Get Your Montana Medical Marijuana Card

3 documents needed to apply for a New York medical marijuana card

1. Medical Marijuana Recommendation
   Once approved, you must download your physician’s statement and complete the state application on the Montana TransAction Portal (TAP) within 60 days.
2. Proof of Identity
   You will need a government-issued photo ID. Accepted forms of identification are a Montana driver’s license, state ID card, or Montana Tribal ID.
3. Medical Records (Minor Patients Only)

During your onboarding with Leafwell, you may upload medical records supporting your qualifying condition(s). Minor patients must provide medical records to be eligible, according to the Montana Medical Marijuana Act.

Next steps after approval

Congratulations on getting your medical certification! You’re almost ready to begin your medical marijuana treatment, but there are a few more steps to complete to get your Montana medical card. Let’s dive in!

Before You Start: What you’ll need

• A credit or debit card for payment
• A valid photo ID

Complete Application: Access the TransAction Portal (TAP) and scroll to the Cannabis Control section. Click “Apply for or Manage a Medical Marijuana Card” and complete the application process.

Pay the Fee: The state charges a $20 patient application fee to join the Montana marijuana program.

Receive Your Card: Print your temporary card and receive an email once you’re fully approved. Your physical card will then arrive via US mail within 30 days.

Start Shopping: Use your temporary card to purchase cannabis at a medical marijuana dispensary legally.

How to renew your card

Looking to make a medical marijuana card renewal? Here’s what you can expect:

1. Sign in to Leafwell or register as a renewal patient if you’re new to Leafwell.
2. Speak to one of our Montana-licensed medical marijuana doctors online.
3. Get approved and download your doctor’s renewal certificate.
4. Renew your card through the TransAction Portal (TAP). Under the “Cannabis Control” section, select “Apply for or Manage a Medical Marijuana Card” and then “Renew an Existing Card.”
5. Complete the renewal application and pay the state’s $20 fee.
6. Download and print your temporary card to use immediately. Your new physical card will arrive in the mail once your application is approved.

Next steps after renewal

Here’s a guide on how to complete your renewal application with the Montana Cannabis Control Division.

The state recommends that renewal applications be submitted at least 30 days prior to expiration to allow for sufficient review and processing time.

Per state regulations, you must complete the state application within 60 days of your physician’s approval for renewal.

Before you start, have these supporting documents ready:

• Photo of applicant
  • The style should be similar to a driver’s license or passport photo
  • Clear, in colour, neutral background
  • From shoulders up, facing the camera
  • No hats, face masks, sunglasses
  • Taken within the last six months
• Proof of Montana Residency
  • Montana driver’s license, Montana state or tribal identification card, voter registration form, Montana hunting or fishing license, etc.
• Your Physician statement from Leafwell (dated within 60 days)
  • Minors need approval of two physicians

Renewing Your Montana Medical Marijuana Card

1. Renew through the TransAction Portal (TAP).
2. Scroll down to the Cannabis Control Card section and click “”Apply for or Manage a New Medical Marijuana Card.””
3. In the Medical Marijuana Registry section, click “”Renew an Existing Card.””
4. Select either Adult Application or Minor Application.
5. Complete the application.
6. Pay the state fee of $20.
   1. You can do this via credit, debit, or ACH.
7. Once submitted, you will gain access to a temporary card which must be printed out – it is not valid in digital form.
8. Once your application is approved, you will receive your new medical cannabis card in the mail.

Legal limitations for MT cardholders

Public Consumption is Not Allowed: There are restrictions on where a medical marijuana cardholder can consume marijuana products, according to the Montana Medical Marijuana Act. These restrictions also apply to recreational marijuana use. Per Montana medical marijuana law, consumption is not permitted in:

• Healthcare facilities.
• Schools or post-secondary schools.
• Any property owned or leased by a school or post-secondary school.
• School bus or public transit.
• Public parks, beaches, and rec/youth centers.
• Places of worship.
• The open public.
• Any location where children’s health could be affected.

Employee protections: Both recreational marijuana users and medical patients benefit from employee protections regarding their use of cannabis. While employers can still have workplace drug tests, recent laws passed suggest that there may be some protections for medical marijuana patients protecting off-work use.

Employers may still prohibit employees from possessing or consuming cannabis at the workplace. Employers may also take adverse action against employees if their off-duty marijuana use:

• Affects employees’ ability to perform their jobs correctly or affects the safety or responsibilities of others in the company.
• Conflicts with a bona fide occupational qualification that is reasonably related to the employee’s employment.
• Violates a personal service contract with an employer.
• Conflicts with the nature of a non-profit organization and its objectives, whose objectives include discouraging the use of marijuana.

Higher Possession Limits for Patients: The medical marijuana law in Montana gives medical marijuana patients the ability to purchase and possess higher amounts of usable marijuana. Specifically, registered cardholders can purchase up to 5 oz of marijuana flower for medical use monthly (and 1 oz of marijuana flower daily). Recreational cannabis users are only allowed to possess 1 oz of usable marijuana.

Cultivation is legal: Cultivation is legal for Montana residents who are either patients with qualifying conditions and recreational users. Cardholders can grow up to four mature plants, whereas recreational users can grow no more than two mature plants.

How to become a caregiver in Montana

There technically isn’t a Montana medical marijuana program for caregivers. However, patients may designate up to two designated purchasers to acquire and deliver marijuana products from a medical marijuana dispensary when they apply for a new MMJ card or a medical marijuana card renewal.

Minor patients will require a custodial parent or legal guardian with responsibility for health care decisions to consent to the use of marijuana by the minor.

Caregiver (Designated Purchaser) Requirements:

• All designated purchasers must be 21 years of age or older.
• Designated purchasers can be patients with a qualifying medical condition themselves.
• Recreational cannabis use is not a disqualifying condition.
• Designated purchasers cannot have a felony drug conviction.
• A Consent to Fingerprint Form is only required for the legal guardian of a minor applicant who will cultivate marijuana for the minor.
• Cardholders may designate up to two individuals to make purchases of medical marijuana on their behalf. These designated purchasers may be added during the initial application or upon subsequent annual renewal applications. For designated purchasers to make purchases on behalf of registered cardholders, the designated purchasers must be in possession of the medical card.

Caregiver (Designated Purchaser) Registration:

• Patients must complete Step 6 of the online registration form with their designated purchaser(s) information. Once fully approved, they will receive a card as well.
• There is no state application fee for having a designated purchaser.
• Designated purchasers may be added during the initial application or upon subsequent annual renewal applications.

Can you use a Montana medical card in other states?

Patients from other states must register with the DPHHS and are not offered reciprocity in Montana. Legal protections for qualified patients are limited to Montana registry ID cardholders. If you are a medical marijuana patient from out-of-state, Montana’s medical marijuana laws do not protect you.

States that will recognize the medical card of Montana cannabis patients include:

• Arizona
• Arkansas *
• Delaware
• Hawaii *
• Louisiana
• Maine
• Michigan (at the dispensary’s discretion)
• Nevada
• New Hampshire
• New Mexico
• Oklahoma *
• Puerto Rico
• Rhode Island
• U.S. Virgin Islands *
• Utah * (up to two 21-day periods in a calendar year)
• Washington, D.C.

*Visitors must complete a visiting patient application with the Montana marijuana program.

Minor patient information

Minor patients need a caregiver, known in Montana as a designated purchaser. Designated purchasers for minor patients must be 21 or older and must be the patient’s parent or legal guardian.