How to Become a Medical Cannabis Patient in MN
- Real Deal
- Jun 11, 2024
- 5 min read
Updated: 11 hours ago
Since 2015, Minnesota's Medical Cannabis Program has provided a treatment option for people who are facing debilitating medical conditions, helping to improve their quality of life with approved forms of medicine (pill, liquid, oil, topical, tincture, edible, lozenge, powder and dried flower for patients ages 21+). This page is intended to provide useful information about that program.
To be eligible to participate, a patient must be a Minnesota resident and be certified for at least one Qualifying Medical Condition.
Getting Certified for your Medical Condition
Before you can participate in the program, you must get your medical condition certified online in the Medical Cannabis Registry by a Minnesota-licensed physician, physician assistant, or advanced practice registered nurse.
NOTE: If you are a veteran, a separate certification form has been established in lieu of a health care practitioner certification. The Office of Cannabis Management does not maintain or share a list of health care practitioners who are participating in the program. If you need help finding a participating health care practitioner, ask your medical team or advocacy groups that represent your medical condition.
BEFORE going to your appointment with your health care practitioner, consider setting up a new personal (non-employer based) email account, if you do not already have one. The Office of Medical Cannabis will use this email address to send you updates and information, including your enrollment/application link.
DURING your visit, give your email address to your health care practitioner. Ask for an appointment summary and a list of your current medications.
AFTER your health care practitioner certifies your condition, or have submitted a veteran certification form, you will receive an email from the Office of Medical Cannabis that contains:
Confirmation of your condition being certified.
Your unique online enrollment link for the Medical Cannabis Registry.
NOTE: Your certification will expire if your enrollment application is not submitted and approved by the Office of Medical Cannabis within 90 days. To help ensure that your enrollment is approved before then, please complete your enrollment application within the first 60 days of certification. Your enrollment application may take up to 30 days to process after you submit a completed application.
Enrolling with the Medical Cannabis Registry
Once you receive your certification email, you are now ready to enroll! Follow the link in the email to complete your enrollment (check your spam or junk folder in case you do not see the email in your regular inbox).
If you need help managing your Medical Cannabis Registry account or picking up your medical cannabis, you can add a caregiver, parent/legal guardian, or spouse to your account at this time.
BEFORE you start your online enrollment, gather your:
Minnesota Driver's License or Identification Card
Mobile device to capture an image of your ID
Parent/legal guardian or spouse ID and birth certificate/marriage certificate, if applicable
NOTE: Unless a patient is a minor, adding a parent/legal guardian or spouse is optional.
Your completed enrollment application will be reviewed by Office of Medical Cannabis staff. This may take up to 30 days, and you will receive an email as soon as your application has been processed. Office of Medical Cannabis staff may contact you by email if we need additional information.
Re-Enrolling with the Medical Cannabis Registry
Patients registered in Minnesota's Medical Cannabis Program must re-enroll once every three years if they want to continue participating in the program.
If your account expires, you will no longer be enrolled in the program and will not be allowed to pick up medical cannabis. To help you get ready to re-enroll, we will send you reminder emails 60 days and 30 days before your enrollment expires. You can also check your Registry account to see when your enrollment expires.
BEFORE you re-enroll in the program:
Have a health care practitioner re-certify your condition in the Medical Cannabis Patient Registry (these visits can be conducted by telemedicine).
If you are a veteran, a separate certification form has been established in lieu of a health care practitioner certification. You can find the veteran certification form here.
Complete your re-enrollment application through the certification link that will be sent to you after you get recertified.
Your enrollment application will be reviewed by Office of Medical Cannabis staff. This may take up to 30 days, and you will receive an email from us as soon as your application has been approved. Office of Cannabis Management staff may contact you by email if we need additional information.
NOTE: Your certification will expire if your enrollment application is not submitted and approved by the Office of Medical Cannabis within 90 days. To help ensure that your enrollment is approved before then, please complete your enrollment application within the first 60 days of getting recertified. If you do not complete your re-enrollment within 90 days, you will be required to start the process over and get re-certified by your health care practitioner, or submit a new veteran certification form if you are a veteran.
NOTE: Extensions on enrollments or certifications are not allowed under state law. To see who certified your medical condition the previous year, log in to your Registry account and find your certifying practitioner's information under "Certification Information."
Purchasing Medical Cannabis
Once your enrollment is approved, you can access your Medical Cannabis Registry account and pick up medical cannabis at your nearest Medical Cannabis Dispensary.
BEFORE you go to your Medical Cannabis Dispensary:
Complete and submit the Patient Self-Evaluation online (available in your Medical Cannabis Registry account). NOTE: A registered caregiver can complete the Patient Self-Evaluation for you. You must complete a new Patient Self-Evaluation every time you purchase medical cannabis.
Schedule your appointment.
NOTE: The Office of Cannabis Management does not approve the Patient Self-Evaluation or dispense medical cannabis. Medical Cannabis Dispensary staff will approve your Patient Self-Evaluation prior to or at the time of pick up. A pharmacist or certified medical cannabis consultant at the Medical Cannabis Dispensary will review your account and recommend a medication.
What to bring:
Your Minnesota photo ID (your caregiver must bring theirs when picking up medicine).
A list of your prescribed medications (for initial appointment or if your medications change).
The visit summary from your health care practitioner who certified your condition (for initial appointment).
Payment for your medicine. Payment options vary by location. Insurance companies do not cover the cost of medical cannabis.
NOTE: The information displayed on this page is reproduced from the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) website for the convenience of our users. Real Deal Med + Rec is not the author of this content and makes no claims about its accuracy or currency. Please refer to the OCM website at the link below for the most up-to-date information.
Last Updated: June 11, 2024
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