Short answer: the Montana Department of Revenue’s Cannabis and Alcohol Regulation Division issues the card, once you are a Montana resident with a debilitating medical condition, a Physician Statement signed by a Montana-licensed physician, and an application through the cardholder information page‘s TransAction Portal submitted within 60 days of that statement. The state fee is $20 for a new card or a renewal, and the card is valid for up to one year from approval unless your physician sets a shorter period (MCA 16-12-503). Below are the steps, the limits and what to check before you apply. For how card programs differ from state to state, see our medical cannabis card guide.
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How do I get a medical marijuana card in Montana?
The state steps are short. The part that takes the most effort is the physician visit. MCA 16-12-509 requires the physician to be either your treating physician, with an ongoing bona fide care relationship, or a referral physician. Before signing, the physician must have taken a comprehensive medical history, conducted a physical exam (in person or by telemedicine) and reviewed your prescription and non-prescription medications. Confirm with the physician which format they use.
- Prove Montana residency. The Department’s cardholder information page accepts a Montana driver’s license, a Montana state or tribal ID card, a voter registration form, or a Montana hunting or fishing license, among other documents. Claiming residence in another state for any purpose means you are not a resident under MCA 16-12-102.
- Get a Physician Statement. A Montana-licensed Medical Doctor (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathy (DO) signs the Department’s Physician’s Statement for a Debilitating Medical Condition. The statement also confirms that the physician has reviewed your prescription and non-prescription medications for possible interaction with marijuana, and it sets how long marijuana use should last, up to one year.
- Take a qualifying photo. The photo is printed on your card. It must be clear and in color, taken from the shoulders up, and taken within the last six months. Use a plain, light background, face the camera with a neutral expression or natural smile and eyes open, and wear no hats, bandanas, face masks or sunglasses. It should resemble a driver’s license or passport photo and may not be enhanced or altered.
- Apply in the TransAction Portal (TAP). The Department says all applications must be completed through TAP, and the application must be submitted within 60 days of the date on the Physician Statement. Some older dispensary pages still mention a state portal called Complia. The Department’s cardholder page names TAP.
- Pay the $20 fee. You can pay online by credit, debit or ACH. You can also mail a check or money order, or deliver cash, check or money order. The cardholder information page lists the mailing address.
- Print your temporary card. After you submit, the temporary card can be printed from TAP. You must carry a physical copy. Under MCA 16-12-503, a temporary card is valid for 60 days.
- Wait for the decision. The Department must approve or deny an application within 30 days of receiving it, and it must issue the card within 5 days of approving it (MCA 16-12-503).
What qualifies you for a medical card in Montana?
You need a debilitating medical condition, Montana residency and a Physician Statement. MCA 16-12-102 defines a debilitating medical condition as the following.
- Admittance into hospice care in accordance with rules adopted by the department
- Cachexia or wasting syndrome
- Cancer, glaucoma, positive status for human immunodeficiency virus, or acquired immune deficiency syndrome when the condition or disease results in symptoms that seriously and adversely affect the patient’s health status
- Central nervous system disorder resulting in chronic, painful spasticity or muscle spasms
- Crohn’s disease
- Epilepsy or an intractable seizure disorder
- Multiple sclerosis
- Intractable nausea or vomiting
- Painful peripheral neuropathy
- Posttraumatic stress disorder
- Severe chronic pain that is a persistent pain of severe intensity that significantly interferes with daily activities as documented by the patient’s treating physician
The statute also requires the physician to describe why your condition is debilitating and to what extent (MCA 16-12-509). People in the custody or supervision of the Department of Corrections or a youth court cannot be registered cardholders (MCA 16-12-508).
A qualifying condition gets you legal access to the program. It is not proof that cannabis will help your condition.
How much does a medical marijuana card cost in Montana?
Keep three figures separate: the state fee, the clinician visit and the renewal clock. Prices as of November 13, 2026. Check today’s price directly with the company you use.
| Item | Figure | Set by |
|---|---|---|
| New card registration | $20 | Montana Department of Revenue |
| Renewal registration | $20 | Montana Department of Revenue |
| Replacement card | $10 | Montana Department of Revenue |
| Card length | Up to one year from approval, unless the physician sets a shorter period | Physician and Department |
| Application window | Within 60 days of the Physician Statement date | Montana Department of Revenue |
| Clinician visit | Varies | Each practitioner sets its own price |
Registration fees are for processing. The Department’s cardholder page says they are non-refundable regardless of the outcome of the application. Montana Code 16-12-503(4)(b), however, says that if the Department fails to act on a completed application within 30 days, it must refund the fee. Ask the Department how these two rules apply to your application before you pay.
Visit prices are set by each practitioner. Ask any service for its full total in writing before you book.
Be wary of any site that charges you for a “card” itself or sells copies of state forms. The Department’s cardholder page says applications are completed through TAP, and it lists the physician forms as downloads on its own page.
Can minors get a medical marijuana card in Montana?
Yes, with extra steps. Under MCA 16-12-508, the card is issued to a minor when the custodial parent or legal guardian with responsibility for health care decisions meets the requirements.
- Use the Physician’s Statement for Minors form, not the adult form.
- Two physicians must sign, unless the treating or referral physician is an oncologist, neurologist or epileptologist.
- A legal guardian must show proof of guardianship, such as a birth certificate or a court document.
- The parent or guardian signs statements agreeing to control how the minor gets marijuana, the dosage and frequency, and agreeing that the minor will use only products not meant for smoking.
- A parent serving as the minor’s cultivator must submit fingerprints for a background check.
- Under the Know Before You Grow page, minor registered cardholders under 18 “may only use marijuana products; they cannot smoke marijuana and marijuana products.”
How much can a cardholder buy?
The Department’s cardholder information page sets the limit at up to 1 ounce of flower per day and up to 5 ounces per month. Other forms count against the same ounce:
| Product | Equivalent to 1 ounce of flower |
|---|---|
| Marijuana-infused products, including edibles | 800 mg of THC |
| Marijuana concentrate | 8 grams or 8 mL of THC |
If you need more, you can petition for up to 8 ounces a month through the cardholder petition form. The petition must be signed by the same physician who signed your current Physician’s Statement. The form itself says that completing it “does not constitute a prescription for marijuana.”
Designated purchasers
You can designate up to two people to buy for you. Each must be at least 21 years old, must carry your card when buying, and must show ID such as a driver’s license, a state or tribal ID card, a birth certificate or a passport. You can add them on your first application or at annual renewal.
Is medical marijuana stronger than recreational dispensary products?
The possession rules in MCA 16-12-106 are the same for adults 21 and older and for registered cardholders: up to 1 ounce of usable marijuana, with no more than 8 grams in concentrated form and no more than 800 milligrams of THC in edibles.
Montana’s 2025 legislative updates page says House Bill 636, effective July 1, 2026, limits a single package of ingestible-infused marijuana product to 100 mg of delta-9 THC, and a single serving to 5 mg, with a ±10% deviation still applicable.
Do I pay taxes on medical marijuana, and is it cheaper with a card?
Yes. The Department’s cardholder page says: “Medical marijuana is taxed by the state at 4%. Counties may enact local-option marijuana excise taxes of up to 3% on medical marijuana, adult use marijuana, or both.”
Marijuana you grow for personal use is not taxable. The Know Before You Grow page says state and local taxes apply only at the retail level on end-user purchases.
Whether a card makes your purchases cheaper depends on the price and the tax line on your receipt. Compare a medical receipt with an adult-use receipt before you count on a saving.
Can I grow my own marijuana with a medical card?
Yes, if you follow the Department’s rules. The Know Before You Grow page sets these numbers.
| Rule | Registered cardholder | Montana adult (21+) consumer |
|---|---|---|
| Mature plants | 4 | 2 |
| Seedlings | 4 | 2 |
| Shared residence | Not more than twice the number above | Not more than twice the number above |
- You must own the property or have written permission from the owner. Renters need the landlord’s written permission. Proof of ownership can be a deed, title, mortgage paperwork or property tax information. The Department also publishes a Property Owner Permission Form for Patients.
- Plants may not be visible from the street or another public area. A plant visible from a public place can bring a civil fine of up to $250 and forfeiture of the marijuana.
- Plants, and any marijuana over 1 ounce, must be kept in a locked space in or on the grounds of one private residence, and cannot be visible from a public place. Storing it outside a locked space carries the same fine and forfeiture.
- A seedling is a plant with no flowers that is less than 12 inches in height and 12 inches in diameter (MCA 16-12-102).
- Cardholders who grow for their own use must list the street address where they grow (MCA 16-12-508).
Is a med card worth it, and what are the downsides?
A card is worth it when one of its benefits is one you would actually use. Here is what the rules give you and what they ask of you.
| Benefit or requirement | What the rules say |
|---|---|
| Where you can buy | Registered cardholders may purchase at any licensed dispensary in Montana. |
| Monthly purchase limit | 5 ounces, or 8 with a petition. |
| Home grow | 4 mature plants and 4 seedlings, compared with 2 and 2 for adult consumers. |
| Designated purchasers | Up to two, each 21 or older. |
| Cost | $20 state fee each year, plus any physician visit fee. |
| What the card shows | Name, address, date of birth, photo, and whether you get marijuana through the licensed system. Under MCA 16-12-503 it can be used to track cardholder purchases. |
| Reporting changes | Changes to your name, address, physician or condition must be reported within 10 days, or the card is void (MCA 16-12-503). |
| Residency | Montana residents only. |
Can a police officer see if I have a medical card?
The cardholder list is confidential. Under MCA 16-12-503, names and identifying information on the list are not subject to disclosure, except that authorized employees of state or local government agencies, including law enforcement, may see it only as necessary to verify that a person is a lawful possessor of a registry card. A judge can also order disclosure.
State law also says that for adults 21 and older and for registered cardholders, possessing 1 ounce or less of usable marijuana is lawful and cannot be the basis to detain, search or arrest, subject to the limits in MCA 16-12-108 (MCA 16-12-106).
On the road, the Know Before You Go road guide says dispensary purchases must stay in their unopened, original packaging. In a non-commercial vehicle, the marijuana should be in a locked glove or storage compartment, the trunk, the truck bed or cargo area, or behind the last upright seat of a car without a trunk. That guide cites 61-8-1027, MCA.
Can I use an out-of-state medical card in Montana?
Montana cards are for Montana residents. Applications require proof of Montana residency (MCA 16-12-508), and anyone who claims residence in another state for any purpose is not a resident under MCA 16-12-102.
The Department’s pages do not describe any recognition of other states’ medical cards, so confirm with the Department before you rely on one.
Can a medical card affect my job?
Whether an employer can test you or act on a result depends on your job and your employer’s policy. Read the montana marijuana employment law guide for rights and exceptions, and the medical marijuana card at work guide for how drug tests and firing work in practice.
If you want to work in the marijuana business itself, the Cannabis Education Program page explains the marijuana worker permit. It requires taking the courses and two quizzes, with a minimum passing score of 80%.
How do I renew my Montana medical marijuana card?
Renewal uses the same $20 fee and a current Physician Statement. Submit the renewal in TAP within 60 days of the statement date, following the same steps as a new application. You can add or change designated purchasers at renewal.
Check the expiration date printed on your card. Cards are valid for up to one year from approval, unless your physician sets a shorter period.
The Department’s cardholder page sets the window at 60 days from the Physician Statement date. Follow the Department’s dates in TAP.
A lost card can be replaced for $10. Report any change of name, address, physician or condition within 10 days.
Before you apply
- Ask the Department how its non-refundable fee rule fits the 30-day refund rule in MCA 16-12-503.
- Check the exact qualifying-condition wording in MCA 16-12-102.
- Ask the Department whether it recognizes a card from another state before you travel.
- Ask any clinician service for its full price in writing before you book, since each practitioner sets its own visit price.
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.
