How to get a medical card in Michigan
It's a two-part process — a physician certification and a state registration — and both can be done online:
- Get certified. A Michigan-licensed MD or DO confirms you have a qualifying condition and signs the physician certification. This can be done by telehealth.
- Register with the CRA. Apply through the Cannabis Regulatory Agency's online portal (or by mail), upload proof of Michigan residency and the certification, and pay the $40 fee. If your physician certifies online, you can enter their number so the application routes straight to them.
- Get your card. The state typically processes applications within about 15 business days and mails your two-year registry card. Patients who apply online with a registered physician may receive an email approval that grants access while the card is in the mail.
Adults 18+ apply directly; minors need a designated caregiver (a parent or guardian) and two physician certifications. Because adult use is legal at 21+, the question is whether the card's tax and cultivation benefits are worth it — and in Michigan they usually are. See medical vs. recreational.
Qualifying conditions in Michigan
Michigan uses a fixed statutory list of 27 conditions. A physician can't certify a condition that isn't on it. The list includes:
- Cancer
- Glaucoma
- HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis C
- ALS, Parkinson's disease, and cerebral palsy
- Crohn's disease, colitis, ulcerative colitis, and inflammatory bowel disease
- Agitation of Alzheimer's disease
- PTSD, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and autism
- Arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and spinal cord injury
- Tourette's syndrome and nail patella
- A chronic or debilitating condition (or its treatment) causing cachexia, severe and chronic pain, severe nausea, seizures, or severe and persistent muscle spasms
Note that conditions like anxiety and insomnia are not independently on Michigan's list (though related listed conditions, such as PTSD, may apply). A review panel meets at least twice a year to consider petitions for new conditions. Our qualifying conditions overview compares Michigan's fixed list with open-standard states.
Cost breakdown
Michigan is one of the most affordable programs in the country:
- State fee — $40 for two years. Reduced from $60 in 2019, and Michigan eliminated the separate fees for updates, caregiver changes, and replacement cards. That works out to about $20 a year.
- 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. Recreational buyers pay Michigan's cannabis excise tax on top of the standard 6% sales tax. Medical patients are exempt from the excise tax and pay only the 6% sales tax. Frequent medical cannabis patients may realize meaningful tax savings over time, depending on their purchasing patterns. See our cost of an MMJ card guide.
Possession & purchase limits
Registered patients have broad allowances:
- Possess up to 2.5 ounces of usable marijuana (plus any marijuana from plants you legally cultivate).
- Dispensary purchases are governed by CRA rules — commonly up to about 10 ounces per month for medical patients.
- Home cultivation — up to 12 plants per patient. This is a standout Michigan benefit: registered patients may grow 12 plants each (versus 12 per household under recreational law), in an enclosed, locked space not visible to the public. A caregiver may grow 12 plants per patient for up to five patients.
See possession limits by state for the full comparison.
Renewal rules
Renewals are infrequent and inexpensive:
- Cards are valid for two years — one of the longest validity periods of any state program.
- Renew through the CRA portal with a fresh physician certification and the same $40 fee. The renewal window opens 90 days before your card expires, so you can renew early and avoid any gap. The renewal process mirrors the original application and can again use telehealth.
Official source: Michigan Cannabis Regulatory Agency (CRA) (Michigan Medical Marihuana Act, MCL 333.26421 et seq.). This page is educational and is not medical or legal advice — confirm current rules with the CRA before acting.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a medical card if recreational is legal in Michigan? +
Not to buy, if you're 21 or older. But a medical card exempts you from Michigan's cannabis excise tax — so you pay only the standard 6% sales tax — lets you grow 12 plants per patient, allows access at 18, and includes certain employment protections under Michigan law. With a $40 fee covering two years, frequent patients may realize meaningful tax savings over time, depending on their purchasing patterns.
Can I get a Michigan medical card by telehealth? +
Yes. A Michigan-licensed MD or DO can complete your certification over a telehealth visit, then you register and pay the $40 fee through the CRA online portal. Applying online with a registered physician is the fastest route.
How much does a Michigan medical card cost? +
The state fee is just $40, and it covers a full two-year card. The physician evaluation is separate, typically $100–$200. Insurance doesn't cover either, but the cannabis-tax exemption usually recovers the cost within a few months for regular buyers.
What conditions qualify in Michigan? +
A fixed list of 27 conditions, including cancer, glaucoma, HIV/AIDS, hepatitis C, ALS, Parkinson's, Crohn's disease, PTSD, OCD, autism, arthritis, chronic pain, and any chronic condition causing cachexia, severe pain, severe nausea, seizures, or muscle spasms. Conditions not on the list don't independently qualify.
How long is a Michigan medical card valid? +
Two years from the date of issue — among the longest in the country. You can renew through the CRA portal starting 90 days before expiration, with a fresh certification and the same $40 fee.
Can I grow my own cannabis in Michigan? +
Yes. Registered medical patients may grow up to 12 plants each in an enclosed, locked space not visible to the public — more generous than recreational law, which allows 12 plants per household. A registered caregiver may grow 12 plants per patient for up to five patients.