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Get a New York Medical Marijuana Card.
Only $99.
Quick and Easy Process
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How getting a medical marijuana card works for New York residents.
1. Sign Up
Register with Leafwell and speak to a New York-licensed provider online.
2. Get Approved
Get approved and the provider submits your registration directly to MCDMS.
3. Get Your Certification
A copy of your state-issued certification will be uploaded to Leafwell within 48 business hours. You will receive an email as soon as it is available to download.
4. Use It at New York Dispensaries
With your medical marijuana certification, you can now purchase medical cannabis products at a licensed medical dispensary.
Have questions?
See a detailed step-by-step explainer on all the New York medical card requirements.
Benefits of Getting a Card
Wondering how a New York medical marijuanas card can transform your medical cannabis experience?
| Benefit | Card | No Card |
|---|---|---|
| Possess Cannabis |  | |
| Use Cannabis | | |
| Purchase Cannabis | | |
| Save Up to 6% on Taxes | |  |
| Lower Costs | | |
| Higher Possession Limits | | |
State-Specific Steps
Embarking on your journey to relief in New York is simple. Let our caring specialists guide you through the state-specific steps if you're looking to get a medical marijuana card.
- Book An Appointment with Leafwell
- Get Your Certification from a Medical Practitioner
- Your Practitioner Submits Your Certification for You
- Use Your Medical Card at a Medical Cannabis Dispensary
See video on how to get a a medical card in New York
Best Care, Best Value
First-time certification
Renewal certification
NuggMD
$149
$149
Veriheal
$149
$149
Green Health Docs
$249
$149
My MMJ Doctor
$199
$199
Retail price as of 09/04/2024
What You Pay with Leafwell
NY medical card patients save more with Leafwell. Get your money back if not approved.
Qualifying Conditions
You no longer need to have certain medical conditions to get approved for a New York medical marijuana card.
Instead, it’s up to your healthcare provider to decide if medicinal cannabis has the potential to help you live a better, healthier life. Visit our medical conditions pages to see a wide range of conditions that the cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids in cannabis may help improve.
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When You Need It Most
With Leafwell, you'll be matched up with a highly knowledgeable, empathetic, licensed medical marijuana doctor or provider.
What You Need to Know
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Eligibility / Patient
Residents must be at least 18 to be eligible for a New York medical marijuana certification. The first step is connecting with a healthcare provider.
Caregiver
Caregivers must be 21 years of age or older, be designated by a certified patient before the caregiver can register, and must present the caregiver’s barcoded registry ID, the patient’s certification, and a government-issued photo ID of the caregiver to verify their identity when purchasing.
Can Minors Qualify?
Patients under 18 can still benefit from New York’s medical marijuana program with the help of a parent or caregiver.
What You Need
You’ll need to provide the following to apply for a New York medical marijuana card:
Medical Marijuana Recommendation
Approval by a licensed healthcare practitioner – they’ll submit your details straight to the state and then upload a copy of the state-issued certification within 48 hours to your Leafwell profile.
Proof of Identity
NY Driver’s License or NY State ID, or Photo ID with proof of residency.
Proof of New York Residence
Acceptable proofs of residency:
- Utility bills (within 60 days, must show “Service” address, NO mobile phone bills),
- Medical/Hospital bills (within 60 days) or Assisted living/Nursing home statement,
- Lease, mortgage agreement, or property deed (signed, current),
- Property taxes (current), NYS non-driver ID (valid),
- Health insurance/Explanation of benefits statement (current), SSA/SSA benefits statement (current),
- Homeowners/Renters insurance (current), Pay stub (within 60 days),
- Voter registration card (current),
- Jury duty notice (within 60 days),
- College/Army housing statement (current, on official letterhead),
- Assisted living/Nursing home statement (current, on official letterhead),
- NYS state/local government official correspondence (within 60 days)
Next Steps After Approval
Congrats on getting your medical cannabis certification! You’re almost there, but there are a few more steps to get your New York Medical Marijuana 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: Once approved, the provider must enter the patient’s details into the state website for New York’s Medical Cannabis Program and upload a copy of the certification to Leafwell.
- No Temporary ID: Plastic registry IDs are no longer issued by the state. Therefore, medical marijuana patients are automatically registered when they are certified.
Start Shopping: Medical marijuana patients can now legally purchase medical cannabis from a licensed dispensing facility. They must present a copy of their certification and a government-issued ID to the dispensary.
How to Renew Your Card
Initial registration and renewal processes are the same. However, if you are a medical cannabis patient who was approved prior to March 20, 2023, you will need to register with the state.
Steps to Renew Your Card
- Register with Leafwell and speak to a New York-licensed physician online.
- Once approved, the provider must enter the patient’s details into the state website and upload a copy of the certification to Leafwell.
- The medical marijuana patient can legally purchase cannabis from a licensed dispensing facility.
*** Certified patients approved prior to 3/20/2023 will still need to register with the state.
If you’re looking to renew your NY medical marijuana card, you can start that process on our NY renewals page.
Legal Topics
Below are a few need-to-know medical marijuana laws in New York.
- Patients can possess up to 60 days’ worth of medical cannabis products, an increase from the previous 30-day stipulation.
- Medical marijuana can now be smoked. This overturns a ban on smoking that previously forced patients to consume their medicine orally or by applying lotions and balms.
- The whole cannabis flower is now an approved form of medical cannabis. In the past, one could only use medical products made using cannabis.
- A new research license allows people to produce, purchase, process, or possess marijuana for research purposes.
- Minors and other people unable to take up the process independently – for example, the elderly – can designate up to five caregivers to do it for them.
Caregivers
Medical patients under 18 will need a caregiver older than 21 to apply for a NY medical marijuana card on their behalf.
Medical marijuana patients of age who cannot follow up on the process may also use a designated caregiver to access medical cannabis.
As of 2023, New York state has simplified the caregiver process. The following rules apply:
- Designated caregivers may be added anytime after the approving provider completes the patient’s state registration.
- Caregivers must register with the MCDMS via their personal my.ny.gov account.
- Patients must designate the caregiver on their registration via their personal my.ny.gov account before the caregiver can register.
- An individual may act as a designated caregiver for up to four (4) patients to assist in purchasing and/or administering their medical cannabis products.
Reciprocity
New York state does not offer medical marijuana reciprocity to cardholders from other states with medical cannabis programs. However, any person who is at least 21 can purchase recreational cannabis in the state.
That said, other states have either legalized the recreational use of marijuana or recognize out-of-state medical marijuana cards. If you have a medical marijuana card from New York, you can obtain medical marijuana products in:
- Arizona
- Arkansas *
- Delaware
- Hawaii *
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Michigan (at the dispensary’s discretion)
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey *
- 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 state program.
FAQs
Click here for more frequently asked questions about the medical cannabis program in New York.
How much does a New York medical marijuana certificate and card cost?
Which medical conditions qualify patients for a New York medical marijuana card?
How does the online evaluation process work for getting a medical marijuana recommendation letter/medical certificate in New York?
- Register with Leafwell and speak to a New York-licensed healthcare provider via our HIPAA-compliant telehealth platform, which involves creating a Leafwell account using a valid email address. You’ll be asked to complete a brief questionnaire of personal and health information and to either take or upload a photograph of identification (we’re required by law to verify your identity). You will need a smartphone, computer, or tablet with a reliable internet connection and a working camera to be seen by a Leafwell provider.
- Schedule an appointment or enter the virtual waiting room. You will receive a text message on your cell phone when the provider is ready to see you. You’ll be connected to a Leafwell healthcare provider for a video chat (i.e., a virtual doctor’s visit). During the visit, your provider will assess your medical condition(s) to determine if you qualify for a New York medical cannabis card.
- Once approved, your provider will submit your medical cannabis certification to the State of New York, and you will also receive a copy of your certificate to download. Use your certificate and a valid government-issued ID to purchase medical marijuana from any licensed medical cannabis dispensary.
How old must I be to apply for a New York medical marijuana card?
Can I be/have a caregiver for a medical marijuana patient in New York?
- Must be 21 years of age or older.
- Must be designated by an approved patient before the caregiver can register.
- An individual may act as a designated caregiver for up to four (4) patients. A patient may designate up to five (5) caregivers.
- Must present the caregiver’s barcoded registry ID, the patient’s certification, and a government-issued photo ID of the caregiver to verify identity when purchasing.
- Get designated: A certified patient or other appropriate person (for patients who are minors or incapable of consent) must designate you as a caregiver on the patient registration.
- Register online: After you complete your registration online, your registry ID can be printed or displayed on a smart device and used immediately in conjunction with a government-issued photo ID.
- Purchase medical cannabis: Visit a medical marijuana dispensary to purchase products for your patient. Bring your patient certification and government-issued ID with you.