Get Your Minnesota Medical Marijuana Card

3 documents needed to apply for a Minnesota medical marijuana card

1. Practitioner certification
   Once approved by Leafwell, your certification is entered in the state’s Medical Cannabis Registry and you will receive an email from the Office of Cannabis Management’s Division of Medical Cannabis with a link to complete your enrollment application. Your certification is valid for 90 days.
2. Proof of identity
   A government-issued photo ID, such as a Minnesota driver’s license, state ID card, or passport. You will be asked to upload a photo of it.
3. Proof of Minnesota residence (only if your ID does not show your current Minnesota address)

The following documents are accepted as proof of Minnesota residency: a current residential mortgage, lease, or rental agreement, state tax documents from the previous calendar year, a utility bill issued within the previous 90 days of the application date, a rent or mortgage payment receipt dated fewer than 90 days before the application, proof of stamped state-issued Minnesota driver’s license or state ID, driver’s license application, or renewal ID slip issued within the past 90 days, Social Security disability insurance statement, Supplemental Security income benefits statement, or medical claim or statement of benefits from a private insurance company or governmental agency that is issued fewer than 90 days before application.

Next steps after approval

Congratulations on getting approved for your medical certification.

Your state application must be submitted and approved by the Office of Cannabis Management within 90 days. To help ensure that your enrollment is approved before then, please complete your enrollment application within the first 60 days of certification. Your enrollment application may take up to 30 days to process after you submit a completed application.

Here’s a guide to what you need to do next.

Before you start, have these supporting documents ready:

• A photo or image of your government-issued photo identification, such as a Minnesota identification/driver’s license or passport. Image file type must be JPG, GIF, TIF, or PNG and smaller than 4 MB.
• Proof of address if the address on your ID is not listed or is not current.
  • Current residential mortgage, lease, or rental agreement.
  • State tax documents from previous calendar year.
  • Utility bill issued within previous 90 days of date of application.
  • Rent or mortgage payment receipt dated fewer than 90 days before application.
  • Proof of stamped state-issued Minnesota driver’s license or State ID, driver’s license application, or renewal ID slip issued within the past 90 days.
  • Social Security disability insurance statement, Supplemental Security income benefits statement, or medical claim or statement of benefits from a private insurance company or governmental agency that is issued fewer than 90 days before application.
  • Affidavit from a person who will act as a designated caregiver for the patient, or from a person who is engaged in health services or social services, which states he or she knows the patient and believes the patient resides in Minnesota. Please note that an affidavit must be notarized (have a notary certify the signature).

Register in the Minnesota Medical Cannabis Program

1. As soon as your Leafwell practitioner has certified that you have a qualifying condition, you will receive an email (using the address you gave your doctor) from the Office of Cannabis Management. You may need to check your spam/junk folder:
   1. Find the enrollment email from the Office of Cannabis Management’s Division of Medical Cannabis.
   2. Click on the “Medical Cannabis Registry (click here)” link in the email
2. Create your patient account
   1. Click “Begin Enrollment“
   2. Create a password, and click “Next“
3. Complete enrollment application
   1. On the next screen, type in your answers in the corresponding fields. If your healthcare practitioner checked the box for a caregiver (during the certification process), this checkmark will automatically appear here. You can add a caregiver at Step 6 if you choose to at that time.
      1. If you do not want to add a caregiver at this time, uncheck this box.
      2. If you are a parent/legal guardian/spouse for an adult patient, you do NOT need to register as a caregiver. Patients can add a parent/legal guardian/spouse at Step 5.
      3. If you do not see this caregiver checkbox and you need a caregiver, contact Leafwell and ask them to check the box.
   2. Check the Acknowledgment box, read the statements in the pop-up screen then select “”Agree.” Then click “Next” at the bottom right of the screen to continue.
   3. Clicking on “Please select” will open a drop down menu; select “Upload a picture of your government-issued photo ID” to upload your identification or “Take a picture of your government-issued photo ID” to take a picture of your photo identification with the camera on your computer.
      1. If the “Take a picture with the camera attached to your device” option is selected, the next screen will require you to click on “Take Picture” to capture the identification with the camera. The picture will then appear. Click “Next” to proceed.
      2. If you selected “Upload a picture of your government-issued photo ID,” locate and upload the image file of your government-issued photo identification.
4. Add your home address
   1. Type in your home address in the fields; check the box only if your mailing address is the same as your home address, and then click “Next” to continue.
   2. If your mailing address is different, select “Next,” and continue. On the next screen, enter your mailing address in the fields, and select “Next.”
5. Add parent/ legal guardian/ spouse
   1. Click on “”Add a parent/legal guardian/spouse“” if you would like to add a parent/legal guardian/spouse or select “”Next“” if you do not wish to add someone at this time.
      1. If adding a spouse, check the box for spouse, enter their information and attach their photo identification and marriage certificate using the “”Upload“” button
      2. If adding a parent/legal guardian, enter their information and attach their photo identification and patient’s birth certificate or legal guardianship
      3. Check the Acknowledgement box and select “”Agree“” after reading the disclaimer. Click “”Submit“” to continue.
   2. The parent/legal guardian/spouse listed will receive an email notification. To add more than one parent/legal guardian, repeat Step 5.
   3. Select “”Next“” to continue.
6. Add caregiver (if prompted)
   1. Skip this step and submit your application if you are not prompted to add a caregiver. This option will only appear if your Leafwell health care practitioner certified you to have a caregiver AND the box for a caregiver on Step 3 was marked.
      1. Click on “Add a caregiver” to add your caregiver.
      2. Enter your caregiver’s information in the fields, and click on “Submit”. The caregiver will receive an enrollment email with instructions to submit their application.
      3. To add another caregiver, repeat Step 6. Otherwise, select “Next” to continue.
7. Receive email approval
   1. Enrollments are processed in the order received and it could take up to 30 days to be approved.
   2. Once you receive your approval email, you can access your Medical Cannabis Registry account and complete a Patient Self-evaluation form before going to a dispensary.
8. Complete a Patient Self-Evaluation
   1. To complete or view previous Patient Self-Evaluation forms, select “Patient Self-Evaluation” from the Quick Links section.
   2. On the next screen, select “Start Self-Report” to start a new form.
   3. When you click “Start Self Report,” you will begin filling out a new evaluation for your next medication pick-up.
   4. Click “Add Medical Condition” to enter your medical conditions. Select “Add Medication Usage” to enter your current medications. Click “Next” to proceed.
   5. Complete all required symptom questions as directed. You cannot submit the form and pick up medication until all questions have been completed.
   6. Click on “Add Side Effect” to enter side effects related to taking medical cannabis, if any. Select “Submit” to send it to the Medical Cannabis Dispensary, which will be approved at the time of pick up. A validation message will appear at the top of the screen after submission.
   7. NOTES:
      1. A registered caregiver can complete the Patient Self-Evaluation for you. You must complete a Patient Self-Evaluation before your first purchase; after that, one is required each quarter during your first year as a patient, and the state notifies you in your Registry account when a new one is due.
      2. The Office of Cannabis Management does not approve the Patient Self-Evaluation or dispense medical cannabis. Medical Cannabis Dispensary staff will approve your Patient Self-Evaluation prior to or at the time of pick up.
9. Visit a Medical Cannabis Dispensary to purchase your medical cannabis
   1. Schedule an appointment with the dispensary.
   2. A pharmacist at the Medical Cannabis Dispensary will review your account and recommend medication.
   3. Bring the following to the dispensary:
      1. Your government-issued photo ID (your caregiver must bring theirs when picking up medicine).
      2. A list of your prescribed medications (for initial appointment or if your medications change).
      3. The visit summary from your health care practitioner who certified your condition (for initial appointment).
      4. Payment for your medicine. Payment options vary by location. NOTE: Insurance companies do not cover the cost of medical cannabis.

Additional Resources:

• How to Register in the Medical Cannabis Program
• Managing Your Medical Cannabis Registry Account

How to renew your Minnesota med card

Need a Minnesota medical marijuana card renewal?

Enrollment in Minnesota’s Medical Cannabis Registry lasts three years (Minn. Stat. § 342.52, subd. 7). To stay enrolled, you need a new certification from a health care practitioner before your enrollment expires, and the state allows that visit to be done by telehealth. The process is the same as applying for the first time: talk with a Leafwell provider, discuss your qualifying medical condition, get recertified, then complete the re-enrollment application through the link the Office of Cannabis Management emails you.

Timing: You can re-enroll as early as 90 days before your enrollment expires, and the state emails reminders 60 and 30 days before that date. Your recertification is valid for 90 days, so submit your re-enrollment within that window — if it lapses, you will need to be recertified again. Extensions are not allowed under state law.

Next steps after renewal

Congratulations on getting approved for recertification.

Your state application must be submitted and approved by the Office of Cannabis Management within 90 days. To help ensure that your enrollment is approved before then, please complete your enrollment application within the first 60 days of getting recertified. If you do not complete your re-enrollment within 90 days, you will be required to restart the process and get recertified by your healthcare practitioner.

Before you start, have these supporting documents ready:

• A photo or image of your government-issued photo identification, such as a Minnesota identification/driver’s license or passport. Image file type must be JPG, GIF, TIF, or PNG and smaller than 4 MB.
• Proof of address if the address on your ID is not listed or is not current.
  • Current residential mortgage, lease, or rental agreement.
  • State tax documents from previous calendar year.
  • Utility bill issued within previous 90 days of date of application.
  • Rent or mortgage payment receipt dated fewer than 90 days before application.
  • Proof of stamped state-issued Minnesota driver’s license or State ID, driver’s license application, or renewal ID slip issued within the past 90 days.
  • Social Security disability insurance statement, Supplemental Security income benefits statement, or medical claim or statement of benefits from a private insurance company or governmental agency that is issued fewer than 90 days before application.
  • Affidavit from a person who will act as a designated caregiver for the patient, or from a person who is engaged in health services or social services, which states he or she knows the patient and believes the patient resides in Minnesota. Please note that an affidavit must be notarized (have a notary certify the signature).

Re-enroll in the Minnesota Medical Cannabis Program

1. Once you are recertified, you will receive an email from the state with a certification link to complete your re-enrollment application.
2. Complete enrollment application
   1. On the next screen, type in your answers in the corresponding fields. If your healthcare practitioner checked the box for a caregiver (during the certification process), this checkmark will automatically appear here. You can add a caregiver at Step 6 if you choose to at that time.
      1. If you do not want to add a caregiver at this time, uncheck this box.
      2. If you are a parent/legal guardian/spouse for an adult patient, you do NOT need to register as a caregiver. Patients can add a parent/legal guardian/spouse at Step 5.
      3. If you do not see this caregiver checkbox and you need a caregiver, contact Leafwell and ask them to check the box.
   2. Check the Acknowledgment box, read the statements in the pop-up screen then select “”Agree.” Then click “Next” at the bottom right of the screen to continue.
   3. Clicking on “Please select” will open a drop-down menu; select “Upload a picture of your government-issued photo ID” to upload your identification or “Take a picture of your government-issued photo ID” to take a picture of your photo identification with the camera on your computer.
      1. If “Take a picture with the camera attached to your device” option is selected, the next screen will require you to click on “Take Picture” to capture the identification with the camera. The picture will then appear. Click “Next” to proceed.
      2. If you selected “Upload a picture of your government-issued photo ID,” locate and upload the image file of your government-issued photo identification.
3. Add your home address
   1. Type in your home address in the fields; check the box only if your mailing address is the same as your home address, and then click “Next” to continue.
   2. If your mailing address is different, select “Next,” and continue. On the next screen, enter your mailing address in the fields, and select “Next.”
4. Add parent/ legal guardian/ spouse
   1. Click on “”Add a parent/legal guardian/spouse”” if you would like to add a parent/legal guardian/spouse or select “”Next”” if you do not wish to add someone at this time.
      1. If adding a spouse, check the box for spouse, enter their information and attach their photo identification and marriage certificate using the “”Upload”” button
      2. If adding a parent/legal guardian, enter their information and attach their photo identification and patient’s birth certificate or legal guardianship
      3. Check the Acknowledgement box and select “”Agree”” after reading the disclaimer. Click “”Submit”” to continue.
   2. The parent/legal guardian/spouse listed will receive an email notification. To add more than one parent/legal guardian, repeat Step 5.
   3. Select “”Next”” to continue.
5. Add caregiver (if prompted)
   1. Skip this step and submit your application if you are not prompted to add a caregiver. This option will only appear if your Leafwell health care practitioner certified you to have a caregiver AND the box for a caregiver on Step 3 was marked.
      1. Click on “Add a caregiver” to add your caregiver.
      2. Enter your caregiver’s information in the fields, and click on “Submit”. The caregiver will receive an enrollment email with instructions to submit their application.
      3. To add another caregiver, repeat Step 6. Otherwise, select “Next” to continue.
6. Receive email approval
   1. Enrollments are processed in the order received and it could take up to 30 days to be approved.
   2. Once you receive your approval email, you can access your Medical Cannabis Registry account and complete a Patient Self-evaluation form before going to a dispensary.
7. Complete a Patient Self-Evaluation
   1. To complete or view previous Patient Self-Evaluation forms, select “Patient Self-Evaluation” from the Quick Links section.
   2. On the next screen, select “Start Self-Report” to start a new form. Choose “View” to pull up a previous Patient Self-Evaluation form.
   3. When you click “Start Self Report,” you will begin filling out a new evaluation for your next medication pick-up.
   4. Click “Add Medical Condition” to enter your medical conditions. Select “Add Medication Usage” to enter your current medications. Click “Next” to proceed.
   5. Complete all required symptom questions as directed. You cannot submit the form and pick up medication until all questions have been completed.
   6. Click on “Add Side Effect” to enter side effects related to taking medical cannabis, if any. Select “Submit” to send it to the Medical Cannabis Dispensary, which will be approved at the time of pick up. A validation message will appear at the top of the screen after submission.
   7. To view your medicine dispensing transactions and certification information including your recent health care practitioner and medical conditions, click on “Certification Information” under the Quick Links section.
   8. When you click “Certification Information,” you can review your current certifying provider, medical conditions, and a history of your medication dispensing transactions.
8. Visit a Medical Cannabis Dispensary to purchase your medical cannabis
   1. Schedule an appointment with the dispensary.
   2. A pharmacist at the Medical Cannabis Dispensary will review your account and recommend medication.
   3. Bring the following to the dispensary:
      1. Your government-issued photo ID (your caregiver must bring theirs when picking up medicine).
      2. A list of your prescribed medications (for initial appointment or if your medications change).
      3. The visit summary from your health care practitioner who certified your condition (for initial appointment).
      4. Payment for your medicine. Payment options vary by location. NOTE: Insurance companies do not cover the cost of medical cannabis.

Additional Resources:

• How to Re-Enroll in the Medical Cannabis Program
• Managing Your Medical Cannabis Registry Account

What are the legal requirements for using medical cannabis in Minnesota?

Below, you’ll find important information about medical cannabis laws in the state of Minnesota (Minnesota Statutes, chapter 342).

• Recreational use is legal: Minnesota legalized adult-use cannabis in 2023 (HF 100), and state-licensed adult-use retail sales have been running since September 2025. There are still advantages to joining the medical cannabis program — see below.
• Lower taxes for medical patients: Registered patients pay no tax on medical cannabis. Adult-use cannabis is taxed at 15% (plus 6.875% state sales tax and any local sales tax).
• Product forms: Medical cannabis is available as flower (smokable, for patients 21+), liquids and oils, pills, vaporizer oil, water-soluble powders, lozenges and other orally dissolvable products, gummies and chews, and topicals (Minn. Stat. § 342.01, subd. 52). Adult-use retailers sell additional product types to customers 21+.
• Possession: Adults 21+ may carry up to 2 ounces of flower in public and keep up to 2 pounds at home. Those limits do not apply to a registered patient’s medical cannabis that carries their patient-specific label.
• Telehealth is legal: Minnesota law expressly allows recertification by telehealth (Minn. Stat. § 342.55), and Leafwell’s initial certifications are also done online.
• Hemp products: Minnesota regulates hemp-derived THC products such as CBD and delta-8 THC under chapter 342. Under the federal hemp redefinition signed on November 12, 2025 and effective November 12, 2026, most intoxicating hemp-derived products, including delta-8 made from CBD, will no longer count as hemp under federal law.
• 2026 law changes: Under SF 4401 (most provisions effective August 1, 2026; supply-chain changes January 1, 2027), the medical and adult-use supply chains merge behind the counter, retailers with a medical endorsement must stock high-medical-need products and give patients priority service, and the medical registry, patient protections, and tax exemption all continue.

How to become a caregiver in Minnesota

Sometimes, a medical cannabis patient needs help administering their medicine or picking it up from a medical cannabis dispensary. That’s when a registered designated caregiver can provide support.

A patient adds a caregiver to their own Medical Cannabis Registry account, either when they first enroll or at any time afterwards. The caregiver then receives an email from the Office of Cannabis Management with a link to a short registration form, where they upload a government-issued photo ID.

Minor patients enroll through a parent or legal guardian, who acts as the caregiver. A patient’s spouse, parent, or legal guardian can act as caregiver without a separate caregiver registration: the patient adds them to the account and uploads their photo ID plus a marriage certificate (spouse), the patient’s birth or adoption certificate (parent), or guardianship papers (legal guardian).

Caregiver requirements (Minn. Stat. § 342.52, subd. 9)

• At least 18 years old. Only patients and caregivers aged 21 or older can pick up smokable cannabis flower.
• Must register with Minnesota’s Medical Cannabis Program.
• May serve up to six registered patients at one time; patients living in the same household count as one.
• May possess the patient’s medical cannabis only to assist that patient.
• May grow up to eight cannabis plants on behalf of one patient household if the patient assigns their cultivation right to the caregiver and notifies the state.
• Since July 1, 2024, caregivers no longer have to complete a background check.

Minor MN medical marijuana patient information

Patients under 18 can enroll in Minnesota’s Medical Cannabis Program, but a parent or legal guardian must enroll on their behalf and act as their caregiver. The parent or legal guardian uploads their own photo ID and the patient’s birth or adoption certificate (or guardianship papers) during enrollment. No separate caregiver registration or background check is required.

During the telehealth consultation, the Leafwell practitioner certifies the minor’s qualifying condition and can note in the Registry that the patient requires a caregiver. Smokable cannabis flower is limited to patients and caregivers aged 21 or older.

Can I use my MN medical marijuana card in other states?

Visiting Minnesota with an out-of-state card? Minnesota recognizes visiting patients. Under Minn. Stat. § 342.51, subd. 2a, a Minnesota dispensary with a medical cannabis retail endorsement may sell medical cannabis to a non-resident who shows a valid medical cannabis registration card (or equivalent) from another state, territory, or Tribal program plus a photo ID. Visiting-patient purchases are not exempt from Minnesota’s cannabis and sales taxes. And because cannabis is legal for adults 21 and over in Minnesota, any visitor with a government ID can buy from a licensed adult-use retailer without a card.

Taking your Minnesota card elsewhere? Whether it helps depends on the state — and in many places it no longer matters, because cannabis is legal for adults 21 and over regardless of any card.

Where you do not need your card at all

Cannabis is legal for adults 21 and over in these states, so you can buy from a licensed adult-use store with nothing but a government photo ID. Some of them also recognize your Minnesota card, which can save you tax or raise your limit.

• Arizona — adult use is legal. Your Minnesota card protects possession but does not let you buy medical cannabis here (see below).
• Delaware — adult use is legal, with retail sales open since August 2025. Dispensaries can also register you as a visiting medical patient on the spot.
• Maine — adult use is legal. Maine also accepts Minnesota cards: Minnesota is on Maine’s approved-states list, so you can buy up to 2.5 ounces every 15 days as a visiting patient by showing your state-issued registry documentation.
• Michigan — adult use is legal. Michigan dispensaries may also serve visiting medical patients, but it is at the dispensary’s discretion.
• Nevada — adult use is legal, and Nevada recognizes your Minnesota card. Worth carrying: medical patients are exempt from the 10% retail excise tax.
• New Mexico — adult use is legal, and New Mexico recognizes your card as a “reciprocal participant.” Worth carrying: medical purchases are tax-free and the limit is higher.
• Rhode Island — adult use is legal. Rhode Island also recognizes out-of-state cards if you show a government ID issued by the same state as your card and complete an intake form.
• Washington, D.C. — you do not need a Minnesota card. Anyone 21 or over can self-certify at a licensed D.C. dispensary; D.C. also names Minnesota on its medical reciprocity list.

Medical-only states where your Minnesota card matters

• Arkansas — apply for a visiting patient registration: $50, valid 90 days, allow about two weeks for processing. Apply before you travel.
• Hawaii — register as an out-of-state patient (Form 329): $49.50, valid 60 days, renewable once per calendar year. Apply before you travel.
• Louisiana — your Minnesota card is accepted directly. No state application; the pharmacy will have you complete its own attestation form at the counter.
• New Hampshire — your Minnesota card is accepted directly and you may purchase. No application needed.
• Oklahoma — apply for a temporary patient license: $100 plus a small processing fee, valid 30 days, allow about two weeks. Apply before you travel.
• Utah — Utah does not accept your Minnesota card by itself. You must obtain a Utah non-resident card, valid 21 days and limited to two per calendar year, and your qualifying condition must appear on Utah’s list, which is narrower than Minnesota’s.

States that protect possession but will not sell to you

• Arizona — your card is a defense against arrest for possession, but Arizona law does not permit visiting patients to purchase medical cannabis. Buy from an adult-use store instead if you are 21 or over.
• South Dakota — your card protects possession of up to three ounces. You cannot purchase. There is no adult-use market.

Cannabis remains illegal under federal law, so do not carry it across state lines, through airports, or onto federal land — including national parks — even between two states that both recognize your card. Minnesota’s own program says the same: its patient protections stop at the state border.

Last verified 25 September 2026 against each state’s health department or cannabis regulator. Laws change; check the destination state before you travel.