HOW TO GET
A Montana Medical
Marijuana Card
Facts on this page were checked against official sources, including the Montana Department of Revenue and MCA Title 16, chapter 12, by the Dr. Green Relief editorial team. Last reviewed November 5, 2026.
To get a Montana medical marijuana card, you see a Montana-licensed MD or DO who signs the Department of Revenue’s Physician Statement for a qualifying condition. You then apply in the Department’s TransAction Portal (TAP) within 60 days of the date on that statement. The state charges $20 for a new or renewal card, non-refundable, and the Department lists no reduced fee or waiver. Your card lasts up to one year from approval, or less if your physician sets a shorter period. Only Montana residents can hold one.
Montana Issues a Registry Identification Card to Residents
The Montana card is a registry identification card from the Department of Revenue, Cannabis and Alcohol Regulation Division. State law defines a cardholder as “a Montana resident with a debilitating medical condition” who holds a valid card. The laminated card shows your photo, name, address, date of birth, and issue and expiry dates (MCA 16-12-503).
Your Video Evaluation With Dr. Green Relief
Dr. Green Relief offers Montana patients a video evaluation for $129.
A Montana physician may do the history and physical examination by telemedicine under the Board of Medical Examiners rules, but never by an audio-only call unless you were first seen in person (MCA 16-12-509(4)). The Department’s Physician Statement asks the physician to mark whether the assessment was done by telemedicine.
If a physician signs your Physician Statement, you have 60 days from its date to apply to the Department. Whoever signs it also confirms taking on the management and routine care of your condition, as the section on physicians below explains.
Montana lets only a Montana-licensed physician (MD or DO) who takes on the management and routine care of your qualifying condition sign the Physician Statement for your card (MCA 16-12-509), so before you book anywhere, confirm the physician you will see holds a Montana license; the Department of Revenue cardholder page explains the program.
| Fee | Amount | Term | Waiver or reduction | Who pays | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dr. Green Relief video evaluation | $129 | Per evaluation | None | You, to Dr. Green Relief | Dr. Green Relief price |
| Cardholder registration, new or renewal | $20 | Card lasts up to one year from approval, or less if the physician sets a shorter period | None listed by the Department; non-refundable regardless of the outcome | You, to the Department of Revenue | Department of Revenue cardholder page |
| Replacement card | $10 | Per replacement | None listed; non-refundable | You, to the Department of Revenue | Department of Revenue cardholder page |
| State tax on medical purchases | 4% | Each medical sale | None listed | You, at the dispensary | MCA 15-64-102 |
| County local option tax | Up to 3% | Each sale in a county that adopted it | None listed | You, at the dispensary | Department of Revenue cardholder page |
The Montana cardholder registration fee is $20 for a new or renewal card, paid to the Department of Revenue and non-refundable regardless of the outcome; the Department lists no reduced fee or waiver. The two amounts are separate payments to separate parties.
GET A SIGNED PHYSICIAN STATEMENT
A Montana-licensed MD or DO completes the Department’s Physician Statement for a Debilitating Medical Condition after taking your medical history and doing a physical examination. A patient under 18 uses the minors form and needs a second physician unless the first is an oncologist, neurologist or epileptologist. The statement must reach the Department within 60 days.
APPLY IN THE TRANSACTION PORTAL
Every application goes through the Department’s TransAction Portal (TAP). Upload a recent color photo, proof of Montana residency and the signed statement, then pay the $20 fee by credit, debit or ACH, or send a check or money order. You may also name up to two designated purchasers, each 21 or older.
PRINT, RECEIVE AND CARRY YOUR CARD
Once you submit, you can print a temporary card from TAP that is valid for 60 days. The law gives the Department 30 days to act on a complete application and 5 days after approval to issue your card. Keep the card and a valid photo ID with you, because officers may ask to see both (MCA 16-12-513).
Qualifying Medical Conditions
Who May Sign a Montana Physician Statement
The Department says the written certification “may be signed by any Medical Doctor (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) physician licensed in Montana”; a nurse practitioner or physician assistant cannot sign it. The physician must confirm having “assumed primary responsibility for providing management and routine care” of your condition after a full history and physical examination, and the form adds a promise to keep serving as your treating physician. Montana has no physician registry or required course, and the Department keeps no list of physicians.
What Montana Asks of Each Applicant
Who can get a Montana medical marijuana card?
Montana residents with a debilitating medical condition on the state list can apply. The law defines a cardholder as “a Montana resident”, and you do not count as a resident if you claim residence in another state or country. Adults 18 and older use the adult application, and younger patients use the minors application with a parent or guardian.
Can a minor get a medical marijuana card in Montana?
Yes, a patient under 18 can apply with a parent or guardian. The Department requires the approval of two physicians unless the first is an oncologist, neurologist or epileptologist. The guardian must also agree that the minor will not smoke marijuana and will use only products meant for other routes (MCA 16-12-508).
What should I bring to my appointment and my state application?
- Proof of Montana residency, such as a Montana driver’s license, Montana state or tribal identification card, voter registration form, or Montana hunting or fishing license (Department list)
- A clear color photo of you from the shoulders up, taken within the last six months, for the state application
- Medical records about your condition from other physicians, since the certifying physician reviews them (MCA 16-12-509)
- A list of the medicines you take now
- For a patient under 18, proof of guardianship, such as a birth certificate or court document
Your records inform the physician’s review; they do not mean the physician will sign a Physician Statement.
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