+ Medical Marijuana CardTHE GEORGIA RULES
STEP BY STEP

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+ Medical Marijuana CardTHE GEORGIA RULES
STEP BY STEP

BOOK ONLINE

HOW TO GET
A Georgia Medical
Marijuana Card

Facts on this page were checked against official sources, including the Georgia Department of Public Health and the Georgia Access to Medical Cannabis Commission, by the Dr. Green Relief editorial team. Last reviewed October 15, 2026.

Who can certify you for a Georgia medical cannabis card? A physician fully licensed in Georgia with a principal place of practice in the state, who has a bona fide physician-patient relationship with you. The Department of Public Health charges $30 for a card valid five years. Dr. Green Relief’s Georgia evaluation costs $99 for new patients and renewals, and it can lead to a certification only if your physician meets those conditions.

Hand holding a card with a cannabis leaf

If you are wondering how to…

Get a Georgia Medical Marijuana Card.
It takes a Georgia physician’s certification and a $30 DPH card.

Medical cannabis is legal in Georgia for registered patients. Georgia residents with a qualifying condition can register for a medical marijuana card through the Georgia Department of Public Health. Georgia requires the certifying physician to be licensed in Georgia with a principal place of practice in Georgia.

Your physician signs the annual certification and submits it to DPH electronically, and DPH emails you a payment link for the card. DPH ships the card by UPS to your mailing address once your payment is processed. Questions about the registry can go to the DPH Medical Cannabis Program at (770) 909-2765.

Georgia medical cannabis card facts (official sources checked October 10 to 15, 2026)
Registry and card issuer	Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH), Medical Cannabis Patient Registry
Where to buy	Dispensaries licensed by the Georgia Access to Medical Cannabis Commission, or independent pharmacies licensed by the Georgia Board of Pharmacy
Card fee	$30 per card, plus a $3.75 service fee if you pay through the DPH online payment portal
Card term	5 years
Renewal rule	A physician certification every year, unless the condition is incurable or irreversible
Certifying physician	Licensed in Georgia with a principal place of practice in Georgia
Possession limit	12,000 mg THC in total, in the manufacturer’s labeled container, with your physical or electronic card
Telehealth rule	Not stated in the rules we have read
Reciprocity	No reciprocity agreements; a visitor’s lawfully held card from another state may be recognized for less than 45 days in Georgia if that state allows the same possession
Sources	DPH patients and caregivers; GMCC FAQ; SB 220 (2026)

Doctor writing notes beside medical marijuana bottles

The first step to getting a Georgia Medical Marijuana Card is to…

Receive your initial certification from a physician licensed in Georgia with a principal place of practice in Georgia.

After you have been certified for the use of medical cannabis, your physician enrolls you in the Georgia Medical Cannabis Patient Registry to obtain your state issued medical card. Once DPH verifies the certification, it emails a payment link for the $30 card fee, and the card ships by UPS. With an active registry card, you can legally buy, possess and use medical cannabis products, up to 12,000 mg THC.

CERTIFICATION BY A
GEORGIA PHYSICIAN

To obtain your Georgia Medical Marijuana Card, you must first be evaluated and certified by a Georgia physician who treats your qualifying condition. Georgia registry cards are for Georgia residents; visitors with another state’s card should read the out-of-state rules below.

Laptop icon with a medical cross and a person

GEORGIA MARIJUANA CARD
REGISTRY APPLICATION

After your physician certifies you, the next step is the Georgia Medical Cannabis Patient Registry. Your physician uploads the front and back of your ID, and DPH checks the certification before it emails you a payment link.

RECEIVE GEORGIA
MARIJUANA CARD

Patients holding a valid Georgia Medical Marijuana Card can legally buy medical cannabis at licensed dispensaries. Card holding patients may legally possess and use up to 12,000 mg THC of medical cannabis; home growing is not allowed in Georgia. Learn more about the benefits of having a medical card in Georgia, where recreational use is illegal.

Cannabis buds and medicine jars on a table

Qualifying Medical Conditions

HIV (Stage III)
Seizures
Cancer
Intractable Pain
Multiple Sclerosis
Lupus
Inflammatory Bowel Disease
PTSD
Sickle Cell Disease

Georgia lists 18 qualifying conditions, so a condition missing from these tiles may still qualify.
The Georgia Department of Public Health keeps the current list.

How Georgia Certification Works

Certifying Physician Must Practice In Georgia

FAQS

Requirements

What are the residency and age requirements?

You must be a resident of Georgia. Age is not a requirement, but a parent or guardian must register as the patient’s caregiver if the patient is under 18.

Which conditions qualify for a Georgia medical cannabis card?

According to Georgia law (O.C.G.A. § 31-2A-18, as amended by SB 220), patients diagnosed with any of the following conditions may qualify for medical marijuana:

Any cancer except non-metastatic skin cancer
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
Seizure disorders (epilepsy or trauma-related head injury)
Multiple sclerosis (MS)
Inflammatory bowel disease
Lupus
Mitochondrial disease
Parkinson’s disease
Sickle cell disease
Tourette’s syndrome
Autism spectrum disorder, if the patient is 18 years or older, or severe autism in patients under 18 years of age
Epidermolysis bullosa
Alzheimer’s disease
HIV diagnosed as Stage III
Peripheral neuropathy (severe)
Patient is in a hospice program, whether an inpatient or outpatient
Intractable pain
Post-traumatic stress disorder resulting from direct exposure to or witnessing a trauma, for patients 18 or older

What medical documentation should I have?

Bring records that show your diagnosis, such as office visit notes, a letter from the doctor who treats the condition or a list of current prescriptions. By signing a Georgia certification, the physician confirms a bona fide physician-patient relationship with you, and your records help show the condition the physician is treating.

If you don’t have medical documentation for a qualifying condition, ask the office that treats it for your records; questions about this page can go to 800-420-8423. Georgia requires the certifying physician to be treating you for that specific condition, or treating you in a hospice program.

General

When can I apply for
my Georgia marijuana card?

Georgia’s medical cannabis program is operating, and SB 220 expanded it on July 1, 2026. You can join the registry as soon as a qualified Georgia physician certifies that you have one of the 18 conditions.

Before you apply for your Georgia marijuana card, check that your condition is on the DPH list and that your ID shows your current Georgia address. If it does not, have a utility bill, phone bill or pay stub that shows your street address.

Is my registration as a
patient the equivalent of a
prescription for medical cannabis?

According to the Georgia Department of Public Health, the answer is no. Being registered as a patient is merely a certification that you have been examined by a certified physician, and certified that you have one or more of the medical conditions outlined in the law. In other words, it’s not a prescription.

So the certification alone does not let you buy or possess medical cannabis; the DPH registry card does.

What are the restrictions for
a medical marijuana cardholder?

Georgia sets strict rules for medical cannabis cardholders. To be a cardholder, you must be a Georgia resident and have a qualifying condition listed in Georgia law or be in a hospice program. In addition, Georgia law allows a cardholder to possess medical cannabis products containing up to 12,000 mg of THC in total. Possessing more than this amount is subject to state drug penalties.

Georgia does not allow smoking medical cannabis, but patients 22 or older may vape in private, and oils, capsules and patches are allowed. Each package a dispensary sells is capped at 1,200 mg of THC.

Can I grow my own medical marijuana
if I have obtained my ID card?

No. While Georgia has a medical marijuana program, it does not allow patients to cultivate their own cannabis, but registered patients can now buy medical cannabis products at licensed dispensaries and independent pharmacies.

Doctor’s Certification

Can any doctor issue a certification?

No. Under Georgia law, only physicians fully licensed in Georgia whose principal place of practice is in Georgia can certify a patient in the DPH registry.

The physician must be treating your qualifying condition and must renew the certification every year. Plan each yearly renewal with that same Georgia physician; our Georgia booking page books Dr. Green Relief appointments only.

Marijuana ID Card

How do I apply for the
Medical Cannabis Patient Registry Card (formerly Low THC Oil Registry Card)?

To apply for a Medical Cannabis Patient Registry Card in Georgia, you need a qualifying condition and a physician licensed in Georgia, with a principal place of practice there, who treats it. Dr. Green Relief appointments for Georgia are booked on the Georgia booking page, the page the Book Online button opens. Here’s what you need to do: first, your physician completes and signs the annual Medical Cannabis Certification for you. By signing it, the physician confirms your diagnosis, a review of your medical history and current condition, and that you are eligible under Georgia law. Once the certification is signed, your physician submits it electronically to the Georgia Department of Public Health. The Department will issue your registry card once it verifies your information and you pay the card fee. Once you have it, Georgia law requires the physical or electronic card to be with you whenever you carry medical cannabis.

Why should I apply and
obtain a medical marijuana card?

Whether medical cannabis fits your treatment is a question for the physician who treats your qualifying condition. A Georgia medical marijuana card lets registered residents with qualifying conditions lawfully possess medical cannabis within the 12,000 mg THC limit, when it is in a container labeled by the manufacturer and the card is in their possession.

Where will I get my
Medical Cannabis Patient Registry Card (formerly Low THC Oil Registry Card)?

DPH ships your card by UPS to your mailing address (signature required). DPH’s FAQ says: “Please allow up to 10 business days from the time your payment is processed to receive your Medical Cannabis card.” If you use a P.O. box, it goes to your nearest health department for pickup. For more, see the Georgia Medical Cannabis Program page. If your card is ever lost, stolen or destroyed, the program can provide a replacement card.

How long is the card valid?

Upon issuance, the card is valid for five years, as long as your physician renews your certification each year, unless your condition is incurable or irreversible. There will be an expiration date located on the front of the card. Afterward, you will have to get in touch with a doctor again and request that they update and confirm your registration information.

When DPH issues the new card, it comes by UPS to the mailing address in the registry; allow up to 10 business days from the time your payment is processed.

What happens if I lose my card?

If you lose your medical marijuana card, contact the DPH Medical Cannabis Program at (770) 909-2765, and they’ll help you. If your card is still valid, your physician will be notified to verify that you’re still receiving treatment from them.

Once that’s all sorted out, you’ll receive a replacement card.

DPH ships the new card once your payment is processed, and it asks you to allow up to 10 business days for the card to arrive. DPH charges $30 per card; ask the program whether a replacement fee applies. Keep your card safe: Georgia law requires the physical or electronic card whenever you carry medical cannabis, and a lost card means a call to DPH and a wait for the replacement.

The information on my
card is wrong or outdated.
How do I correct it?

If the details on your card are wrong or out of date, call the DPH Medical Cannabis Program at (770) 909-2765. All you need to do is provide them with the correct information, and they’ll issue you a new card.

Can I alter or laminate my card?

Keep the card as it was issued: Georgia law allows possession only with the registration card DPH issued, so if a detail is wrong, call the DPH Medical Cannabis Program at (770) 909-2765. DPH’s pages do not say whether you may laminate the card.

When should I renew the certification?

Georgia’s Medical Cannabis Patient Registry cards (formerly Low THC Oil Registry cards) are valid for five years, with a yearly physician certification to confirm continued eligibility unless the condition is incurable or irreversible. In other words, mark your calendar for the yearly certification and for the card’s expiration date, which DPH prints on the front of the card.

Is it optional to have
a cannabis ID card?

For residents of Georgia who are medical marijuana patients, the answer is no: a cannabis ID card is not optional. In order to be in compliance with the state’s medical marijuana laws, patients must register with the Georgia Department of Public Health and obtain a Medical Cannabis Patient Registry Card (formerly Low THC Oil Registry Card).

Your physician submits your certification to DPH electronically, and you pay the card fee through the secure DPH payment link or by money order. The ID card is valid for five years, and your physician must renew your certification every year unless your condition is incurable or irreversible. So in Georgia, possessing medical cannabis without an active card is a crime, whatever your diagnosis.

What is the fee for
this identification card?

DPH currently charges $30 for each Medical Cannabis Patient Registry Card, plus a $3.75 online service fee. DPH emails you a secure payment link, and you must pay within 60 days. This does not include the cost of the physician’s evaluation, which is required for participation in the program.

What’s the process of renewal?

Georgia renewal has two parts: a yearly physician certification and a new card every five years. Every year, your physician renews your certification in the registry unless your condition is incurable or irreversible; after five years, you see your physician to renew the card, and DPH ships the new one by UPS.

DPH asks you to allow up to 10 business days from the time your payment is processed for a card to arrive, and it gives no separate time for renewal cards.

Start your renewal early, because the yearly certification and the five-year card are separate steps. And, of course, keep your ID and proof of Georgia residency current to avoid delays.

How far in advance should I renew?

Patients should plan on renewing their registration as soon as possible so that they can be sure to have uninterrupted access to their medicine because their physician certification must be renewed every year unless their condition is incurable or irreversible.

What changes should I report to DPH?

Keep the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) up to date when your details change. The most obvious one is a change of address.

For example, if you move, report your new address to DPH so your card ships to the right mailing address.

Other changes you’ll need to report include changes in your phone number, email address, and any additional contact information.

By reporting these changes, you’ll help to ensure that the health department has accurate information on file for you, so DPH can reach you about your registry card.

Registry Application

What are possible reasons
for a denied ID card application?

DPH will not issue a Medical Cannabis card without a qualifying condition, proof of Georgia residency and a valid physician certification. First, you need one of the qualifying conditions listed in Georgia law. Additionally, a patient under 18 cannot get a card without a parent, guardian or legal custodian registered as caregiver.

Residency is the next requirement. Only Georgia residents can join the Medical Cannabis Patient Registry. This means that you must show a Georgia driver’s license or state ID, or a U.S. passport, military ID or out-of-state license plus a bill or pay stub showing your Georgia street address. Without proof of Georgia residency, you cannot participate.

Finally, not every physician can certify you.

Your certification must come from a physician licensed in Georgia whose principal place of practice is in Georgia. The physician must certify that the patient has one of the qualifying conditions and is eligible under Georgia law.

After that, a new certification is needed every year to keep the card valid, unless the condition is incurable or irreversible. Booking options on this site are on the Schedule Now page, and the full rules are on the DPH medical cannabis pages.

What should I do if
my application is denied?

If your application is denied and you believe it has been declined in error, you can contact the qualified physician for more information on your denied application. They may be able to provide you with additional information or clarification on the denial and the steps needed to reapply.

Can a minor apply for the Georgia
Medical Marijuana Card Program?

In Georgia, a minor with a qualifying condition can be certified by a physician, and a parent, guardian or legal custodian registers as the minor’s caregiver and receives a Medical Cannabis card. The caregiver can then buy the products and give them to the minor.

In addition, Georgia law bars anyone 21 or younger from vaping medical cannabis, so a minor needs forms that are not vaped, such as oils, tinctures, capsules or patches.

How long does the
card application take?

Georgia medical marijuana registration has three stages: your physician’s certification, your payment to DPH and delivery of the card. Your physician files the certification electronically, so nothing goes to DPH by mail unless you pay by money order. DPH publishes a delivery time, not a total processing time, so allow for each step.

First, you need a physician licensed in Georgia, with a principal place of practice in Georgia, who treats your qualifying condition (see booking options). That physician decides whether you are eligible for a Georgia medical marijuana card. Then, if you are certified, the physician signs the certification and adds you to the DPH registry.

After that, it’s just waiting for DPH to email you a payment link. After DPH verifies the certification and you pay, DPH says to allow up to 10 business days from the time your payment is processed to receive the card.

Is it possible to
expedite the application?

DPH does not list an expedite option, but a valid ID, current proof of address and prompt payment help avoid delays.

One avoidable delay is delivery: UPS needs a signature, and after three missed attempts the card goes back to DPH. If your contact details change, ask your physician to update them in the registry.

What is the required
paperwork to apply for
the medical cannabis ID card?

If you want a medical cannabis ID card, you’ll need a Georgia driver’s license or state ID, or another valid ID plus a document showing your Georgia street address, and your physician’s annual certification. Your physician, not you, sends the certification to DPH.

Once your physician has the forms, they’ll submit them electronically to the Georgia Department of Public Health. After your application is reviewed and approved, you’ll be issued a Medical Cannabis Patient Registry card.

You can purchase medical cannabis at licensed dispensaries and independent pharmacies in Georgia. Products there include oils, tinctures, capsules, patches and vapes, and smoking is not allowed; questions about this page can go through our contact page.

How would I know that my
application has been approved?

After your physician certifies you and adds you to the registry, DPH emails you payment instructions.

Once you pay, your card ships by UPS to your mailing address.

You can check its status on the DPH website.

State Program

Is medical cannabis program
participation publicly known?

No. Georgia law makes the information the Department of Public Health receives and the records it keeps for the registry confidential (O.C.G.A. 31-2A-18(f)), which limits who may see them.

So, if you’re worried about your boss, your friends or your family finding out, Georgia law limits disclosure of registry records to set cases, such as police checking that a card is valid.

Who is the regulating office
or agency for the program?

Georgia medical cannabis is regulated by the Georgia Access to Medical Cannabis Commission and the Georgia Department of Public Health. The Commission licenses producers and dispensaries, and DPH runs the patient registry.

Will there be more qualifying
conditions added to the program?

We cannot say whether more conditions will be added. Georgia law currently lists 18 qualifying conditions.

The 18 include intractable pain, lupus, severe peripheral neuropathy and PTSD (for patients 18 or older); the DPH medical cannabis page has the full list.

Laws

What did "Low THC Oil"
mean under the Georgia law?

The term “low THC oil” is the older name for what Georgia law now calls medical cannabis; SB 220 renamed the products and set the possession limit at 12,000 mg of THC.

Under Georgia’s medical cannabis law, qualified patients can possess products containing up to 12,000 mg of THC in labeled containers (SB 220, 2026). Your registry card is your proof that you are authorized to possess these products.

Can I be fired for
being registered with the
medical marijuana program?

Georgia’s medical cannabis law (O.C.G.A. 16-12-191) states that nothing in that part of the code requires an employer to permit or accommodate the use of marijuana in any form. It also leaves employers free to keep a written zero tolerance policy that bans on-duty and off-duty use, or any detectable amount of marijuana in an employee’s system while at work.

Georgia’s Department of Public Health registry pages do not say how a THC-positive workplace drug test is treated for a registered patient.

Before you register, read your employer’s written drug policy.

Can I use medical cannabis in
public once I have obtained
the Georgia Medical Marijuana Card?

Georgia law bans smoking medical cannabis anywhere and bans vaping it in any public place, so plan to use it in private. Keep every product in its labeled container, with your card, as the possession law requires.

I have a medical marijuana card.
Am I now exempt
from federal prosecution?

The Georgia Medical Marijuana program allows patients with certain medical conditions to possess medical cannabis products with up to 12,000 mg of THC in total. Under federal law, marijuana subject to a state medical marijuana license has been in Schedule III since April 28, 2026, but it is still a federally controlled substance. This means that even if you have a medical marijuana card from Georgia, you could still be prosecuted by the federal government.

The Georgia Access to Medical Cannabis Commission notes that the federal rescheduling order does not legalize marijuana, and possession by anyone not authorized remains a violation of state and federal law.

So Georgia law allows your possession only while you are registered and carry your card, stay within 12,000 mg THC in total and keep the products in containers labeled by the manufacturer, and none of that exempts you from federal law.

Should my employer know that
I am a participant in the Georgia
Medical Marijuana Card Program?

The answer turns on two points: Georgia’s confidentiality rule for registry records, and federal law.

First, O.C.G.A. 31-2A-18(f) makes registry records confidential and allows disclosure only in a few cases, each subject to the federal health privacy law, HIPAA.

The law names three cases: DPH discloses registry information on the written request of the registered patient or caregiver, to police and prosecutors verifying a card or registration, and, with identifiers removed, for research, statistics and similar purposes. Employers are not on that list.

Additionally, patients should be aware that although registered patients may possess medical cannabis under Georgia law, marijuana is still a federally controlled substance. Because of that federal status, ask a Georgia employment attorney how it could affect your job.

Before you decide whether to tell your employer about your registration, read your employer’s written drug policy.

Caregivers

Who can be a legal
representative or caregiver?

In Georgia, a caregiver helps a qualifying patient buy, possess and administer medical cannabis products, and can be a parent, guardian or legal custodian of a patient under 18, the legal guardian of an adult patient, an adult the patient designates, or a health care institution where the patient receives care.

Each caregiver pays the $30 card fee, and a patient may have more than one caregiver.

Once registered, the caregiver is issued a Medical Cannabis card by the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH). This card lets the caregiver possess medical cannabis products with up to 12,000 mg of THC in total.

Can a caregiver also be a
registered qualifying patient?

To use medical cannabis for your own condition, you need your own certification from a Georgia physician and your own Medical Cannabis card. DPH’s pages do not say whether one person can hold both a caregiver card and a patient card.

Do I need a caregiver card
to purchase MMJ for my child?

To buy medical cannabis for your child in Georgia, you need a caregiver card; the law names the parent or legal guardian of a patient under 18 as caregiver.

DPH issues that caregiver card through the Medical Cannabis Patient Registry.

Can a legal representative
purchase medical cannabis?

Yes, if that person is a registered caregiver. Under Georgia law, any caregiver listed in the answer on who can be a legal representative or caregiver may buy medical cannabis for the patient once DPH has registered that caregiver. This helps patients who cannot get to a dispensary or pharmacy themselves, for example because of limited mobility.

The caregiver needs a Medical Cannabis card of their own, which DPH issues for $30.

Ask your certifying physician how to add a caregiver to your DPH registration.

Dispensaries

Where can I buy medical cannabis in Georgia?

Registered patients with an active Medical Cannabis Patient Registry Card can buy medical cannabis at a dispensary licensed by the Georgia Access to Medical Cannabis Commission or at an independent pharmacy licensed by the Georgia Board of Pharmacy. The Commission regulates the production facilities and dispensaries and has licensed dispensaries in several Georgia cities; it does not prescribe or dispense medical cannabis itself.

Thanks to House Bill 324, also called “Georgia’s Hope Act,” Georgia is now home to licensed cultivation, manufacturing and dispensing of what the law now calls medical cannabis. The Department of Public Health runs the patient registry and issues the registry cards.

Are there approved
dispensaries in Georgia?

The Commission now lists licensed dispensaries in several Georgia cities, including Atlanta and Columbus.

The Commission adds a dispensary to its map when it begins operations, and the map, last updated August 5, 2026, shows 19 locations.

Registered patients can also buy at independent pharmacies licensed by the Georgia Board of Pharmacy.

Reciprocity

Are out-of-state patients
recognized in Georgia?

Out-of-state patients are only recognized if they have a valid registration card from another state that allows the same possession of medical cannabis as Georgia law. And even then, you’re only in the clear if you’ve been in Georgia for less than 45 days.

Outside that 45-day visitor rule, the Georgia Access to Medical Cannabis Commission says there is no reciprocity between Georgia and other states for medical cannabis.

Do other states
recognize Georgia cards?

It depends on the state you visit. Each state has its own reciprocity laws, and some states don’t recognize Georgia cards at all.

However, Georgia has no reciprocity agreements, so whether a Georgia card is accepted depends on each destination state’s own law. Patients should check before traveling.

Georgia City Guides

ATLANTA MARIJUANA DOCTORS

AUGUSTA MARIJUANA DOCTORS

COLUMBUS MARIJUANA DOCTORS

Appointments

Georgia evaluations are booked online.
Dr. Green Relief takes $99 Georgia evaluation bookings through the Book Online button above. Georgia accepts a certification only from a physician licensed in Georgia whose principal place of practice is in Georgia, so ask for your physician’s name and Georgia license number before the visit and look them up on the Georgia Composite Medical Board site. For Dr. Green Relief updates, leave your details below.

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