HOW TO GET
A California Medical
Marijuana Card
Facts on this page were checked against official sources, including the California Department of Public Health and Business and Professions Code 2525.5, by the Dr. Green Relief editorial team. Last reviewed November 5, 2026.
To get a California medical marijuana card, you first need a recommendation from an attending physician licensed in California who has examined you (Health and Safety Code 11362.7). With that recommendation and a government ID, adults 18 or older can buy at licensed retailers. The state card is optional, and you apply in person at your county health department. Each county sets the fee, up to $100 per application or renewal, for a card valid for one year; Medi-Cal beneficiaries pay 50 percent less, and the fee is waived for County Medical Services Program participants.
In California, the Recommendation Comes First and the County Card Is Optional
California has two documents, and only one is required: the written or oral recommendation of your physician under the Compassionate Use Act of 1996. The second is a state Medical Marijuana Identification Card, applied for through your county health department, in a voluntary program run by the California Department of Public Health. State law says you do not need the card to claim the Compassionate Use Act’s protections (Health and Safety Code 11362.71).
Your California Video Evaluation With Dr. Green Relief
Dr. Green Relief offers video evaluations for a California medical cannabis recommendation for $49. The Medical Board of California says telehealth that complies with Business and Professions Code 2290.5 and the standard of care is permissible (Medical Board guidelines), and the physician must document your consent to a telehealth visit first.
The physician reviews your history, examines you and decides whether to recommend medical cannabis. The visit can give you a recommendation, not a card: the county card is a separate step you take in person, and only your county program takes that application (CDPH FAQ).
California lets only a physician licensed in California who examines you recommend medical cannabis (Business and Professions Code 2525.2), so before your visit you can look up your physician’s California license on the DCA License Search.
| Fee | Amount | Term | Waiver or reduction | Who is paid | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dr. Green Relief video evaluation | $49 | Per evaluation | None | Dr. Green Relief | Dr. Green Relief price |
| Medical Marijuana Identification Card, application or renewal (optional) | Set by each county, up to $100 | Card valid for one year; renew each year | Medi-Cal beneficiaries pay 50 percent less; waived for County Medical Services Program participants | Your county health department; nonrefundable | HSC 11362.755; form CDPH 9042 |
| State fee (California Department of Public Health) | None | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | HSC 11362.755 |
| Appeal of a county denial | No cost | File within 30 calendar days | Not applicable | Not applicable | CDPH Forms and Appeals |
| Cannabis excise tax at purchase | 15 percent of gross receipts | October 1, 2025 through June 30, 2029 | None; it applies to medicinal sales | Charged at the retailer | CDTFA |
| Sales and use tax at purchase | Not charged with the card | Each purchase | Exempt only when you show the Medical Marijuana Identification Card and a government ID; a recommendation alone does not qualify | Not applicable | CDTFA |
NOTICE TO CONSUMERS: The Compassionate Use Act of 1996 ensures that seriously ill Californians have the right to obtain and use cannabis for medical purposes where medical use is deemed appropriate and has been recommended by a physician who has determined that the person’s health would benefit from the use of medical cannabis. Recommendations must come from an attending physician as defined in Section 11362.7 of the Health and Safety Code. Cannabis is a Schedule I drug according to the federal Controlled Substances Act. Activity related to cannabis use is subject to federal prosecution, regardless of the protections provided by state law.
California law requires the notice above in its exact words. Since April 28, 2026, federal rules list marijuana in Schedule III only when it is in an FDA-approved product or subject to a state medical marijuana license; all other marijuana remains in Schedule I (91 FR 22714).
SEE A CALIFORNIA ATTENDING PHYSICIAN
Start with an exam by an attending physician. The physician’s license must be in good standing with the Medical Board of California, the Osteopathic Medical Board of California or the California Board of Podiatric Medicine (HSC 11362.7(a)). Recommending cannabis without an appropriate prior examination and a medical indication is unprofessional conduct (BPC 2525.3).
CHOOSE THE OPTIONAL COUNTY CARD
If you want the state card, call your county health department for an appointment and bring form CDPH 9042, a government photo ID, proof that you live in that county and your physician’s documentation (CDPH FAQ). The county must verify your application within 30 days and issue the card within five working days of approving it.
BUY ONLY AT LICENSED RETAILERS
Adults 18 or older may buy medicinal cannabis with a government ID and either a valid recommendation or the county card (BPC 26140(c)(3)). Use the Department of Cannabis Control’s license search to find a licensed retailer, and look for the state license in the store window (What’s legal).
Qualifying Medical Conditions
Who Can Recommend Medical Cannabis in California
California calls this person the attending physician. The physician’s license must be in good standing with the Medical Board of California, the Osteopathic Medical Board of California or the California Board of Podiatric Medicine, and the physician must have examined you and taken responsibility for an aspect of your care (HSC 11362.7(a)). The Medical Board says a physician treating a patient located in California by telehealth must be licensed in California, though the physician need not live there (Medical Board, Telehealth). A recommending physician may not be employed by, or have any other agreement with, anyone dispensing medical cannabis (BPC 2525.4).
California Medical Card Requirements
Do I need a card to use medical cannabis in California?
No. The Medical Marijuana Identification Card is voluntary, and state law says you do not need one to claim the protections of the Compassionate Use Act (HSC 11362.71(f)). Adults 18 or older with a government ID and a valid physician’s recommendation can buy at licensed retailers. The card adds some things a recommendation does not, such as the sales and use tax rule described under Laws.
Do I have to live in the county to get the card?
Yes. CDPH says you must be a resident of the county where you apply, and the law asks for proof of your residency within the county (CDPH Roles and Responsibilities; HSC 11362.715). Accepted proof includes a current rent or mortgage receipt, a recent utility bill, or a current California vehicle registration in your name at an address in that county (form CDPH 9042).
Can a patient under 18 use medical cannabis in California?
A patient under 18 can hold a county card, but cannot buy at a retailer, because medicinal sales are for buyers 18 or older. A minor who is emancipated or has declared self-sufficiency status may apply alone; otherwise the county must contact a parent, legal guardian or other person with legal authority to make medical decisions (CDPH FAQ). A parent may serve as the primary caregiver.
What should I bring to my visit and to the county office?
- A government photo ID, such as a California DMV driver license or ID card (CDPH FAQ). A patient under 18 without a photo ID may use a certified copy of a birth certificate (HSC 11362.715).
- For the county card: proof that you live in the county, such as a current rent or mortgage receipt, a recent utility bill, or a current California vehicle registration in your name (form CDPH 9042).
- For the county card: your physician’s written documentation; form CDPH 9044 may be used for it, and the form itself says it is not mandatory (form CDPH 9044).
- Any medical records about your condition and a list of the medicines you take.
Records give the attending physician more to go on; they do not mean a recommendation will follow.
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