Since 2008, when Michigan’s “Medical Marihuana Act” went into effect, qualifying patients have been able to apply for a medical marihuana identification card with the recommendation of a physician. If you’re new to medical marihuana, the process may seem daunting at first, but it’s really not so difficult! Iconic Wellness is here to help, so we’ve created this handy guide so you can learn how to get a medical cannabis card in Michigan.
How to get a medical marihuana card in Michigan in six steps
If you want to apply for a medical marihuana card in Michigan, you’ll need to apply through the Michigan Medical Marijuana Program (MMMP), which offers an online portal for registration. Anyone over 18 can apply for their own medical card in Michigan by following the steps below.
1. Begin a LARA application/create an account
The first step to obtaining your medical card in Michigan is to create an account and register with the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA). All patients without caregivers must register with LARA by creating an account on the state’s official government website. Patients with caregivers must submit a paper application to LARA.
While other websites may claim to administer medical marihuana cards, this is the only legal way to get a medical card in Michigan.
2. Schedule an appointment with a qualified doctor
All patients in Michigan’s program must receive approval from a licensed doctor certifying that they suffer from a qualifying condition (listed below). While you can receive this approval from any licensed doctor, meeting with a dedicated cannabis doctor is often the easiest route.
According to Michigan state law, applying patients in Michigan must attend an in-person medical evaluation to be approved. You cannot receive approval from a doctor through the mail or virtual appointment.
3. Finish your application
Once you have a recommendation from a licensed Michigan medical doctor, you can complete your LARA application. This part of the process requires you to verify your Michigan residency via a Michigan ID card, a Michigan driver’s license, or a signed Michigan voter registration card. LARA also requires a $40 fee to complete the application.
You should complete only one application. Submitting duplicate applications or miscellaneous supporting documents may delay the process or change the outcome of your application.
4. Wait for an approval
It typically takes about two weeks to receive your MMMP card in the mail after submitting your application. If you don’t receive your response within five weeks, contact the Marijuana Regulatory Agency (MRA) to follow up by calling (517) 284-6400.
5. Get your card in the mail
Once your application is approved, you’re officially a registered patient. Online applicants will receive an approval email, which will serve as a temporary card until your physical medical marihuana card arrives. Once you have your card in hand, you can visit any medical marihuana provisioning center in Michigan, including Iconic’s Sturgis medical marihuana provisioning center location.
6. Don’t forget to renew your card!
Medical marihuana cards are valid in Michigan for three years before they must be renewed. It’s generally recommended to apply for your renewal at least 60 days (but not more than 90 days) before your current card expires to ensure you receive your new card on time. Medical marihuana patients without caregivers (or willing to remove their caregivers) can complete renewal applications online. Caregivers and patients with caregivers must apply for renewal by submitting a paper application to LARA.
The state must receive your application and payment before your expiration date to ensure you aren’t without an active card. However, renewal applications submitted more than 90 days in advance will not be accepted. You may check the status of your renewal at any time by logging into the Accela Citizen Access Portal and clicking on the Registry Card tab.
What about applying as a caregiver in Michigan?
A qualifying minor can be registered with LARA by a parent or guardian. While the process is similar, minors undergo additional screening that a patient of legal age does not need to go through. These steps include:
- Recommendations from two physicians
- Proof of parentage or guardianship
- Proof of residency for the caregiver
For more information, visit the Cannabis Regulatory Agency FAQ page.
Qualifying conditions for medical marihuana in Michigan
All patients in Michigan must meet specific requirements to qualify for a card. Before you apply, make sure that you are eligible by having one or more of the qualifying conditions listed below:
- Cancer
- Glaucoma
- HIV/AIDS
- Hepatitis C
- Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease)
- Crohn’s disease
- Agitation of Alzheimer’s disease
- Nail-patella syndrome
- Cachexia or wasting syndrome
- Severe and chronic pain
- Severe nausea
- Seizures, including characteristics of epilepsy
- Severe and persistent muscle spasms, including characteristics of multiple sclerosis (MS)
- PTSD
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Colitis
- OCD
- Arthritis
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
- Parkinson’s disease
- Tourette’s Syndrome
- Chronic pain
- Cerebral palsy
- Autism
- Ulcerative colitis (UC)
- Spinal cord injury
Medical marihuana patient purchase and possession limits in Michigan
Registered Michigan medical marihuana patients can have up to 2.5 ounces of cannabis flower or equivalent amounts of other cannabis products. However, Michigan follows unique rules surrounding medical reciprocity or honoring out-of-state medical cannabis cards. In Michigan, it’s left to individual dispensaries to decide whether they’ll recognize out-of-state medical marihuana cards. Iconic Wellness in Sturgis, MI, recognizes out-of-state medical cannabis cards. In this case, the purchase limits set by the patient’s home state will apply.
Out-of-state adults can purchase just as much cannabis as a local Michigander can in an adult-use provisioning center or dispensary.
Medical marihuana is for use only by registered qualifying patients or registered primary caregivers.
Is Iconic Wellness a medical marihuana provisioning center?
Iconic’s Sturgis location is a medical and adult use location offering separate menus for patients and adult-use consumers. If you’re interested in visiting Iconic Wellness’s Sturgis location, check out our updated menus.
While none of the three Iconic Wellness locations require a medical marihuana card to shop, you do need a government-issued photo ID to get in. Don’t forget your driver’s license, non-driver photo ID, or passport when coming to Iconic!
Supplying the best cannabis products
Once you have your registered medical card, you can visit and shop from any medical marihuana provisioning center in Michigan, including Iconic’s Sturgis, MI location. Stop by any of the three Iconic Wellness locations or visit our online menu to shop for the best cannabis in Michigan.
