California Patient FAQs

NuggMD California connects prospective patients with state-licensed medical cannabis doctors so you can get your required medical evaluation fast, easy, and online from the comfort and privacy of your own home.

Browse our full list of patient FAQs, or contact our customer service team for one-on-one support.

To get a California medical marijuana card, an individual must have a physician's recommendation. Registering for a state MMIC card is optional.

With NuggMD, you don’t need any special documentation other than a California state ID, driver’s license, or a U.S. passport. If you've got medical records that can help your doctor better evaluate your condition, you should also upload these during the signup process.

If you're planning on applying for a state MMIC after your NuggMD evaluation (optional), you’ll need a doctor’s recommendation, your valid government-issued I.D., your photo taken at the county’s medical marijuana program office, and proof that you live in the county.

The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) administers the Medical Marijuana Identification Card (MMIC) program. The Medical Marijuana Program (MMP) was established to provide a voluntary medical marijuana identification card issuance and registry program for qualified patients and their caregivers.

The official paper copy of your medical marijuana recommendation is what you legally need to access dispensaries and defend yourself against unjust prosecution by the law. The voluntary MMIC is simply a more convenient proof of your patient status and contains the information needed to verify it, including that of a police officer. However, we recommend keeping a paper copy of your recommendation in your car at all times, just in case. Most patients purchase an extra copy of their recommendation at checkout for this exact reason. MMIC holders get an extra benefit that doesn't come with just a doctor's recommendation. In California, only MMIC holders are exempt from the state sales tax on medical marijuana. If you only have a recommendation, your cannabis will cost just as much as recreational cannabis does.

Yes, even without a California ID, you can still become an MMJ patient in the state. Any ID from the U.S. can be used with NuggMD to receive an MMJ evaluation. As of this time, we cannot, unfortunately, accept or use any identification from any other country besides the United States. However, a U.S. visa that includes a photo of yourself along with your date of birth can be used.

Yes, absolutely! We accept any U.S. government-issued form of identification, which includes: Passport, Driver’s License, State ID, Visa, Green Card, Employment Authorization, etc.

NuggMD is happy to help California patients with their MMJ evaluations. Patients can easily find a qualified doctor to evaluate them using our platform. Every one of our partnering CA physicians is fully licensed in California and have received the necessary training and certification by the state.

We offer one of the best cheapest prices for a CA medical card recommendation, starting at just $39 for a 12-month recommendation. If you aren't approved, you'll receive a full refund and won't pay a thing.

State registration is optional in California, but if you choose to register for a MMIC, you’ll be responsible for your county’s registration fee.

No, it is not the same. The bare minimum that is required to purchase MMJ at dispensaries is a medical marijuana recommendation issued by your physician. If they so choose, patients can opt to get an additional MMIC issued by the Department of Public Health. This is meant to be an additional layer of legal protection, proof of your MMJ patient status, and an exemption from paying the sales and use taxes. MMIC includes all the information necessary to verify their validity if need be.

Nevertheless, keeping a physical copy of your MMJ recommendation on your person or in your car may be wise. In those cases, you need to provide proof of patient status quickly. For this reason, we make it possible to order multiple copies of your recommendation if you would like them.

Those patients with MMICs also are exempt from the state sales tax on medicinal cannabis sales. In contrast, those patients without an MMIC are paying the same amount as recreational users.

No, registering with the state for an MMIC is optional; however, if you opt out, you will be subject to all the taxes on cannabis purchases.

In order to qualify for medical cannabis in California, you must be a permanent resident of the state over the age of 18. Minor patients can also apply with the permission of a parent or legal guardian who must be designated as their primary caregiver. While California does have a list of qualifying medical conditions, the state also allows physicians to use their own discretion in recommending cannabis to patients they feel will benefit from it. As long as you’re a California resident and your physician thinks medical cannabis is a good fit, you can qualify for the state’s program.

California doctors may prescribe cannabis for the following conditions or any other chronic or persistent symptom that either substantially limits a person's ability to conduct one or more of major life activities as defined by the ADA or may cause serious harm to the person’s safety, mental, or physical health if not alleviated.

AIDS
Anorexia
Arthritis
Cachexia
Cancer
Chronic pain
Glaucoma
Migraines
Muscle spasms
Seizures
Severe nausea

Yes. California law allows physicians to recommend cannabis for “any other illness for which marijuana provides relief.” As long as your condition is serious enough or there’s a documented history of the condition being treated effectively with cannabis, there’s a chance you can find a physician willing to recommend medical cannabis.

Unfortunately not. Hopefully soon (once more scientific research has been done and the schedule 1 drug status is removed) insurance companies will cover the costs of medical marijuana evaluations and treatment for patients.

Even though recreational cannabis is legal in California, there are several compelling reasons to get your medical cannabis recommendation. Medical cannabis patients can purchase a wider range of cannabis products from more dispensaries. Patients have access to all of the state’s medical cannabis dispensaries, in addition to the many recreational ones. Then, there are some products–especially those with higher concentrations of THC–which are restricted to medical use only. Recreational users can’t purchase them, but medical patients can. Some dispensaries even offer exclusive sales and savings to medical patients only.

Medical cannabis patients can purchase and possess significantly more cannabis at once than recreational users. Recreational cannabis users are limited to purchases of 1 ounce of cannabis at a time. Medical patients are legally allowed to purchase up to 8 ounces of cannabis. Registered MMIC patients are also exempt from the 8% to 10% sales and use taxes.

California law also offers more protections to medical cannabis patients, too. As of 2022, California law forbids someone’s status as a medical cannabis patient from being used to deny them an organ transplant. These protections are not extended to recreational users.

The entire MMJ evaluation process takes 15-20 minutes for most people. After you are approved, you'll receive a digital PDF copy of your recommendation via email within a few minutes and your official paper copy arrives in the mail within 3-7 business days depending on your location in California. If the post office is being rather slow, there is a chance it could take up to 8 business days. If for any reason your recommendation is lost in the mail in the first 7-8 business days, we will promptly ship out a new one!

The county in which you register for your MMIC has 30 days to verify and process your application, and it can take up to 5 days after this to receive your MMIC.

Yes, you can either use your digital PDF copy to order online from sites like GetNugg.com or you can print it out and walk into a storefront dispensary. However, we strongly recommend calling ahead first to ask if they'll accept your temporary electronic copy because many storefront dispensaries will not upon your first visit.

Yes! Your recommendation and option ID card can be mailed to any address in the United States. As long as you understand, our recommendation is only valid for use in California and that dispensaries are not able to ship products across state lines.

Estimated shipping times are: 3-7 business days for Southern CA; 4-8 business days for Northern CA; and 5-8+ business days outside of CA. We are not able to provide a tracking number when mailing your recommendation. However, you will receive a confirmation email letting you know your package has been shipped.

Yes, it does. The MMJ recommendations you receive through NuggMD are valid for a length of one year. Once this recommendation expires, you must renew it to continue to legally use medical marijuana in California. The good news is that our renewal process is straightforward and quick.

Yes, you can! And doing so would only cost you the same low price, $39. The renewal process is quick and easy and can be completed entirely online. Then, after a quick evaluation, NuggMD will issue you a new MMJ recommendation. Don't worry, you'll receive an electronic copy the very same day. After 5-7 business days, you'll receive your official written recommendation via snail mail as well.

In California, any state-licensed medical doctor (MD), doctor of osteopathy (OD), or podiatrist is qualified to recommend medical cannabis. You’re completely free to see a different doctor than before so long as your new doctor is willing to take on these duties. All NuggMD physicians meet the state’s requirements to recommend medical cannabis. They’re comfortable discussing medical cannabis and knowledgeable about how it can help. It’s a good idea to bring your medical records to help them evaluate you.

It costs just $39 to get your CA renewal evaluation with NuggMD.

Your California medical cannabis recommendation and MMIC are good for up to a year after the date they were issued.

Unfortunately no, your doctor's recommendation through NuggMD is a legal medical document signed by a board-licensed doctor and recognized by dispensaries and legal offices alike. Although other sites might allow you to change the date of your documentation, such a practice is completely unethical and illegal, and owning such a recommendation would put you at risk of legal prosecution.

Read more about California's cannabis laws and regulations.

With NuggMD, you are ONLY charged for your evaluation if you are approved. We believe everyone deserves access to a qualified medical cannabis doctor, and the cost of an evaluation shouldn’t be a barrier.

There is a separate MMJ ID that is available to California patients. That is the Medical Marijuana Identification Card (MMIC) that is overseen by the Department of Public Health. MMICs can be received by qualifying patients by applying with their county health department.

If you haven't received your recommendation within 7-8 business days, please kindly contact our customer support team and we'll have a new copy sent out within 1-2 business day. In the case that you've lost your recommendation, you can purchase a replacement copy for $15 and/or a replacement ID card for $25. Please email us at support@nuggmd.com to request replacements.

We provide a full refund within 14 days for California residents if you have not used the certification at any dispensary. If you sign up and pay for your evaluation, but then cancel before your evaluation, there is a small $10 fee for the payment processing. Please send an email to support@nuggmd.com with the subject line “Refund Request” and a brief description of your issue. We want to make sure you are 100% satisfied with your purchase being that you, the customer, is the most important thing to us. Once you are refunded, we are legally required to deactivate your medical recommendation and ID. You will not be able to use your recommendation legally at any dispensary in California, nor benefit from the legal coverage a medical recommendation offers. Once a refund has been initiated, please allow for 3-5 business days for the funds to transfer back to the card you used for the transaction. If any issues arise, please feel free to reach back out for further assistance.

The California MMJ program allows all of the usual forms of cannabis products, including flower, capsules, edibles, concentrates, tinctures and oils.

Learn more about California's cannabis laws and regulations.

Being that we have licensed medical cannabis doctors available on demand, you're able to purchase medical cannabis the same day (usually within the same hour) once you're approved. We will send you a temporary PDF copy of your recommendation, which will allow you to place orders online from delivery services such as those found on NuggMD.com! Once your official physical copy arrives in the mail, you can access any medical dispensary in the state.

Your recommendation is valid for purchasing cannabis at all California medical dispensaries and medical delivery services! Your recommendation comes with a raised embossed seal with a handwritten signature by the doctor and can be verified online 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Individuals with a medical cannabis card must be 18 to purchase cannabis, while any individual over the age of 21 can visit and purchase from a licensed dispensary.

Recreational consumers can purchase up to once ounce of flower at a time, or up to 8 grams of concentrate. Medical consumers can purchase considerably more flower - 8 ounces, or the amount of concentrate that can be derived from 8 ounces of cannabis.

Medical cannabis patients are legally allowed to grow up to 6 mature plants or 12 immature plants at a time. As for carrying on your person, you are legally allowed to carry up to 8 ounces of dried flower at a time.

Yes, you can! The law allows California residents to give no more than one ounce of cannabis flower or no more than 8 grams of marijuana concentrate as a gift to individuals 21 and over. You cannot, however, receive any sort of compensation for your gift.

Currently, no, you cannot smoke or use cannabis within public places. The law treats cannabis smoke the same as cigarette smoke in that smoking in many areas is restricted. As a rule of thumb, if you cannot smoke cigarettes in a particular place, chances are you can't smoke weed there, either. Nevertheless, there are some marijuana lounges and cannabis events that allow their patrons to smoke publicly. Otherwise, you can expect to be limited to cannabis use within private homes.

Yes, California allows for the delivery of both medical and adult-use cannabis products. California's legalization model allows for non-storefront cannabis retailers that are widely available to patients and adult-use consumers throughout the state.

Some states offer reciprocity to out-of-state patients, and some don't. Some states that offer reciprocity only accept MMJ cards from certain states. The only way to know for sure is to check the regulations in your specific state.

No. While many other states accept California’s medical marijuana cards, California doesn’t have a reciprocity policy.

Currently, recreational consumers are limited to no more than six plants grown indoors. Not every town or city allows for recreational cultivation outdoors, but some do. Some areas seek to limit medical cultivation to six plants as well.

Yes, you're protected from cannabis offenses related to transportation, possession, and dispensing by a patient or caregiver within the state of California -- so long as you possess no more than the amount you're allowed to possess according to the law and follow proper procedures when it comes to the use and storage.

As of 2024, employers are not permitted to deny employment due to a positive drug test for cannabis unless under specific conditions, such as a safety-sensitive position, a federal job, or any job that takes a certain amount of federal funding.

An individual over the age of 18 who consistently assumes responsibility for the housing, health, or safety of the applicant (patient) may be a primary caregiver. Individuals under the age of 18 may act as primary caregivers if they are the parent or legal guardian. This may be an individual or the owner, operator, or employee of an appropriately licensed clinic, facility, hospice, or home health agency. 

Medical marijuana caregivers must register for a MMIC with the patient at the county medical cannabis department.

Learn how to become a caregiver in California.

Yes. You only have to be 18 or older to get your medical cannabis card from NuggMD. Minor patients can receive a written certification from a physician of their choosing, but must have a primary caregiver.

A MMJ caregiver may only serve up to one medical cannabis patient if residing in different counties. If the caregiver and patient live in the same county, the caregiver is allowed up to 5 patients.