Colorado Medical Marijuana Card

Is Medical Marijuana Legal In Colorado?

Yes, medical marijuana is legal in Colorado. In November 2000, the state's voters approved Amendment 20, codified in Article XVIII, Section 14 of the Colorado Constitution. This law legalized medical marijuana in the state for persons suffering from certain severe medical conditions. The Marijuana Enforcement Division under the Colorado Department of Revenue (DOR) regulates the state's medical marijuana program.

How to Get a Medical Marijuana Card in Colorado in 2024

Qualifying Conditions for Medical Card in Colorado

A qualified healthcare provider must recommend marijuana treatment for a person before they can legally obtain marijuana products for medical use in Colorado. According to Article XVIII, Section 14 of the Colorado Constitution, registered medical marijuana patients and caregivers can legally purchase marijuana products from licensed dispensaries. The qualifying medical conditions for cannabis treatment in 2024 in Colorado include:

• Cancer
• HIV/AIDS
• Glaucoma
• Cachexia
• Seizures
• Persistent muscle spasms
• Severe nausea
• Severe pain
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Autism spectrum disorders
• Medical conditions that could require opioid treatment

Can I Apply For A Medical Marijuana Card In Colorado Online?

Yes, you can obtain a medical marijuana card by applying online via the CDPHE online application system. You can also get a physician's recommendation to use medical marijuana via telemedicine in accordance with the Colorado Medical Board policies.

How Do I Register With the Colorado Medical Marijuana Program?

You can register with the Colorado medical marijuana program if you are eligible in accordance with the program regulations. To qualify as a participant, you must be a Colorado resident, 18 or older, and have a qualifying medical condition. The qualifying conditions include Cachexia, PTSD, cancer, seizures, or any condition for which a physician may prescribe an opioid. Minors may also participate in the program if they have qualifying conditions and they and their primary parents are Colorado residents. Note that minor patients are required to see two healthcare providers and submit two certifications authorizing medical marijuana use.

Do I Need To Be A Colorado Resident To Get A Medical Marijuana Card?

Yes, you must be a Colorado resident to obtain a medical marijuana card in the state. However, you can apply for a residency waiver if you reside in a Colorado jurisdiction but have an out-of-state driver’s license or identification. Still, the state may reject your application and request that you obtain a Colorado driver’s license or ID before re-applying. This provision applies to first-time applicants only; renewal applicants are not permitted to apply for a residency waiver.

What Is The Cost Of A Colorado Medical Marijuana Card?

Marijuana registry card applicants in Colorado are required to pay a non-refundable $29.5 processing fee to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE). The CDPHE accepts credit card, debit card, and electronic check payments from online marijuana registry card applicants. Mail applicants are required to pay their processing fees with checks and money orders made out to the CDPHE. Registered medical marijuana patients in Colorado must renew their marijuana registry cards annually. Persons renewing their registry cards are required to pay a $29.5 processing fee (non-refundable). A marijuana registry card applicant may qualify for a fee waiver if their household income is 185% of the federal poverty level or less. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) does not require medical marijuana caregivers to pay fees before obtaining caregiver identification cards.

What Do You Need When Visiting A Medical Marijuana Dispensary In Colorado?

Registered medical marijuana patients and caregivers in Colorado are required to show their marijuana registry cards and government-issued photo identification before obtaining cannabis products at medical marijuana dispensaries. Before dispensing cannabis products, medical marijuana dispensaries check the Colorado medical marijuana registry database to confirm the identities and registration of buyers in the state's medical marijuana program.

Who Can Prescribe Medical Marijuana In Colorado?

According to Article XVIII, Section 14 of the Colorado Constitution, before a person can use medical marijuana legally in Colorado, they must consult a qualified healthcare provider. A healthcare provider may recommend medical marijuana for a patient diagnosed with a severe medical condition that qualifies them for medical marijuana treatment. The kinds of healthcare professionals that may recommend medical marijuana for patients in Colorado are:

• Doctor of Medicine (MD)
• Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO)
• Dentist
• Physician Assistant
• Advanced Nurse Practitioner
• Podiatrist
• Optometrist

There is no official registry of approved healthcare practitioners that can recommend medical marijuana in Colorado. Nevertheless, for a healthcare provider to recommend medical marijuana in Colorado, they must be licensed to practice in the state. Also, they must have a valid certification from the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and an online account with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE).

Can A Minor Get A Medical Marijuana Card In Colorado?

Persons under the age of 18 can use medical marijuana in Colorado. However, in line with Article XVIII, Section 14 of the Colorado Constitution, the following conditions must be met before a minor can use medical marijuana in the state:

• Two licensed physicians must have diagnosed the minor (person under 18) with a severe medical condition
• One of the physicians that diagnosed the patient with the medical condition that qualifies them for medical marijuana treatment must explain the possible risks and benefits of medical cannabis to the patient and their parents
• The two physicians who diagnosed the minor with the medical condition must issue the patient a document stating the medical condition that was diagnosed and the physicians' conclusions that the minor could benefit from medical marijuana treatment
• Each of the minor's parents residing in Colorado must provide written consent to the Colorado Marijuana Enforcement Division permitting their child to use medical marijuana
• One of the patient's parents residing in Colorado must consent (in writing) to be the minor's primary caregiver
• The parent serving as the patient's primary caregiver must apply for and obtain a medical marijuana registry identification card on behalf of their ward

Can You Get A Medical Marijuana Card At 18 In Colorado?

Yes. Colorado allows qualified patients to obtain medical marijuana cards without parental consent when they turn 18. Those turning 18 can simply apply for marijuana cards in their own names and without designating caregivers.

How To Renew Your Colorado Medical Marijuana Card

Medical marijuana physician recommendations in Colorado are valid for one year. To renew a marijuana registry card in Colorado, a registered medical marijuana patient must see a qualified healthcare provider. If a medical professional recommends medical marijuana for a patient, they will issue them a new provider certification. Afterward, the marijuana registry renewal card applicant must log in to their account on the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) medical marijuana portal to complete their online application, provide the required documents, and pay the renewal processing fee.

Can You Grow Medical Marijuana In Colorado?

Registered medical marijuana patients in Colorado can grow cannabis plants at home. Per Article XVIII, Section 14 of the Colorado Constitution, a medical marijuana patient can cultivate up to six cannabis plants at home, with a maximum of three plants in the flowering stage. The cultivation area must be hidden from public view and enclosed to prevent access by unauthorized persons.

Colorado: Benefits Of Having A Medical Marijuana Card In A Recreational Marijuana-Legal State

The Colorado medical marijuana card exempts the cardholder from the 15% excise tax the state places on recreational marijuana purchases. Cardholders can also buy up to 2 ounces of cannabis, while non-cardholders can only purchase up to 1 ounce.

Does Colorado Allow Medical Marijuana Patients To Designate Caregivers?

A medical marijuana caregiver is a person who is authorized to obtain marijuana products, transport, or grow cannabis plants on behalf of a registered medical marijuana patient. Per the provisions of Senate Bill 15-014, there are four different types of medical marijuana caregivers in Colorado. These are:

• Parents of medical marijuana patients under the age of 18
• Advising caregivers: They advise medical marijuana patients on the products to use and how to dose them
• Transporting caregivers: They purchase and transport cannabis products for registered medical marijuana patients
• Cultivating caregivers: They grow marijuana plants for registered medical marijuana patients

To become a medical cannabis caregiver in Colorado, a person must be 18 years or older and be a resident of Colorado. A medical marijuana patient's caregiver cannot be their physician or own any medical marijuana business in the state. Medical marijuana caregivers must register with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) to obtain marijuana registry caregiver identification cards. Transporting and cultivating caregivers in Colorado are allowed to have a maximum of five medical marijuana patients under their care, and they are required to register with the Colorado Department of Revenue (DOR). Medical marijuana patients are not automatically assigned caregivers during registration with the CDPHE. If a medical marijuana patient requires the services of a caregiver, they may enter the caregiver's registration identification when applying for their marijuana registry card.

Colorado Medical Marijuana Reciprocity

Colorado does not offer medical marijuana reciprocity. Out-of-state patients are not permitted to buy marijuana from medical marijuana dispensaries but can make recreational marijuana purchases if they are of legal age.

Are My Medical Marijuana Records Private?

Per 5 CCR 1006-2, personal records and identifying information held by the Department of Public Health and Environment are confidential. No person may be permitted to gain access to information maintained by the department about patients or their primary caregivers. However, there are specific exceptions made for access, such as when authorized employees of the CDPHE, in the course of their official functions, and authorized employees of local and state law enforcement agencies stop or arrest a person claiming to be engaged in the medical marijuana use and in possession of a registry identification card.

Does Insurance Cover Medical Marijuana In Colorado?

Colorado law does not require insurers to cover the costs related to medical marijuana.

What Is The Medical Card Limit In Colorado?

The Colorado medical marijuana card allows the individual named on the card to buy up to 2 ounces of weed. No more than 40 grams of this 2-ounce limit may be in concentrated form.

Can You Go To A Dispensary Without A Medical Card In Colorado?

Yes, you may visit a recreational marijuana dispensary in Colorado if you do not have a medical marijuana card. From such retail stores, you can buy up to 1 ounce of weed if you have a valid ID to prove you are 21 or older. However, to buy medical marijuana, you must have a Colorado medical marijuana card.