Benefits of Getting a California Medical Card
You don’t have to have an MMJ card to legally buy cannabis in California, but there are multiple reasons to become a cardholder.
Save money
Medical cannabis patients in California pay less tax compared to non-medical adult users. Medical cannabis patients pay only the excise tax and, if applicable a local cannabis business tax, which at the time of writing means a total tax rate of between 15% and 19.75% on medical cannabis.
Recreational customers pay retail sales tax as well as excise tax, with a tax range of between 27.5% and 40.75%, depending on municipality. Medical marijuana patients can save up to 25% on tax when purchasing cannabis!
You must have a “state-issued” MMIC card to be eligible for tax benefits (state sales tax exemption only). Medical patients and MMIC holders will still need to pay the excise tax (15%) and local cannabis business tax, if applicable. Local cannabis business taxes can range between 5-15%, but some dispensaries will cover this tax for customers/patients.
Easier Access
Medical cannabis patients also have access to a greater number of products and dispensaries. Only 161 of California’s 482 municipalities allow recreational dispensaries.
Reciprocity
Arizona, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, US Virgin Islands, Utah and Washington DC recognize a valid, state-issued medical card identity card (MMIC) from California.