Can You Grow Weed With A Medical Card?

Medical marijuana sells for anywhere between $5 and $20 per gram, depending on your location. This seems affordable at a glance, but that changes when it becomes a weekly expense. For instance, if you use marijuana for pain, you likely use about two grams daily. Since cannabis only manages the pain, you’ll have to use it every day. Even at the lowest price of $5 per gram, you’ll be spending at least $3,650 a year.

If this math has already crossed your mind, you’ve likely considered growing your own medical marijuana to save money. But can you do that without breaking the law if you have a medical marijuana card? The answer depends on where you live.

What’s a Medical Marijuana Card?

A medical marijuana (MMJ) card or medical cannabis card is a state-issued ID that allows holders to buy and use MMJ from licensed dispensaries legally. Some state governments and countries also recognize out-of-state cards and allow visiting holders to purchase or possess medical marijuana under certain conditions.

States typically issue medical marijuana cards only to patients diagnosed with qualifying conditions such as chronic pain, anxiety, epilepsy, or cancer-related symptoms. While each state has its own rules for issuing and using these cards, they all serve the same purpose — giving patients legal access to marijuana for therapeutic use.

Can I Grow Weed with a Medical Marijuana Card?

Some states allow medical cannabis cardholders to grow a limited number of plants at home for personal use. For example, in Arizona, you can grow up to 12 plants if you have an MMJ card and live more than 25 miles from a dispensary.

On the other hand, in Louisiana, you can get an MMJ card, but you can’t grow cannabis with it. In fact, MMJ patients caught cultivating cannabis in the state can face criminal charges, including fines and potential jail time.

In summary, not all states that issue medical marijuana cards allow patients to grow their own cannabis. MMJ patients can only cultivate plants in states that permit it, such as Arizona, Colorado, and California. Even in those states, they can grow only a limited number of plants, typically not more than 12.

States Where MMJ Cardholders Can Grow Weed

As of this publication, here are the U.S. states that allow MMJ holders to grow cannabis at home and their limits:

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Alabama

Alaska

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Louisiana

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1. Alaska: Alaskan MMJ patients can grow cannabis at home, but can’t grow more than six plants at a time. Only three of the plants can mature or flower at the same time. Also, a residence with multiple cardholders can grow up to 12 plants, with a maximum of six mature plants.

1. Arizona: It’s legal for MMJ patients to grow cannabis in Arizona if they live more than 25 miles from a licensed dispensary. However, they can’t grow more than 12 plants and require a cultivation license.
2. California: MMJ patients can grow six plants, or more if their doctor recommends it. However, some California cities and counties require permits to grow, while others only allow indoor cultivation.
3. Colorado: Coloradans can grow six cannabis plants, with only three allowed to flower at a time. However, the local laws of certain areas, such as Denver, allow up to 12 plants.​
4. Connecticut: Adult MMJ patients can grow up to three mature and three immature plants at a time.​ Households with multiple patients can have up to 12 cannabis plants, and all of the cultivation must be indoors.
5. Hawaii: Hawaiian MMJ patients can grow up to ten cannabis plants at home.
6. Illinois: Illinoisans with an MMJ card can grow up to five plants at home.
7. Maine: MMJ cardholders in Maine can grow up to six mature cannabis plants and 12 immature plants at a time.
8. Maryland: Maryland MMJ patients can grow no more than four plants at a time at home.​
9. Massachusetts: Medical marijuana patients in Massachusetts can grow up to twelve flowering and twelve vegetative cannabis plants at home for personal use.
10. Michigan: The Michigan Medical Marijuana Program lets registered MMJ patients grow up to 12 plants.
11. Minnesota: Minnesota’s medical cannabis program lets MMJ patients grow up to eight cannabis plants. Households with multiple patients can’t grow more than eight plants.
12. Missouri: MMJ patients must get a cultivation card to grow cannabis in Missouri. With the card, you can grow up to six flowering marijuana plants, six non-flowering plants under 14 inches tall, and six non-flowering plants under 14 inches tall indoors.
13. Montana: Montana patients can grow up to 12 seedlings (immature plants under 12 inches) and up to four mature plants.
14. Nevada: Adult patients can grow up to 12 plants per household if they are more than 25 miles from a licensed dispensary in Nevada. The cultivation must be indoors.
15. New Mexico: Adults in New Mexico can grow up to 12 plants at home, but only six can be mature, flowering plants.
16. New York: Under New York’s Medical Cannabis Program, patients can grow three mature and three immature cannabis plants at any one time. However, a caregiver can grow six mature and six immature plants on behalf of a patient.
17. Ohio: Adult users in Ohio can grow six plants for personal use and not more than 12 plants per household.
18. Oklahoma: MMJ patients with a license can grow cannabis in their home or with the permission of their landlord. The grow area must not be visible from the street.
19. Oregon: Each patient can grow, or have grown for them, up to six mature plants in Oregon.
20. Rhode Island: Medical marijuana patients in Rhode Island can grow up to 12 mature plants and 12 immature plants for personal use. But they need a Plant Tag Certificate issued by the Office of Cannabis Regulation at the Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation to get started.
21. Vermont: Vermont patients can grow six mature and 12 immature plants at one time.
22. Virginia: Adults can grow up to four cannabis plants per household for medical or personal use.
23. Washington: In Washington, MMJ patients with recognition cards can grow six plants for personal medical use. Your prescribing doctor may also allow you to grow up to 15 plants for personal medical use if they believe your condition requires it.

READ: Best Practices for Growing Autoflower Seeds

States Where MMJ Cardholders Can’t Grow Weed

Several of the states that allow medical and recreational cannabis use don’t allow users to grow their own flower. Some of these states include:

• Arkansas
• Delaware
• Florida (Shocking!)
• Iowa
• Louisiana
• New Hampshire
• New Jersey
• North Dakota
• Pennsylvania
• Utah
• West Virginia
• Texas

If you’re an MMJ patient in one of these states, you have to get your dose from licensed dispensaries.

What Can You Do with a Medical Marijuana Card?

Besides being able to buy cannabis legally or grow it, depending on where you live, having an MMJ card comes with other perks. These perks typically vary between states. For example, in Vermont, MMJ cardholders may qualify to buy and possess more cannabis than recreational users. You also don’t pay tax on cannabis purchases, which is a big money-saver compared to paying 20 to 21% tax. 

Other benefits across various states include access to a wider variety of cannabis products, including more potent ones. Lastly, depending on your local laws, a medical card can help you qualify for medical use exceptions in certain work or housing situations. For example, some states protect MMJ patients from job terminations for off-duty medical use or eviction from rental homes that don’t allow it.

Can I Use a MMJ Card Abroad?

An American MMJ card doesn’t give you the right to buy, possess, or use cannabis in a country where it’s illegal. However, if you’re visiting a country that recognizes medical use, it might allow you to carry approved prescriptions or documentation for certain cannabis-based medications.

For instance, your medical marijuana card won’t do you any good in strongly anti-cannabis countries like China and Singapore. But in France or the U.K., you may be able to travel with doctor-prescribed, cannabis-based medications if you follow their import rules.

How to Get a Medical Marijuana Card

Getting your MMJ card with Veriheal is surprisingly simple. Just book a quick appointment, chat with a licensed doctor about your needs, and see if you qualify. If you’re approved, Veriheal helps you handle the state paperwork so you can start visiting dispensaries. From secure records to compassionate doctors, we make the whole process feel easy, supportive, and judgment-free. Talk to an MMJ doctor today to get started!