New York Patient FAQs

NuggMD New York 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.

Until now, this process was time-consuming and difficult as most registered practitioners do not have their contact information available to the public. Now NuggMD lets you skip the search process and connect with a New York registered medical cannabis practitioner live via online video chat.

Yes, as long as they took the NY OCM’s four-hour training course and registered with the state. NuggMD’s practitioners are fully-licensed and have completed all required to recommend cannabis in NYS.

No, a patient may not register without a certification from a registered practitioner. However you have the right to a second opinion. Any practitioner who has registered with the program may evaluate you for the medical marijuana program and this evaluation may be completed via telemedicine.

No. Patients must provide a New York driver's license or non-driver ID to apply for the medical cannabis program. Caregivers are allowed to use an ID from another state, but not patients. Additionally, patients are required to provide proof of residence along with their New York state-issued ID. For a complete list of documents needed for a New York medical marijuana card, see the Office of Cannabis Management's acceptable proofs and documents list. If you're staying in New York on a temporary basis, you can sign up as a temporary patient. You'll need to show some evidence of your stay.

If you're staying in New York on a temporary basis and need to use cannabis while you're there, you can sign up as a temporary patient. You will have to see a New York medical marijuana doctor in order to be approved. You will be required to show temporary proof of residency such as a rental agreement or utility bill (not a cell phone bill), and the certification will only be valid for the length of your stay.

Yes. Once you receive a certification from NuggMD, you're set. Patients use their recommendations to show their proof of qualification for medical marijuana in New York now. No state registration required!

It costs just $149 to get your MMJ evaluation with NuggMD. Once you have your certification from your physician, you're good to go. No state registration required. And as always, your evaluation with NuggMD is free in the unlikely even that you don't qualify for medical cannabis treatment.

New York no longer requires patients to register with the state. All you need is your certification from your practitioner.

No. New York does not make special accommodations for veterans or assign indigent status to patients. However, patients aren't required to register with the state so there is no additional cost beyond your recommendation, and dispensaries often offer discounts to veterans.

The Compassionate Care Act does not mandate a discounted medical marijuana product pricing program, but allows Registered Organizations to provide discounted products. Some Registered Organizations may offer reduced prices for qualifying certified patients.

New York used to have a list of qualifying conditions. This list was eliminated when regulations were changed in response to recreational legalization. Now, a patient can receive certification for medical marijuana so long as their certifying practitioner decides that medical marijuana is appropriate for their condition.

New York has eliminated qualifying conditions from its medical marijuana regulations. Medical practitioners can now recommend cannabis if they deem it's appropriate for the patient's treatment.

New York no longer requires medical marijuana patients to have specific qualifying conditions.

Since medical cannabis hasn't been legalized on the federal level, most health insurance companies won't cover medical marijuana products. This will likely change in the future once the federal government finally legalizes cannabis.

New York medical marijuana cardholders receive many benefits that recreational users don't get! Medical marijuana is taxed at a lower rate than recreational cannabis. Registered patients also receive better legal protections, including rental protections that don't exist for recreational cannabis users.

You are no longer required to register with the state as a medical marijuana patient. Your certification will serve as your registration.

You'll need any medical records you can gather, proof of your identity and proof of your residence. You can satisfy both identity and proof of residence with your New York driver's license or ID. If you don't have either of these, you may provide a copy of your current utility bill, government mail to your current address, or a current lease.

Once you possess a certification from a registered practitioner, you're all set! You can visit any medical cannabis dispensing facility to obtain medical marijuana products. Dispensing facility locations can be found by clicking here: Registered Organizations.

As of Mar 20, 2023, plastic registry ID cards are no longer being produced in NY. Instead, you'll be automatically registered with the state when you are certified, and your certification will contain your Registry ID.

You are no longer required to apply for a Registry ID Card. Your certification from your practitioner will serve as your Registry ID.

You are no longer required to register with the state.

You are no longer required to register with the state. All you need is your patient certification from your practitioner and your Driver's License or ID.

Of course! You have the right to see any physician you choose for your medical marijuana re-evaluation. All NuggMD practitioners are licensed in the state for which they provide evaluations and have acquired all state-required cannabis training and certifications.

It costs just $149 to get your MMJ recertification with NuggMD New York. There is no additional cost because you're no longer required to register with the state.

Your certification is valid for one year.

Of course! You can recertify any time you choose.

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. You can also change your mind after your evaluation if you wish and request a refund, but you must do so before the doctor has issued your certification. Once you’ve been certified, 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. A refund is no longer available more than 30 days after the date of your evaluation. If any issues arise, please feel free to reach back out for further assistance.

New York no longer requires you to register with the program, so there's no cost for evaluation.

Of course! New York doesn't prevent a patient from qualifying for medical marijuana just because they have a criminal record.

Learn more about New York's cannabis laws and regulations.

Patients and caregivers can purchase a wide range of cannabis products, including dried flower, tinctures, edibles, vapes, and concentrates.

New York doesn’t restrict the types of cannabis products available to both medical patients and recreational users. You can find flower, vapes, edibles, tinctures, and concentrates in New York. Each registered cannabis organization is also required to have at least one brand of cannabis with low THC/high CBD and one with equal THC/CBD. Aside from that, they’re allowed to produce their own brands with their own proprietary ratios of THC and CBD, along with other cannabis products.

Registered Organizations may dispense up to a 60-day supply of medical marijuana products to a certified patient or designated caregiver, pursuant to any recommendation or limitation made by the practitioner on the certification.

New York patients can purchase and possess up to a 60 day limit of cannabis as recommended by their physician.

Learn more about New York's cannabis laws and regulations.

New York provides a list of all licensed dispensaries.

A certified patient may receive medical marijuana products from any dispensing facility of any registered organization in New York State.

The hours of operation for dispensing facilities vary. Please contact or review the websites of the Registered Organizations for their dispensing facilites' hours of operation.

The price of cannabis in New York will vary according to the product type, size and potency. Prices vary by time of year as well according to time of the year. As of late 2023, prices averaged $10 to $15 per gram of flower.

No, prices vary among registered organizations.

The Department of Health used to dictate prices, but regulations have changed. Prices are now influenced by market forces, competition, and regulatory frameworks rather than being directly dictated by the Department of Health

Patients should contact Registered Organizations directly to obtain final prices, taking into account the dosing recommendation of their practitioner. The total amount a patient pays depends upon a patient's individual dosing needs and the resultant total quantity purchased.

No, you can find many different brands and products now, and selection will vary by dispensary.

It is not allowed to smoke cannabis in public. You can smoke cannabis in private, or at establishments that are licensed for public consumption. The rules for smoking cannabis are similar to the rules for smoking cigarettes. If you can't light up a cigarette, you can't light up a joint either. Landlords are allowed to ban smoking on their premises.

You can transport your cannabis in a closed container out of the driver's reach. It's not legal to use cannabis in a car even if the use is by a passenger. Doing so will result in a DUI.

Patients who are unable to go to dispensing facilities should designate a caregiver who can go for them. In addition, Registered Organizations are permitted to offer delivery services to New York patients and designated caregivers to help expand access to those who are unable to travel to a dispensing facility. Please check with the Registered Organizations to determine whether they provide delivery services in your area.

Yes. Patients can grow three mature plants and three immature plants for their own use.

Patients can grow six plants (three mature and three immature).

Connect with your certifying practitioner to determine if a change in product, dosage, or discontinuation of a product is appropriate for you. If you require assistance in connecting with your NuggMD practitioner, please reach out to our support team at support@nuggmd.com.

Certified patients or their designated caregivers should dispose of expired or unwanted medical marijuana products by adding water to the medical marijuana and then dirt, coffee grounds, ashes or another undesirable substance, prior to disposal in the trash to avoid accidental or intentional misuse of the product. Batteries should be disposed of at a safe disposal site.

New York certifications typically last for one year.

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.

New York does not recognize licenses issued by other states. They do allow out-of-state medical patients who are living in New York temporarily for treatment access to the state’s medical cannabis program. These patients must see a New York licensed practitioner and get a certification.

New York has enacted protections for transplants and other medical rights for medical marijuana patients. Specifically, the law says: 3. For the purposes of medical care, including organ transplants, a certified patient's authorized use of medical cannabis must be considered the equivalent of the use of any other medication under the direction of a practitioner and does not constitute the use of an illicit substance or otherwise disqualify a registered qualifying patient from medical care.

In the state of New York it is illegal for employers to test for THC (cannabis use) as a requirement for employment, with the exception of select safety sensitive or federal government positions.

New York requires all cannabis products to be tested for contaminants and potency. If your cannabis is not labeled for these things, it's not legal cannabis from a licensed retailer and it may contain contaminants.

Your physician can help you to register a caregiver if you wish to designate one.

You're not required to fill out a patient registration anymore. You'll use your practitioner certification and your ID to purchase medical cannabis in New York.

A certified patient may designate a caregiver who may obtain medical marijuana products on his or her behalf.

Yes, minors can register with the program with the approval of their parent or legal guardian.