The Cost of Medical Marijuana: A State-By-State Breakdown

cannabis news
By Anthony Pellegrino Updated March 5th

Since time immemorial, medical marijuana has been used to treat a variety of ailments, from chronic pain to neurological disorders. Today, medical marijuana is legal in the overwhelming majority of US states and territories.

But what about the cost? In this article, we discuss the price ranges for medical marijuana, and how it differs from the cost of recreational cannabis. We also provide a state-level overview of prices to help you with your medical marijuana purchases.

Get Your Medical Card Online Get approved today in minutes with the nation's #1 trusted medical card provider.
No appointment needed. Only billed if approved.

How Much Does Medical Marijuana Cost?

The cost of marijuana varies substantially from place to place. Depending on the type of product, the taxes imposed by the state, and quality, the price you pay may be as little as $5 (as in the case of a pre-roll joint or a single serve edible) or as high as $400 (for a high quality ounce). 

There are many traditional economic factors involved that affect the price of marijuana throughout the country. For example, local supply, taxes, and government regulations can raise and lower costs, depending on the circumstances. 

Medical marijuana also comes in various forms, such as edibles, flower, concentrates, tinctures, and more. The type of products you choose will affect the amount you'll have to pay. 

Here are the typical price ranges you'll find for each of these medical marijuana products.

  • Marijuana Concentrates. Medical marijuana comes in several different concentrated forms, such as oil, wax, hash, etc. These products contain significantly higher concentrations of THC and, thus, are typically more expensive. Most dispensaries will sell cannabis concentrates in quantities of half-grams, grams, or eighths. The going rate is usually $20-$60 per gram.
  • Marijuana Edibles. Most people are familiar with edible marijuana brownies, but edibles come in many different forms. Virtually any food product can be infused with medicinal cannabis. While particular foodstuffs may differ in price, edibles typically are priced based on individual dosages of THC. Prices for edible products usually are based on dosages, which should be labeled on the package. The going rate per 5mg or 10mg dose of cannabinoids is around $2-$5 for marijuana edibles. So, for example, if you buy cannabis gummies containing 10 doses, you can expect to pay around $20 or more.
  • Cannabis Tinctures & Sublinguals. Medical marijuana is now frequently sold as tinctures and sublingual products. The most common product of this type is concentrated liquid cannabis, generally sold in one-ounce glass dropper bottles. This form of medical marijuana can easily be mixed into food or drink and is ideal for people who cannot or don't want to smoke. Nevertheless, cannabis tinctures can be a little pricey depending on the brand and your location. Typically, tinctures sell for around $15 - $100+, with some product including 1000mg or more of cannabinoids.
  • Marijuana Flower. The classic and conventional marijuana product – and the one all other products are born from – is cannabis flower. You can buy flower at dispensaries by the gram, in eighths, or by the ounce for around $10 - $20 per gram. 

We don't recommend choosing your go-to method of consumption just based on price. Instead, discuss your product options with your evaluating physician or healthcare provider to help determine the most appropriate form of medical marijuana. 

What Affects the Price of Medical Marijuana?

Factors that affect price of marijuana

One of the most significant factors in the price of medical cannabis is the type of product you are looking to buy, as each comes with its own manufacturing process, lab tests, and – in some cases – additional ingredients. 

However, other factors such as state taxes/regulations, quality, and location all play a role in how cheap, or expensive medical marijuana can be. 

Quality

Not all medical marijuana is created equal, unfortunately. You can purchase medicinal cannabis in low, medium, and higher qualities throughout the country. 

Also, some strains are rarer or more potent than others, which typically means they’ll be sold for higher prices. 

The quality of medical marijuana is perhaps the primary and fundamental factor affecting its price. Things like its potency, flavor and scent profile, and how it was cultivated all play a role in determining the quality and grade (and price) of cannabis.

State Taxes and Regulations

The taxes levied by the state or local municipalities can also significantly run up the price of medical marijuana. 

Nevertheless, the impact of taxes on the price of medical marijuana products is almost always less so than recreational cannabis, since most states impose smaller taxes, if any at all, on medical marijuana sales. 

Even so, any cannabis taxes – or sin tax – can affect the cost of medical marijuana. 

Location

The location where the cannabis is being sold will also help determine its average price. In addition to the role local taxes play, there is the issue of supply and demand: the number of marijuana cultivators and dispensaries will vary substantially from place to place. 

For example, Montana experienced supply shortages following its legalization of recreational marijuana because of restrictions on the number of legal sellers. Such shortages, as is the case for any commodity, inevitably drive up the price. 

However, this price mechanism can quickly go the other way, as is the case for Oregon, in which a massive surplus of marijuana has driven down the price to the lowest in the country. 

Discounts and Incentives

Both recreational and medical cannabis dispensaries will periodically offer discounts or new customer incentives to lure more business to their establishments. These could potentially lower the cost you need to pay for your medical marijuana. 

Such discounts and incentives can vary widely, and may not be a consistent offer consumers can rely on. As such, this is one of the least significant factors that will determine the average price of medical marijuana in a region. 

Product Type

Finally, the price of medical marijuana will differ based on the form you buy it in. Cannabis concentrates tend to be significantly pricier than something like a joint or even a gram of high quality flower. 

Recreational vs Medical Marijuana: Cost

Recreational and medical marijuana may not differ substantially in terms of quality. However, state and local taxes can have a major impact on the cost consumers pay for each type of cannabis product. 

While a political sticking point for medical legalization was the potential benefits to patients across the country, many state legislatures became more favorable to recreational legalization after seeing the massive tax revenues it could generate for the state

So it should be no surprise that these states sometimes impose heavy taxes on recreational sales, consequently driving the price. 

On the other hand, medical patients pay very little in terms of sales or excise taxes on their cannabis purchases, saving them a significant amount of money in the long run.

Cost of Medical Marijuanas by State and Territory

The price of marijuana isn’t consistent from one local to the next, nor does every state recognize out-of-state medical marijuana cards. 

The states that have legalized medical and/or recreational marijuana each have different taxes, fees, regulations, number of suppliers, and distribution facilities that all affect the market price of medical marijuana. 

The Federation of Tax Administrators (FTA) compiled a list of current state-by-state cannabis taxes that you can use to give you a better idea of the prices in your local area. 

And to make things simpler, here is the average cost of one ounce of high-quality marijuana by US state and territory:

1. Alabama - $343

 2. Alaska - $298

 3. Arizona - $297

 4. Arkansas - $331

 5. California - $257

 6. Colorado - $242

 7. Connecticut - $333

 8. Delaware - $340

 9. Florida- $299

 10. Georgia- $318

 11. Hawaii - $314

 12. Idaho - $274

 13. Illinois -$354

 14. Indiana - $333

 15. Iowa - $363

 16. Kansas - $344

 17. Kentucky - $339

 18. Louisiana - $359

 19. Maine - $288

 20. Maryland - $361

 21. Massachusetts - $341

 22. Michigan - $290

 23. Minnesota - $280

 24. Mississippi - $349

 25. Missouri - $355

 26. Montana - $269

 27. Nebraska - $309

 28. Nevada - $270

 29. New Hampshire - $335 

 30. New Jersey - $344

 31. New Mexico - $284

 32. New York - $337

 33. North Carolina - $342 

 34. North Dakota- $384

 35. Ohio - $330

 36. Oklahoma - $345  

 37. Oregon - $211

 38. Pennsylvania - $358 

 39. Rhode Island - $308

 40. South Carolina - $336

 41. South Dakota - $351

 42. Tennessee - $345

 43. Texas - $325

 44. Utah - $281

 45. Vermont - $346

 46. Virginia - $365

 47. Washington - $233

 48. West Virginia - $363

 49. Wisconsin - $344

 50. Wyoming - $318

US Territories:

  1. District of Columbia - $598
National average price$326
State/territory with lowest costOregon - $211
State/territory with highest costDistrict of Columbia - $598

These prices listed were effective as of Aug 10, 2022.

Conclusion

Where recreational cannabis is available, states often impose hefty fees and taxes on their sales, making recreational products dramatically more expensive for consumers than products available to medical marijuana patients. 

As a result, receiving or renewing a medical marijuana card still has its benefits and can quickly pay for itself after only a couple visits to the dispensary. 

Don’t have your MMJ card yet? Get started today at www.nuggmd.com.

Get Your Medical Card Online Get approved today in minutes with the nation's #1 trusted medical card provider.
No appointment needed. Only billed if approved.

The information in this article and any included images or charts are for educational purposes only. This information is neither a substitute for, nor does it replace, professional legal advice or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have any concerns or questions about laws, regulations, or your health, you should always consult with an attorney, physician or other licensed professional.

Continue Reading:

You might also like: