How to Get a Medical Marijuana Card in Michigan

The Michigan Medical Marijuana Program (MMMP) allows qualifying medical marijuana patients to register for a Medical Marijuana Registry Identification Card to purchase, possess, and consume cannabis for medical purposes in the state.

While recreational cannabis was legalized in Michigan in 2018 for adults 21 years of age and older, and recreational dispensaries are now open for sale after a slow roll-out, it may still be recommended for you to get a medical marijuana card in Michigan. This process will allow you to treat your symptoms with regular dosage under a doctor’s care. Read our guide to learn everything you need to know about how to get a Michigan medical marijuana card online.

COVID-19 Update

You can still utilize your Michigan medical marijuana card at dispensaries in the state because they are considered essential; therefore, they will remain open for online ordering, delivery, and curbside collection during the COVID-19 pandemic. As the state’s economy begins to reopen, some retail locations in “medium-risk” regions have been given the green light to resume in-person services with face coverings and social distancing measures in place.

During this time, new and existing patients can use Telehealth services to get and renew their cards from the comfort of their very own homes.

Quick Guide to Michigan Medical Marijuana Card Online

There are three necessary steps to getting a Michigan medical card for marijuana:

• Determine Your Eligibility: To qualify for a medical marijuana card in Michigan, you’ll need to have been diagnosed with a qualifying medical condition and have medical records as proof.
• Book an Appointment with a Physician: Sign up with Heally to connect with a marijuana-friendly physician and book an appointment for an initial consultation.
• Submit Your Application: Fill out an online or paper application with the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA).

How to Get a Michigan Medical Marijuana Card in Three Steps

1.  Determine Your Eligibility

Before you can move forward with this process, you’ll need first to determine whether you qualify for the Michigan Medical Marijuana Program. You’ll need to be a resident of Michigan with proof of residency.

To qualify, you must have been diagnosed with one of the qualifying conditions recognized by the state. You can see the full list here:

• Autism
• Agitation of Alzheimer’s disease
• HIV/AIDS
• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
• Anorexia nervosa
• Arnold-Chiari malformation
• Cancer
• Cachexia/wasting syndrome
• Causalgia
• Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy
• Chronic pain
• Crohn’s disease
• CRPS (complex regional pain syndrome Type II)
• Dystonia
• Ehlers-Danlos syndrome
• Fibrous Dysplasia
• Glaucoma
• Hepatitis C
• HIV/AIDS
• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Nail patella
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
• Parkinson’s disease
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Seizures (including that characteristic of Epilepsy)
• Severe fibromyalgia
• Sjogren’s syndrome
• Spinal cord disease (including but not limited to arachnoiditis)
• Tourette’s disease
• Ulcerative colitis
• A chronic or debilitating disease or medical condition or its treatment that produces one or more of the following:
  • Cachexia or wasting syndrome
  • Severe and chronic pain
  • Severe nausea
  • Seizures
  • Severe/persistent muscle spasms

Obtaining a Michigan medical marijuana card requires not only having been diagnosed with one of these conditions to qualify, but you need to have legitimate medical records from your primary care physician confirming this diagnosis. If your primary care physician does not move forward with aiding you to get a medical marijuana card, don’t be afraid to request your medical records. The reason for this is so you can find another physician who will be willing to provide a certification. Remember, you have the right to your medical records, and you don’t need to give your doctor a reason for the request. Do not be afraid to ask for them so you can legally obtain a Michigan medical card.

All you will need to do to receive your medical records is fill out an authorization form and patient access request and send it back to your doctor’s office, typically via mail. Within five to ten business days, you should have your records.

2. Book an Appointment with a Physician

While many physicians in Michigan are becoming more knowledgeable, tolerant, and accepting of medical cannabis, many still aren’t comfortable providing their patients with a written certification.

If your physician won’t give you written documentation, finding a new doctor who will is easy. Just sign up with Heally. We’ll connect you with a registered Michigan physician, so you can book a consultation and move forward with your application process.

Currently, only medical doctors (MDs) and doctors of osteopathic medicine and surgery (DOs) licensed to practice in Michigan can sign a certification for medical cannabis. This certification is necessary to qualify you to get a medical marijuana card in Michigan. The doctor you consult with must have a registered account with the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA).

At the appointment, you’ll undergo a brief physical examination, go over your medical history, and answer questions. It is also an excellent time to ask any questions that you may have about medical cannabis. Then, the physician will determine if you qualify for a medical marijuana card in Michigan. If so, they’ll provide you with written documentation or the necessary steps to complete the state registration.

3. Submit Your Application

For a Michigan medical card, you need to submit a completed application form, a Physician Certification Form with the doctor’s name and license number, and the application fee. It’s easy to apply once you have all your documents in order.

During this last step of the process, you’ll submit an online or paper application to join the Michigan Medical Marijuana Program. If you apply online, you’ll create an account with the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA).

The application fee is $40. If you’re enrolled in Medicaid or are receiving government benefits, the application fee is reduced to $25.

These days, LARA offers same-day registration, enabling you to temporarily use an approval email in place of a valid ID card. This process allows you to get your medication the same day you register.

With your approval email or ID card in hand, all that’s left to do is visit a dispensary to get your cannabis products. That’s all you need to know on how to get a medical card in Michigan.