Short answer: there is no national medical cannabis card. Each state runs its own program, and the route differs sharply. Illinois issues a registry card after a health care professional certifies the patient, Texas issues no card and works through a prescription, and Massachusetts and Georgia register patients after a clinician certifies them. This guide covers those four programs, the state fees, renewal, and the steps common to all of them.
Is there a national medical cannabis card?
No. Each program is run by a state agency, and each state sets its own eligibility rules, paperwork and fees. The four agencies in this guide are the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission (CCC) and the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH). Texas will not fill a prescription written in another state. Whether an Illinois, Massachusetts or Georgia card is honored in another state should be confirmed with that state’s agency.
How the route differs in each state
Illinois: a registry card from IDPH after a health care professional certifies you
IDPH manages the IDPH medical cannabis program and issues registry cards to Illinois residents who meet its requirements. A Health Care Professional Certification is needed to submit your application, and the certification number from your provider is entered in the state system. IDPH no longer mails registration cards. Since June 22, 2021, the card is available in your medical cannabis patient account for printing or downloading.
Texas: no card, but a prescription from a registered physician
Texas does not issue a card. DPS runs the Compassionate Use Program, and a patient gets a prescription from a physician registered with it. The physician enters the prescription in the Compassionate Use Registry of Texas (CURT) system, and the patient fills it at any licensed dispensary with identification. The Texas State Law Library says Texas does not issue physical cards, and that patients in the program do not register elsewhere with the state or pay a fee to take part. Patients must be permanent Texas residents.
Safety note: possession of marijuana without a CUP prescription is still a criminal offense in Texas, according to the Texas State Law Library.
Massachusetts: registration with the CCC after certification
In Massachusetts, a registered Certifying Health Care Provider certifies you, and you then register with the Cannabis Control Commission. The CCC says certifying providers can be physicians, nurse practitioners or physician assistants registered with the program. After certification, the provider emails you a four-digit PIN and instructions for applying online. Your application needs a valid form of identification and proof that you live in Massachusetts.
Georgia: a Medical Cannabis card from DPH after physician certification
DPH registers patients and issues a Medical Cannabis card. A fully licensed physician whose principal place of practice is in Georgia certifies the patient and uploads the information to the Medical Cannabis Patient Registry. DPH then verifies the information and emails you payment instructions. DPH says physician certification is the only way patients can legally access medical cannabis in the state, and that physicians are not required to certify patients.
A 2019 survey published in the Journal of Oncology Practice looked at 101 patients in one Georgia palliative care practice who held low-THC oil cards, the program that DPH now calls the Georgia Medical Cannabis Patient Registry. Advanced cancer was the most common reason for the card (76%). Concerns about legality (64%) and about being able to obtain THC (68%) were common, and the authors recommended that states with medical marijuana laws provide safe and reliable access for qualifying patients. The study is listed on PubMed.
State comparison
| State | Route type | Who signs off | State fee | Our full guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois | Registry card issued by IDPH after a health care professional certification | Health care professional, who provides a certification number | $50 (1 year), $100 (2 years), $125 (3 years) for regular applications | Illinois medical marijuana card guide |
| Texas | No card. A CUP-registered physician enters the prescription in CURT, which DPS administers | Physician registered with the Compassionate Use Program | No state fee. Patients do not register or pay a fee | Texas medical marijuana card guide |
| Massachusetts | Registration card through the Cannabis Control Commission after certification | Certifying Health Care Provider (physician, nurse practitioner or physician assistant) | No registration fee. $10 to replace a lost, stolen or destroyed card | Massachusetts veterans medical marijuana guide |
| Georgia | Medical Cannabis card through the Department of Public Health after physician certification | Fully licensed Georgia physician with a principal place of practice in Georgia | $30 per card until 12/4/2026; $75 per card from 12/5/2026 (DPH) | No guide on this site yet. Georgia DPH medical cannabis page |
What it costs
Three costs are separate: the state fee, the clinician visit, and renewal. Each one needs its own check.
State fees
IDPH’s registry card fee page lists $50 for a one-year regular application, $100 for two years and $125 for three years. Illinois’s administrative code, in Section 946.210, says the department may reduce fees for qualifying patients in several groups, including veterans and people 65 or older, with proof required. IDPH’s application help page says local health departments help with applications at no charge, but registration fees and other requirements are the applicant’s responsibility. The administrative code also says all fees are non-refundable.
The CCC says there is no fee to obtain a Program registration card, and the replacement fee is $10. Texas has no state fee. DPS says statute does not require patients to register or pay a fee.
DPH’s patient page says the fee for a Medical Cannabis card is $30 per card until 12/4/2026. Effective December 5, 2026 at 12:01 a.m. the fee for the Medical Cannabis card increases to $75 per card for new, renewal and replacement cards. Health insurance does not cover the cost of the card. DPH also lists a payment portal service fee of $3.75, which increases to $4.88 when the card fee increases.
Clinician visits
Visit prices are set by each clinician, not by the state. The CCC’s FAQ says all fees to obtain certification are set by Certifying Health Care Providers. Ask the office for its price before you book. If a clinic offers a medical credit card or payment plan for the visit, the CFPB guide to medical credit cards says these are often more expensive than other forms of payment, with interest rates reaching above 25 percent.
How do I renew my medical cannabis card?
Illinois
Illinois offers one-year, two-year and three-year terms, and the fee for each is listed above. The Illinois administrative code says applicants with life-long debilitating medical conditions have their cards renewed every three years for $50. Local health departments also help with renewal applications for free.
Massachusetts
When you update your name, address or other contact details, or your government ID gets a new expiration date, update your account within five days of the change. The CCC’s FAQ says that when a renewal application is approved, you can print a temporary card, and the new card arrives about two weeks after approval.
Georgia
The Georgia card is valid for five years, and the expiration date is printed on the front. After that, the cardholder must consult a physician to renew. DPH also says that if your card is lost, or the information on it is wrong or outdated, you can email MCRegistry@dph.ga.gov or call (770) 909-2765. DPH also says unexpired Low THC Oil Registry Cards remain valid after the program was renamed.
Texas
Texas has no card to renew. Each prescription is entered in CURT, and the CURT database is designed to prevent duplicate prescriptions for a single patient. Ask DPS for the current steps before a prescription runs out.
Common questions
Can I use my card in another state?
Texas does not honor other states’ prescriptions. DPS’s patient FAQ says a prescription from another state cannot be filled in Texas. For Illinois, Massachusetts and Georgia, confirm with that state’s agency before you travel or move. IDPH’s medical cannabis section lists a Reciprocity page, so start there for Illinois.
Does a qualifying condition mean cannabis works for it?
No. A qualifying condition is what makes you eligible for the program, which is legal access, not proof that cannabis will help.
Before you apply
- Confirm you meet the residency rule. Illinois issues cards to Illinois residents, Texas requires permanent Texas residence, Massachusetts requires proof of residency, and Georgia requires Georgia residence and an age of at least 18.
- Find a clinician who can certify you. In Illinois this is a health care professional, in Texas a CUP-registered physician, in Massachusetts a registered Certifying Health Care Provider, and in Georgia a fully licensed physician. Check your condition against the state’s list. Bring a current ID. Georgia requires an ID that is current and shows your current Georgia address, or an extra proof of residence such as a utility bill. Massachusetts requires a valid ID plus a document that validates your primary residence.
- Apply with the state agency. In Illinois, enter your certification number in your patient application. In Massachusetts, apply online with the PIN your provider emails you. In Georgia, DPH verifies your physician’s upload, and you pay after you get the email, within 60 days. Texas has no separate state application: the prescription is entered in CURT and filled at a licensed dispensary.
- Keep a record of your renewal dates. Note the Georgia card’s expiration date, your Illinois term length, and your Massachusetts certification and registration dates.
Paid card services cannot issue a state card where the state does not have one
The Texas State Law Library warns that Texas does not issue physical cards and advises caution with online services that claim to help you get a Texas medical marijuana card for a fee. If a service sells a Texas card, it cannot issue one.
Related questions
If your question is about North Carolina program status, our guide covers the Compassionate Care Act status there. For cards and jobs, our medical marijuana card at work guide covers workplace drug tests and firing. To see which states have no cannabis program, our states with no cannabis program guide covers that question with hemp THC rules.
By HealthDataConsortium.org Research Team
This article is for general information purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Consult your doctor or qualified healthcare provider before making changes to your health routine.
