Can I use my medical card in another state? With 36 states having so far legalized medical marijuana, many questions are being asked about how this all works. If you have done a bit of research, you are probably aware that you require a medical marijuana card to be able to access medical marijuana from a legal dispensary.
A medical marijuana card (MMJ Card) is a state-issued ID that allows patients, authorized by a doctor, to legally cultivate, purchase, or possess cannabis as a treatment for a qualifying condition. Medical marijuana laws will vary from state to state, and so will the conditions that qualify for this kind of treatment.
Among the most sought-after clarifications are whether an MMJ card can be used across states. While this would be exciting, it is not the case. And if anything, the laws regarding out-of-state use are varying and overlap in some cases. This article breaks down out-of-state and reciprocity laws for medical marijuana.
Let’s dive in.
Which States Accept Out-of-State MMJ Cards? Can I Use My Medical Card in Another State?
If you are a medical marijuana cardholder and you plan on traveling out of state, it is important to know if the state that you are traveling to accepts out-of-state MMJ cards. Can I use my medical card in another state? Where can I use my medical card? Here is a list of the states that have this provision, but not that the specific marijuana laws will vary from one state to the next.
- Arkansas
- Hawaii
- Maine
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Mexico
- Oklahoma
- Rhode Island
- Utah
- Washington D.C.
What is Medical Marijuana Reciprocity?
MMJ reciprocity refers to laws that have been created to allow medical marijuana patients with valid medical marijuana cards to purchase, possess, and use medical marijuana in a different state. MMJ patients who are traveling to states that have a reciprocity program must carry along their current MMJ cards to prove that they are cannabis patients. With this card, they will be able to legally purchase cannabis from dispensaries in the state that they are visiting.
Not all states that have legalized medical marijuana have a reciprocity program. In states that have a reciprocity program, the laws may vary. While some states may offer basic privileges, others will offer the full benefits that are offered to resident patients.
States That Allow MMJ Reciprocity
Cannabis laws keep changing over time, as more states move to legalize cannabis others that have already legalized continue to expand their cannabis laws. Can I use my medical card in another state? So far, 10 states and the District of Columbia have created laws that allow out-of-state medical cannabis patients to purchase medical marijuana from their dispensaries. For a patient to qualify for the reciprocity program they need to be registered in their state as a medical marijuana patient and they will also need to have an up-to-date MMJ Card.
Reciprocity laws are not the same across all states. Here is a state-by-state breakdown of reciprocity laws.
Arkansas
While medical marijuana is legal in Arkansas, recreational use is not. Arkansas has a marijuana reciprocity program that allows non-residents with a valid medical marijuana card from their state and a valid state-issued identification document to purchase medical marijuana from legal dispensaries in Arkansas. MMJ patients will need to apply for a provisional Arkansas MMJ card at a non-refundable fee of $50. The application process may take up to two weeks before the card is issued. Once issued, the provisional card will be valid for 30 days.
Possession Limits:
Resident Patients: 2.5 oz of usable cannabis every 14 days
Visiting Patients: 2.5 oz of usable cannabis every 14 days
Purchase Limits:
Resident Patient: 2.5 oz of usable cannabis every 14 days
Visiting Patient: 2.5 oz of usable cannabis every 14 days
District of Columbia
The District of Columbia has legalized both medical and recreational cannabis. DC also has a reciprocity program that allows out-of-state medical marijuana patients with valid MMJ cards and a state-issued- identification document to purchase cannabis when visiting DC. Disclaimer: In case of a shortage of medical marijuana, out-of-state patients will not be given priority.
Possession Limits:
Resident Patients: 4 oz of dried flower or its equivalent when sold in any other form
Visiting Patient: 4 oz of dried flower or its equivalent when sold in any other form
Purchase Limits:
Resident Patient: 4 oz of dried flower or its equivalent per 30 days
Visiting Patient: 4 oz of dried flower or its equivalent per 30 days
Hawaii
Hawaii has legalized medical marijuana and decriminalized possession of small amounts of cannabis. However, recreational use is illegal in the Aloha state. Hawaii’s reciprocity program allows out-of-state medicinal marijuana patients to apply online for a Hawaii 329 registration card at a non-refundable fee of $49.50. Once issued, the card will be valid for 60 days.
Like in other states, patients will be required to provide a valid medical marijuana card and a government-issued identification document. Unlike other states with a reciprocity program, Hawaii does not accept a medical marijuana recommendation instead of an MMJ card.
Possession Limits
Resident Patients: 4 oz of usable cannabis or its equivalent
Visiting Patients: 4 oz of usable cannabis or its equivalent
Purchase Limits
Resident Patients: 4 oz of usable cannabis or its equivalent every 15-days
Visiting Patients: 4 oz of usable cannabis or its equivalent every 15-days
Maine
Maine has legalized both medical and adult-use marijuana. Maine also has a reciprocity program that allows out-of-state marijuana patients to purchase marijuana from Maine dispensaries. The MMJ patients must provide a valid medical marijuana card and a state-issued identification document.
Possession Limits:
Resident Patients: 8 pounds of harvested cannabis
Visiting Patient: 2.5 oz of harvested cannabis every 15 days
Purchase Limits:
Resident Patients: 2.5 oz of harvested cannabis
Visiting Patient: 2.5 oz of harvested cannabis every 15 days
Michigan
Michigan has legalized both medical and recreational cannabis. The state’s reciprocity program permits non-residents with valid MMJ cards from their states to purchase, possess and use cannabis when visiting Michigan.
Possession Limits
Resident Patients: 2.5 oz of usable cannabis or 12 cannabis plants
Visiting Patient: 2.5 oz of usable cannabis or 12 cannabis plants
Purchase Limits:
Resident Patient: 2.5 oz of usable cannabis each day with a maximum of 10 oz per month
Visiting Patient: 2.5 oz of usable cannabis each day with a maximum of 10 oz per month
Nevada
Nevada has legalized both medical and recreational cannabis. The reciprocity program allows out-of-state medical marijuana patients to purchase marijuana in the state, for as long as the condition qualifies in Nevada. In addition, out-of-state patients can purchase medical marijuana from recreational dispensaries in the state if they are 21 years and older.
Possession Limits:
Resident Patients: 2.5 oz of usable cannabis every 14 days with a maximum limit of 10g of usable cannabis.
Visiting Patients: 2.5 oz of usable cannabis every 14 days with a maximum limit of 10g of usable cannabis.
Purchase Limits:
Resident Patients: 2.5 oz of usable cannabis every 14 days with a maximum of 10g of usable cannabis.
Visiting Patient Purchase Limit: 2.5 oz of usable cannabis every 14 days with a maximum of 10g of usable cannabis.
New Mexico
New Mexico has legalized both medical and recreational cannabis and offers reciprocity to out-of-state medical marijuana patients. Patients with a valid MMJ card or authorization from their home state can purchase medical marijuana in New Mexico.
Possession Limits:
Resident Patients: 230 units every 90 days
Visiting Patient: TBD
Purchase Limits:
Resident Patients: 230 units every 90 days
Visiting Patient: TBD
Oklahoma
While medical cannabis is legal in Oklahoma, recreational use is not. The state allows non-resident medical marijuana patients to purchase cannabis from legal dispensaries in the state. Non-resident patients must apply for a temporary Oklahoma MMJ card that is valid for 30 days and costs a non-refundable fee of $100.
Possession Limits:
Resident Patients: 3 oz of cannabis on one’s person; 8 oz of cannabis in one’s residence
Visiting Patient: 3 oz of cannabis on one’s person; 8 oz of cannabis in one’s residence
Purchase Limits:
Resident Patients: 3 oz of usable cannabis
Visiting Patients: 3 oz of usable cannabis
Puerto Rico
While medical cannabis is legal in Puerto Rico, recreational cannabis is not. The medical cannabis program in Puerto Rico does not impose residency status. This means that non-residents with a condition that qualifies for MMJ treatment in Puerto Rico can apply for an MMJ card. The state also has a reciprocity program that allows out-of-state MMJ patients to purchase cannabis in Puerto Rico. The MMJ card in Puerto Rico costs a non-refundable fee of $25.
Possession Limits:
Resident Patients: 30-day supply of medical cannabis
Visiting Patients: 30-day supply of medical cannabis
Purchase Limits:
Resident Patients: 1 oz of cannabis flower or its equivalent per day
Visiting Patients: 1 oz of cannabis flower or its equivalent per day
Rhode Island
Medical cannabis is legal in Rhode Island while recreational cannabis has been decriminalized. Rhode Island’s MMJ program is not restrictive to residents. Non-residents with a valid MMJ card from their state can freely purchase cannabis from legal dispensaries in Rhode Island. However, the patients must fill out a Rhode Island compassionCompassionate so that they can be entered into the tracking system. This has no charge.
Possession Limits:
Resident Patients: 2.5 oz of dried cannabis or 12.5 oz of wet cannabis
Visiting Patients: 2.5 oz of dried cannabis or 12.5 oz of wet cannabis
Purchase Limits:
Resident Patients: 2.5 oz of usable cannabis for 15 days
Visiting Patients: 2.5 oz of usable cannabis for 15 days
Utah
Medical cannabis is legal in the state of Utah, but recreational use is not. Utah has a reciprocity program that allows out-of-state patients with a condition that qualifies for MMJ treatment in Utah to purchase cannabis from Utah dispensaries.
Possession Limits:
Resident Patients:113 grams (3.95 ounces) of cannabis every 30 days
Visiting Patients:113 grams (3.95 ounces) of cannabis every 30 days
Purchase Limits:
Resident Patients:113 grams (3.95 ounces) of cannabis every 30 days
Visiting Patients:113 grams (3.95 ounces) of cannabis every 30 days
Final Note
18 states have so far legalized marijuana for recreational use. Medical marijuana visiting such states may be able to purchase marijuana legally from adult-use dispensaries, even though the state lacks a reciprocity program.
Some states might also legalize marijuana for medical use in 2022. Should they do so, it would be interesting to know if they will put in place a reciprocity program. Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Wyoming.
In summary, the list of states that allow out-of-state medical marijuana will likely keep growing, even as more states move to enact pro-cannabis laws. We promise to keep updating this list to reflect the state of affairs as the industry evolves.
FAQ: Allow Out of State Medical Marijuana Card
A1: Currently, Arizona, Maine, Michigan, Nevada, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington DC allow out-of-state medical marijuana cards.
A2: Generally, any type of medical marijuana card issued from a state where medical marijuana is legal is accepted in states that allow out-of-state cards.
A3: Yes, some states require a valid form of identification from the state where the medical marijuana card was issued, as well as proof of residency.
A4: Most states allow out-of-state medical marijuana cards to be valid for up to one year.
