state, and paid separately.

See our full breakdown of what an MMJ card costs for how Delaware compares to other states.

Possession & purchase limits

Delaware sets a rolling purchase limit rather than a flat total:

• Up to 3 ounces every 14 days, or roughly 6 ounces per month.
• No home cultivation. Delaware does not allow registered patients to grow their own cannabis.
• Compassion center only. You can only buy from a state-licensed dispensary.

See possession limits by state for how Delaware compares.

Renewal rules

Because Delaware lets you choose your card's length upfront, renewal timing depends on what you originally picked — 1, 2, or 3 years (or no expiration for terminal illness patients). Renewal requires a fresh physician certification and payment of the applicable registry fee for your next term. See how medical card renewal works for the general process.

Official source: Delaware Office of the Marijuana Commissioner. This page is educational and is not medical or legal advice — confirm current rules with the OMC before acting.

Frequently asked questions

Educational content only — not medical or legal advice. Laws change frequently; always verify with the Delaware Office of the Marijuana Commissioner.