Get Certified in Minutes
Money-Back Guarantee If Not Approved
Get Certified in Minutes
Money-Back Guarantee If Not Approved
Apply for Your New York Medical Marijuana Card Online
Pay only $99 for the appointment – and get your money back if you’re not approved!
Benefits of Getting a Card
Wondering how a medical marijuana card in New York can transform your cannabis experience?
State-Specific Steps
1
Book an Appointment with Leafwell
Speak to a Leafwell healthcare provider to get approved for a New York medical marijuana card online.
The consultation costs $99, and you’ll get your money back if you’re not approved.
2
Get Approved for Medical Marijuana
Once approved, your healthcare provider will send your information and medical cannabis certification to the State of New York. Within 48 hours, you’ll be able to download the state-issued certificate from Leafwell – we’ll email you when it’s ready.
3
Visit a Licensed Dispensary
The State of New York no longer sends out physical medical marijuana cards.
Instead, you only need to show a copy of your MMJ certificate and a valid ID at a licensed NY dispensary to purchase medical marijuana products legally.
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See a Doctor NowWhat You Need to Know
Apply NowEligibility / Patient
New York residents must be at least 18 to be eligible for a medical marijuana certification. The first step is connecting with a healthcare provider.
Caregiver
Caregivers must be 21 years of age or older, be designated by an approved patient before the caregiver can register, and must present the caregiver’s barcoded registry ID, the patient’s certification, and a government-issued photo ID of the caregiver to verify their identity when purchasing.
Can Minors Qualify?
Patients under 18 can still benefit from New York’s medical marijuana program with the help of a parent or caregiver.
Qualifying Conditions
You no longer need to have certain medical conditions to get approved for a New York medical marijuana card.
Instead, it’s up to your healthcare provider to decide if medicinal cannabis has the potential to help you live a better, healthier life. Visit our medical conditions pages to see a wide range of conditions that the cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids in cannabis may help improve.
What You Need
You’ll need to provide the following to apply for a New York MMJ card:
Medical Marijuana Recommendation
Approval by a licensed healthcare professional – they’ll submit your details straight to the state and then upload a copy of the state-issued certification within 48 hours to your Leafwell profile.
Proof of Identity
NY Driver’s License or NY State ID, or Photo ID with proof of residency.
Proof of New York Residence
Acceptable proofs of residency:
- Utility bills (within 60 days, must show “Service” address, NO mobile phone bills),
- Medical/Hospital bills (within 60 days) or Assisted living/Nursing home statement,
- Lease, mortgage agreement, or property deed (signed, current),
- Property taxes (current), NYS non-driver ID (valid),
- Health insurance/Explanation of benefits statement (current), SSA/SSA benefits statement (current),
- Homeowners/Renters insurance (current), Pay stub (within 60 days),
- Voter registration card (current),
- Jury duty notice (within 60 days),
- College/Army housing statement (current, on official letterhead),
- Assisted living/Nursing home statement (current, on official letterhead),
- NYS state/local government official correspondence (within 60 days)
Cost Information
Save more with Leafwell and get your money back if not approved.
Next Steps After Approval
Congrats on getting your medical certification! You’re almost there, but there are a few more steps to get your New York Medical Marijuana Card. Let’s dive in!
- Before You Start: What You’ll Need
- A credit or debit card for payment
- A valid photo ID
- Complete Application: Once approved, the provider must enter the patient’s details into the state website and upload a copy of the certification to Leafwell.
- No Temporary ID: Plastic registry IDs are no longer issued by the state. Therefore, patients are automatically registered when they are certified.
- Start Shopping: Patients can now legally purchase cannabis from a licensed dispensing facility. They must present a copy of their certification and a government-issued ID to the dispensary.
How to Renew Your Card
Initial registration and renewal processes are the same. However, if you are a patient who was approved prior to March 20, 2023, you will need to register with the state.
Steps to Renew Your Card
- Register with Leafwell and speak to a New York-licensed physician online.
- Once approved, the provider must enter the patient’s details into the state website and upload a copy of the certification to Leafwell.
- The patient can legally purchase cannabis from a licensed dispensing facility.
*** Patients approved prior to 3/20/2023 will still need to register with the state.
Legal Topics
Below are a few need-to-know medical marijuana laws in New York.
- Patients can possess up to 60 days’ worth of cannabis, an increase from the previous 30-day stipulation.
- Medical marijuana can now be smoked. This overturns a ban on smoking that previously forced patients to consume their medicine orally or by applying lotions and balms.
- The whole cannabis flower is now an approved form of medical cannabis. In the past, one could only use medical products made using cannabis.
- A new research license allows people to produce, purchase, process, or possess marijuana for research purposes.
- Minors and other people unable to take up the process independently – for example, the elderly – can designate up to five caregivers to do it for them.
Caregivers
Patients under 18 will need a caregiver older than 21 to apply for a NY medical card on their behalf.
Patients of age who cannot follow up on the process may also use a caregiver to access medical cannabis.
As of 2023, New York has simplified the caregiver process. The following rules apply:
- Caregivers may be added anytime after the approving provider completes the patient’s state registration.
- Caregivers must register with the MCDMS via their personal my.ny.gov account.
- Patients must designate the caregiver on their registration via their personal my.ny.gov account before the caregiver can register.
- An individual may act as a designated caregiver for up to four (4) patients to assist in purchasing and/or administering their medical cannabis products.
Reciprocity
New York does not offer medical marijuana reciprocity to cardholders from other states with medical cannabis programs. However, any person who is at least 21 can purchase marijuana for recreational use in the state.
That said, other states have either legalized the recreational use of marijuana or recognize out-of-state medical marijuana cards:
- Arizona
- Alaska ^
- Arkansas *
- California ^
- Colorado ^
- Connecticut ^
- Delaware ^
- Guam
- Hawaii *
- Illinois ^
- Maine
- Maryland ^ (as of July 2023)
- Massachusetts
- Michigan (qualifying state must also have reciprocity with Michigan)
- Missouri ^
- Montana
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey *
- New Mexico * (recreational cannabis is legal in NM)
- New York ^
- Oklahoma *
- Oregon ^
- Pennsylvania (minors only)
- Puerto Rico
- Rhode Island
- U.S. Virgin Islands *
- Utah (max. 45 days, after which the patient must apply for a Utah MMJ card)
- Vermont ^
- Virginia ^
- Washington ^
- Washington D.C.
States marked with * require visitors to complete a visiting patient application for their stay.
States marked with ^ have adult use programs but do not accept out-of-state cards.
FAQs
Click here for more frequently asked questions about New York.
How much does a New York Medical Marijuana certificate and card cost?
An online consultation for a New York medical marijuana certificate is $99 and includes a 1-year certification. You’ll only be charged if approved. Plus, now you can sign up with a friend and each save 10% on your consultation.
There are no state registration fees or physical cards in New York. Patients will be automatically registered by the certifying provider and receive a certificate with a scannable barcode instead of an ID card.
Which medical conditions qualify patients for a New York medical marijuana card?
You no longer need to have certain medical conditions to get approved for a New York medical marijuana card.
Instead, it’s up to your healthcare provider to decide if medicinal cannabis has the potential to help you live a better, healthier life. You can visit our medical conditions pages to see a wide range of conditions that the cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids in cannabis may help improve.
How does the online evaluation process work for getting a medical marijuana recommendation letter/medical certificate in New York?
There are three simple steps to seeing a Leafwell healthcare provider to get approved for a New York medical marijuana card:
- Register with Leafwell and speak to a New York-licensed healthcare provider via our HIPAA-compliant telehealth platform, which involves creating a Leafwell account using a valid email address. You’ll be asked to complete a brief questionnaire of personal and health information and to either take or upload a photograph of identification (we’re required by law to verify your identity). You will need a smartphone, computer, or tablet with a reliable internet connection and a working camera to be seen by a Leafwell provider.
- Schedule an appointment or enter the virtual waiting room. You will receive a text message on your cell phone when the provider is ready to see you. You’ll be connected to a Leafwell healthcare provider for a video chat (i.e., a virtual doctor’s visit). During the visit, your provider will assess your medical condition(s) to determine if you qualify for a New York medical marijuana certification.
- Once approved, your provider will submit your medical cannabis certification to the State of New York, and you will also receive a copy of your certificate to download. Use your certificate and a valid government-issued ID to purchase cannabis from any licensed medical dispensary.
How old must I be to apply for a New York medical marijuana card?
You must be at least 18 years old to apply for a medical marijuana certificate in New York.
Minors may apply with consent from a custodial parent or legal guardian.
Caregivers must be 21 or older.
Can I be/have a caregiver for a medical marijuana patient in New York?
Yes, medical marijuana patients in New York can have a caregiver. Caregivers will complete their own online registration after being designated as a patient’s caregiver.
Caregiver Requirements:
-
- Must be 21 years of age or older.
- Must be designated by an approved patient before the caregiver can register.
- An individual may act as a designated caregiver for up to four (4) patients. A patient may designate up to five (5) caregivers.
- Must present the caregiver’s barcoded registry ID, the patient’s certification, and a government-issued photo ID of the caregiver to verify identity when purchasing.
Here’s how the caregiver process works:
- Get designated: A certified patient or other appropriate person (for patients who are minors or incapable of consent) must designate you as a caregiver on the patient registration.
- Register online: After you complete your registration online, your registry ID can be printed or displayed on a smart device and used immediately in conjunction with a government-issued photo ID.
- Purchase medical cannabis: Visit a medical cannabis dispensary to purchase products for your patient. Bring your patient certification and government-issued ID with you.
Please note: The State of New York no longer sends physical medical marijuana cards.
How do I apply for the state medical marijuana program in New York?
Patients no longer have to complete a separate state application to get approved for a New York medical marijuana card. Instead, your Leafwell healthcare provider will submit your information to the state once you’re approved. You’ll then receive a certificate to download and present with a government-issued ID to a dispensary budtender to purchase medical cannabis products.