Quick answer: book an online consultation with a licensed clinician, get certified, then register with your state if it requires it. Through Leafwell the consultation costs $35 to $199 depending on your state, and you only pay if you are approved.
A medical marijuana card lets you shop at medical dispensaries and, in many states, pay lower taxes and buy larger amounts than recreational customers. You do not need to visit a doctor’s office to get one. Leafwell, a HIPAA-compliant telehealth service, connects you with a licensed clinician online, and you only pay if you are approved. This guide covers what the consultation costs in each state, any state fees on top, and how to apply.
One thing a medical card usually does not do is protect your job. Most states still let employers enforce drug-free workplace policies, so check your state’s employment rules and your employer’s policy before relying on a card.
Get your medical card online with Leafwell
- Online consultation with a licensed clinician, no office visit
- You only pay if you are approved
- $35 in California, $85 to $99 in most other states
Code CANNDEALS takes $10 off the consultation. Sponsored: we may earn a commission when you apply through our link, at no extra cost to you.
Medical marijuana card costs by state
| State | Leafwell | State fee |
|---|---|---|
| New York | $99 | None |
| Illinois | $99 | $50 to $125 |
| California | $35 | Optional, up to $100 |
| Maryland | $99 | Optional $25 |
| Ohio | $99 | None |
| Virginia | $85 | None |
| Mississippi | $199 | $25 |
| New Mexico | $99 | None |
| Maine | $49 | None |
| Utah | $125, waitlist | $15 |
How to get a medical marijuana card online, by state
Select your state to see the cost, any state fee and how to apply.
How to get a medical marijuana card in New York
Leafwell’s online consultation costs $99, and you only pay if you are approved. New York charges no state fee and does not issue a physical card: your provider registers you and you receive a certificate with a scannable barcode. There is no fixed list of qualifying conditions; the provider decides whether medical cannabis could help you. Applicants must be 18 or older (minors need a parent or guardian’s consent). Official program: NY Office of Cannabis Management.
How to get a medical marijuana card in Illinois
The Leafwell evaluation costs $99. Illinois then charges a registry card fee of $50, $100 or $125 for a 1, 2 or 3-year card. You need one of the state’s listed debilitating conditions. Applicants must be 18 or older; minors register with a caregiver aged 21+. Official program: Illinois Medical Cannabis Patient Program.
How to get a medical marijuana card in California
A Leafwell consultation costs $35, or $59 with a Leafwell patient ID card. You receive physical and digital recommendation letters. The state Medical Marijuana Identification Card (MMIC) is optional and issued by your county, which can charge up to $100 (half price on Medi-Cal). See the CDPH MMIC program, or our page on the San Diego County MMIC office.
How to get a medical marijuana card in Maryland
A Leafwell consultation costs $99 and you only pay if approved. After certification you register with the Maryland Cannabis Administration; a physical card from the state is optional at $25. Applicants must be 18 or older; caregivers must be 21+. Official program: Maryland Cannabis Administration.
How to get a medical marijuana card in Ohio
A Leafwell evaluation costs $99. Ohio no longer charges a patient registration fee, and registration lasts one year. You need a qualifying condition, and minors need a parent or guardian’s consent and a registered caregiver. Official program: Ohio Division of Cannabis Control.
How to get a medical marijuana card in Virginia
A Leafwell evaluation costs $85 for new patients and renewals, with your money back if you are not approved. Virginia no longer requires patients to register with the state: your written certification and ID are enough to buy from a licensed dispensary. Official program: Virginia Cannabis Control Authority.
How to get a medical marijuana card in Mississippi
A Leafwell consultation costs $199. Mississippi charges a separate $25 application fee, reduced to $15 if you are on Medicaid. Applicants must be 18 or older; caregivers must be 21+. Official program: Mississippi Medical Cannabis Program.
How to get a medical marijuana card in New Mexico
A Leafwell consultation costs $99 and New Mexico charges no state fee. After approval you complete your application with the state program before your card is issued. Official program: New Mexico Medical Cannabis Program.
How to get a medical marijuana card in Maine
A Leafwell consultation costs $49 and Maine charges no state fee. You receive a digital certificate, which works as your card, after approval. Applicants must be 18 or older.
How to get a medical marijuana card in Utah
Leafwell currently has a waitlist for new Utah patients. Certification costs $125, plus a $15 state application fee ($140 in total). Official program: Utah Center for Medical Cannabis.
What medical conditions may qualify you for a medical marijuana certificate and card
That depends on the state but the following conditions may qualify you.
AIDS/HIV
Alzheimer’s disease
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), aka Lou Gehrig’s Disease
Autism
Cachexia
Cancer
Chronic pain
Crohn’s disease
Huntington’s Disease
Hepatitis C
Debilitating seizures
Epilepsy
Multiple sclerosis (MS)
Fibromyalgia
Glaucoma
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Sickle Cell Anemia
Spasticity
Spinal Cord Disease or Injury
Terminal Illness
Tourette Syndrome (TS)
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
Persistent, debilitating muscle spasms, such as those caused by Parkinson’s disease (PD)
Persistent, severe nausea
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Ulcerative colitis
Arthritis, Chronic Migraines, and Complex Regional Pain Syndrome are covered under Chronic Pain.
Terminal illness with a life expectancy under six months
A condition resulting in hospice care
A rare condition that affects less than 200K US Citizens
Any condition approved by the Compassion Board
After you get your card
Bring your card and a government-issued photo ID on every visit. Our Dispensary 101 guide covers what to expect on your first trip. To find a store, browse New York dispensaries, California dispensaries, or the full dispensary directory.
What a medical card gets you
The benefits depend on your state, but these are the most common:
- Access at 18. Most medical programs certify adults from 18, while recreational stores require you to be 21.
- Lower taxes. Many states reduce or waive taxes for registered patients. In California, a county MMIC exempts you from state sales tax; in Washington, a recognition card does the same at medically endorsed stores.
- Higher limits. Some states let patients buy or carry more than recreational customers.
- Access where there is no recreational market. In medical-only states such as Mississippi and Utah, a card is the only legal way to buy.
Medical vs recreational cannabis
| Medical | Recreational | |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum age | Usually 18 (minors with a caregiver) | 21 |
| What you need | Certification, plus state registration in most states | Valid photo ID |
| Taxes | Often reduced or waived | Full state and local cannabis taxes |
| Where it works | States with a medical program | Only states with legal adult-use sales |
Card rules and qualifying conditions change often. Use the official program link under your state above before you apply.
Medical cards and work
A medical card is not a workplace shield. Most states still let employers drug test and enforce drug-free workplace policies, and no state allows you to work impaired. Federal employees, federally regulated jobs such as commercial driving, and firearm purchases follow federal rules, which do not recognize state medical cards. Check your state’s employment rules and your employer’s policy before relying on a card.
Ready to apply?
- Online consultation with a licensed clinician, no office visit
- You only pay if you are approved
- $35 in California, $85 to $99 in most other states
Code CANNDEALS takes $10 off the consultation. Sponsored: we may earn a commission when you apply through our link, at no extra cost to you.
How we checked this guide
Consultation prices come from Leafwell’s state pages, checked on October 31, 2026. State fees, age rules and registration steps come from each state’s official program, linked in the state answers above. Prices change, so confirm the final amount on Leafwell before you pay. This page is general information, not medical or legal advice.
CannabisDeals US earns a commission when you apply through our Leafwell links, at no extra cost to you. It does not change the prices shown.
Last Updated on October 31, 2026 by CannabisDealsUS Editorial Team