Michigan Patient FAQs

NuggMD Michigan 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 Michigan medical marijuana card, an individual must have a physician's recommendation for one or more of the state’s qualifying conditions for medical cannabis. You must then submit all documentation, including proof of ID and residency, to register with the state. With NuggMD, your physician uploads your registration directly with the state to initiate the registration process and then sends you an email to log into the state's portal to finish your registration. The state can take up to a month to complete your registration.

Yes, but if you use ID from another state, you must show proof of residency in the form of a voter’s registration. For a complete list of documents needed for a Michigan medical marijuana card, see the Michigan MMMP adult registration instructions.

Yes. Michigan allows dispensaries to recognize out-of-state medical marijuana cards the same as they would ones issued by Michigan.

The state of Michigan allows dispensaries to offer medical cannabis reciprocity to patients from medical cannabis states that also allow reciprocity for Michigan medical marijuana patients.

The only doctors that can recommend cannabis are Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery (DO) and Medical Doctors (MD). These doctors must have a valid license to practice in the state of Michigan in order to recommend medical marijuana to patients.

No. Only a medical doctor or a doctor of osteopathic medicine can certify medical marijuana patients in Michigan.

You must be a resident of Michigan for a Michigan med card. Michigan also requires that patients be evaluated and certified by a state-licensed physician for one of the state’s qualifying medical conditions. Patients under the age of 18 need a parent or guardian to approve of the treatment and serve as their caregiver in the program. Michigan also offers reciprocity to out of state medical cannabis patient cardholders.

Qualified medical cannabis doctors in Michigan can approve patients for any one or more of the following debilitating medical conditions:

- Agitation of Alzheimer’s Disease
- AIDS
- Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
- Arthritis
- Autism
- Cancer
- Cerebral Palsy
- Chronic Pain
- Colitis
- Crohn’s Disease
- Glaucoma
- Hepatitis C
- HIV Positive
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease
- Nail Patella
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
- Parkinson’s Disease
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Spinal Cord Injury
- 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 (Including but not limited to those characteristic of epilepsy), Severe and Persistent Muscle Spasms (Including but not limited to those characteristic of multiple sclerosis)

In order to be eligible for medical marijuana in Michigan, you need to be certified by a physician for one of the state’s qualifying medical conditions. However, Michigan law gives the state Cannabis Regulatory Agency the authority to add conditions to the list of qualifying medical conditions. If your medical condition isn’t already on the list, you may be able to appeal to the agency to have it added.

Michigan also has a recreational adult-use cannabis program that allows people over 21 to purchase and cultivate their own cannabis.

NuggMD offers low-cost medical cannabis evaluations for Michigan residents with no risk to you. If you're not approved, you don't pay for your evaluation.

The cost of the application fee is $40. The fee can be paid online with a credit card or electronic check, or if submitting a paper application, the fee can be paid with a check or money order and should be addressed to the State of Michigan - Medical Marijuana Program.

Because the federal government doesn’t recognize medical marijuana programs, nearly all insurance companies refuse to pay the cost of medical cannabis.

Michigan charges a 10% excise tax on all adult-use cannabis sales. Medical cannabis sales are exempt from the tax, meaning the savings over time for medical patients is substantial.

Medical cannabis patients in Michigan also have more dispensaries available to them. Many municipalities in Michigan have banned recreational cannabis sales, but they allow medical cannabis dispensaries. So, medical patients have more cannabis available to them in more locations than recreational users.

Patients can see a Michigan medical cannabis doctor through NuggMD in as little as 15 minutes, but it may take the state up to 20 business days to review your application and mail your card.

The Michigan MMMP can take up to 20 days to approve or deny your medical marijuana application. They then have up to 5 days to issue your card, if approved. In total, it can take up to 25 days, plus the shipping time, to receive your medical card in Michigan.

To get your medical marijuana card in MI, you need the following:

1) A medical marijuana recommendation or electronic certification from your doctor stating you have one or more qualifying medical conditions.
2) Proof that you are a resident of Michigan, which can be one of the following: * A state-issued identification card or driver's license, or * An out-of-state identification card with a photocopy of your MI voter’s registration card.

For applicants younger than 18 years old, the requirements are as follows:

1) Medical statements from two different doctors (one from each doctor)
2) Parents or guardians of the applicants must provide state-issued identification, proof of Michigan residency, and proof of guardianship (court order or birth certificate.)

Yes. The only thing required by the MMMP is that a patient provides a valid Michigan mailing address.

You need to apply for your Michigan medical marijuana card within 6 months of receiving your physician's recommendation.

Absolutely! Any state-licensed medical doctor can recommend medical cannabis in Michigan. Just be sure to provide your doctor with any relevant medical records, if possible, to help the evaluation process go more smoothly.

Michigan charges a $40 fee to renew your medical marijuana card. Patients are also responsible for completing a renewal evaluation with a qualified medical practitioner. With NuggMD, your renewal evaluation costs the same low rate as your initial evaluation, and you only pay if you're approved.

Your Michigan medical marijuana ID card is good for 2 years. You can find the expiration listed on the ID card. As a caregiver, your card will expire at the same time as your patient's card.

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.

You’ll only be charged if you’re approved for your medical marijuana certification. If not, your evaluation is free! 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. Once you’ve been approved and issued your certification, a refund for services will no longer be available. 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’re 100% satisfied with your purchase being that you, the customer, are the most important thing to us! Once a refund has been initiated, please allow 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.

You can request to have your ID card replaced either by mail or online. For the online card replacement, you first must register by creating a secure online account. You can complete the online application by following the instructions found on the state’s website. ‍ You can also request your replacement card via mail by first completing and submitting the Request Replacement Card form. On the form, you will find a list of instructions that lists the necessary documentation that must be included upon submission.

Patients in Michigan have access to a wide variety of cannabis products, including:

Concentrates/Extracts
Drinks
Edibles
Flower
Tinctures
Topicals
Plants

Learn more about Michigan's cannabis laws and regulations.

Medical marijuana patients with a valid medical card can purchase medical marijuana at any state-licensed medical dispensary in Michigan. Patients 21 and over can also purchase cannabis at state-licensed recreational dispensaries.

Medical marijuana patients in Michigan can purchase up to 2.5 ounces of cannabis at once and up to 10 ounces total per month (the same as recreational consumers).

Medical cannabis is only subject to the state's 6% sales tax.

Medical cannabis patients in Michigan save 10% in taxes as compared to recreational cannabis users.

Both medical and recreational users are allowed to purchase up to 2.5 ounces of cannabis flower or the equivalent in products. You can possess up to 10 ounces at home, and can grow up to 12 plants in an enclosed, locked facility.

You can give away up to 2.5 ounces of cannabis, though no more than 15 grams can be in the form of concentrates.

Yes. Michigan allows cannabis consumption lounges.

For the most part, consumption must take place in private and on private property. But Michigan does allow for cannabis consumption lounges.

Yes, but it must be sealed and secured. Michigan law doesn't specifically forbid driving with cannabis in your vehicle, but driver under the influence of cannabis is illegal. In order to avoid legal difficulty, it should be clear that cannabis in the vehicle is there for transportation, not use. Keeping it in a sealed container or the trunk of the vehicle is best.

Yes. Michigan allows medical cannabis patients and recreational consumers to have their cannabis delivered.

This depends on the state to which you’re traveling. Each state has different rules regarding reciprocity, and some don’t allow it at all. Check with your destination state to learn more.

Michigan's cultivation rules are fairly liberal. Adults over 21 are allowed to cultivate up to 12 plants for their personal use as long as those plants are not visible to the public without the use of a device to aid vision, like binoculars. Landlords can also prohibit tenants from growing cannabis on their property.

Michigan allows medical marijuana patients and recreational consumers over 21 to cultivate up to 12 plants.

Yes. Municipalities have the ability to determine if they will allow cannabis businesses and the number of businesses they will allow. This makes getting a medical card in Michigan more important for many patients, as it can allow access to more dispensaries closer to you.

No. Michigan law protects the parental rights of medical cannabis patients. Specifically, a parent "“shall not be denied custody or visitation” for being a medical marijuana patient. Issues can still occur though, so it's advisable to talk to your attorney if you have any concerns in this regard.

Michigan ended pre-employment marijuana testing for public employees, but some private employers still engage in drug testing. Check your prospective or current employer's drug testing policies to learn more.

No. Michigan does not provide protections for medical cannabis use in the workplace. However, if you lose a job due to a positive MMJ test, but were not using cannabis on the job or under the influence at work, and you have proof that you are a registered MMJ patient in Michigan, you may be eligible for unemployment benefits due to a recent appeals court decision.

There isn’t any specific language in Michigan law protecting patients. Michigan previously denied organ transplantation as a qualifying condition for medical marijuana as well, so the attitude in the state may be less progressive than other states. You should talk to your doctor BEFORE using marijuana if this is a concern, and a qualified lawyer if your rights as an organ transplant patient have been violated.

Yes. Michigan doesn’t prohibit anyone with a criminal record from becoming a medical cannabis patient. But if you're on parole or probation, you will want to check with your supervisor first and caregivers must pass a criminal background check.

Because cannabis is illegal on the federal level, it is federally illegal for registered cannabis patients to own a firearm in any state. But some states are pushing back against this and either suing to protect MMJ patients' 2nd Amendment rights, or are passing laws to protect patients on a state level. Michigan doesn't specifically ban medical marijuana patients or dispensary operators from getting a concealed carry license, but there may be other circumstances that affect your right to bear arms on a state level, so you should talk to a competent attorney if you have questions about gun ownership and cannabis in Michigan.

If you need to replace your Michigan medical marijuana card, you can request one by mail or online. Be sure to have a copy of your proof of residency or proof of identification to submit with your request. To request a replacement medical marijuana card online, you must first register with the state. Once registered, fill out the application to order a replacement medical marijuana card.

To request a new medical marijuana card by mail, fill out the Request Replacement Card Form and send it to the address below:

Michigan Medical Marijuana Program
PO Box 30083
Lansing, MI 48909

Under Michigan law, a caregiver must be over 21 years old and agree to assist a medical marijuana patient with their medication. Caregivers cannot have been convicted of a felony within 10 years, and they can never have been convicted of a drug-related felony or an assaultive crime.

Either the patient can designate you as their caregiver when they submit their Application Packet or you can fill out an Add or Change Caregiver form to be added as an existing patient's caregiver.

Yes, but there are some conditions. You cannot have been convicted of a felony within 10 years of your application. You cannot have been convicted of a drug-related felony or an assaultive crime.

Yes, a minor can become an MMJ patient in Michigan. The parent or guardian must submit the application as the child's caregiver, and two physicians must approve the child for medical cannabis treatment. The parent or guardian will be required to submit additional proof of state residency and proof of their guardianship along with the $40 application fee.