HOW TO GET
A New York Medical
Cannabis Certification
Facts on this page were checked against official sources, including the Office of Cannabis Management and Cannabis Law Article 3, by the Dr. Green Relief editorial team. Last reviewed November 5, 2026.
To get a New York medical marijuana card, you see a certifying practitioner in person or by telehealth. New York does not issue a card. If the practitioner certifies you, you are registered automatically with the Office of Cannabis Management, and the certification is your credential. The state charges no fee to become a patient. A certification lasts up to two years from the date the practitioner signs it, unless the practitioner sets an earlier date.
New York certification, step by step:
New York Issues a Certification, Not a Card
A certifying practitioner issues a medical cannabis certification, and the Office of Cannabis Management registers you automatically. OCM says registry ID cards are no longer being issued. Your certification includes a registry ID number; bring it on paper or on your phone, with a government-issued photo ID, to any licensed medical dispensary in New York.
THE FIRST STEP TOWARD A NEW YORK CERTIFICATION:
Your New York Video Evaluation With Dr. Green Relief
Dr. Green Relief offers video evaluations for New York patients for $149 with a physician licensed in New York who is on the Office of Cannabis Management’s public list of certifying providers.
If the physician certifies you, the signed certification is sent to you electronically, so you can download or print it. To keep it active, see your practitioner before it expires; they can extend it.
New York video evaluations are with a physician licensed in New York who is on the Office of Cannabis Management’s list of certifying providers. The physician decides whether to certify you.
100 percent money-back guarantee: if the physician does not certify you at your New York telehealth evaluation, your evaluation fee is refunded in full to the card you paid with that same day, and your bank’s processing time then applies. New York charges patients no state registration fee.
| Fee | Amount | Term | Waiver or reduction | Who pays | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dr. Green Relief video evaluation (new patient) | $149 | One visit | 100 percent money-back guarantee: if the physician does not certify you at your New York telehealth evaluation, your evaluation fee is refunded in full to the card you paid with that same day, and your bank’s processing time then applies. | You, to Dr. Green Relief | Dr. Green Relief price for New York |
| New York patient or caregiver registration | No state fee | Your certification lasts up to two years | The $50 registration fee was permanently waived on January 24, 2022 | Nobody: OCM charges no registration fee | OCM Patients page; OCM patient brochure |
SEE A CERTIFYING PRACTITIONER FIRST
Start with a visit, in person or by telehealth, with a New York practitioner who can certify patients. The practitioner may certify you for any condition they find clinically appropriate. After a telehealth visit, the provider sends the signed certification electronically for you to download or print.
YOUR STATE REGISTRATION IS AUTOMATIC
New York has no patient application to file. When the practitioner submits your certification, you are auto-registered with the Office of Cannabis Management, and the certification carries your registry ID number. There is no state fee to register as a patient or a designated caregiver.
BUY WITH CERTIFICATION AND ID
Once you receive your certification, you can visit a medical dispensary and buy medical cannabis products. Bring a government-issued photo ID and your signed certification, on paper or on a smart device. The dispensary must follow any limits your practitioner writes on the certification.
Qualifying Medical Conditions
Who Can Certify You in New York
Practitioners licensed in New York and registered with the DEA to prescribe controlled substances can certify patients after completing an OCM-approved course. That includes physicians, nurse practitioners and physician assistants. OCM also publishes a list of certifying providers, but it only includes providers who agreed to be listed.
New York Medical Cannabis Program Requirements
Who qualifies for medical cannabis in New York?
You qualify if two things are true. A certifying practitioner finds medical cannabis clinically appropriate for you, and you live in New York or are receiving care and treatment in New York. The rule names conditions such as cancer, PTSD and epilepsy, then adds any other condition certified by the practitioner. So the practitioner, not a fixed list, makes the call.
Is there a minimum age for New York patients?
No. New York has no minimum patient age, according to OCM’s patient brochure. A patient under 18 must have a designated caregiver, named when the practitioner certifies the patient. The practitioner also records consent from the person who makes health care decisions for that patient (9 NYCRR 113.3(b)).
Can I be certified while I stay in New York for treatment?
Yes, if you are receiving care and treatment in New York. Your certification then lasts only as long as your expected stay, and never more than one year, under 9 NYCRR 113.3(g)(2) as amended on July 22, 2026. The practitioner notes the temporary stay on the certification.
What should I bring to my appointment?
- A government-issued photo ID. You show it with your certification every time you buy.
- Your New York street address. The practitioner records it on the certification.
- Medical records about your condition, if you have them.
- A list of the medicines you take now.
- For a patient under 18: the designated caregiver, who must be named when the practitioner certifies the patient.
Records help the physician but do not decide certification.
Appointments
To book, use the BOOK ONLINE button in the visit section of this page. The note under it links the Office of Cannabis Management’s list of certifying providers.
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Other State Guides
Book your medical marijuana evaluation
100% Money-Back Guarantee If Not Certified
Evaluations by licensed physicians and practitioners. Choose where you want to be seen.
New patient evaluations are in person at the office. Renewals may be by telehealth once your physician has examined you in person.
Sarasota office, $99Fort Myers office, $99Tampa office, $199
Las Vegas office visit, or a video visit from anywhere in Nevada. Nevada cards are issued to Nevada residents.
Video visit from home.
Video visits are offered only where state law allows a video evaluation. They are not offered in Alabama, Iowa, Kentucky, Mississippi or Utah, in states without a medical program, or for a first Florida certification.
Questions? Call (800) 420-8423
100 percent money-back guarantee: if you are not certified at your evaluation, your evaluation fee is refunded in full to the card you paid with that same day, and your bank's processing time then applies. State card and registry fees are paid to the state and are not part of this refund. In Texas, where physicians prescribe instead of certifying, the fee is refunded if the physician does not prescribe low-THC cannabis for you.