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As those with a medical marijuana card know, purchasing cannabis while traveling can be tricky. Since every state’s medical marijuana laws differ, and only some states have medical programs, your ability to purchase and use cannabis with your card does not carry over to every state.
Fortunately, this guide can point you in the right direction. We’re here to help you understand medical marijuana reciprocity and whether or not you can use your medical card in another state.
When you obtain a medical marijuana card, it does not allow you to purchase or utilize marijuana anywhere in the country with a medical program. Generally speaking, that card applies only to the state in which you obtained it.
In certain areas, however, you can utilize that card to purchase cannabis in a different state. Some states allow out-of-state medical cards, and others do not. States that allow you to use out-of-state medical cards have what is known as “reciprocity.”
Are you wondering if you can use your medical marijuana card in another state? It may be tempting to drive across neighboring state lines with more cannabis-friendly laws. However, the number of states that will allow out-of-state medical marijuana cards is still relatively small.
That doesn’t mean you can’t access a state’s medical marijuana programs, though. Many places will either permit patients access to dispensaries and/or permit medical cannabis possession within a reasonable amount. Cannabis laws are constantly changing across the country, and it’s refreshing to see that the list of cannabis-friendly states is steadily growing! Let’s take a look at what states allow out-of-state medical cards for visitors who are cannabis patients.
As different levels of cannabis legalization grow across the country, it’s important to know what you’re looking for in terms of out-of-state cannabis consumption. There are two levels of legalized cannabis: medical and recreational (adult use). Some states with recreational use may be willing to sell recreational cannabis to out-of-state patients with medical marijuana cards, while others may allow you to visit medical dispensaries (not all states have differences between medical and recreational cannabis for sale, though most have different tax rates for medicinal users versus recreational users).
Of the 38 states that have legalized medical cannabis, these are the ones that currently accept out-of-state MMJ cards in some form or another:
Just because you have a medical marijuana card doesn’t mean you can automatically purchase cannabis at a dispensary in a state where it is legal. The following is a list of states that do have medical marijuana reciprocity laws in place, meaning they will sell you medical marijuana if you have an out-of-state card.
Arizona provides limited medical marijuana reciprocity for those who are considered “visiting qualifying patients.” To be a qualifying patient, you need to hold an out-of-state medical cannabis card and live outside of Arizona or have only lived in Arizona for fewer than 30 days. Qualifying patients must also be licensed in their home state with a condition that meets Arizona’s medical card criteria. These conditions are:
With an approved medical marijuana card in Arizona, you can purchase up to 2.5 ounces of cannabis from a dispensary in Arizona or a designated caregiver every two weeks.
Recreational cannabis is legal to purchase in Arizona as of 2021, with a possession limit of up to 2.5 ounces.
Those with a valid out-of-state medical recommendation and card can legally purchase medical marijuana in Arkansas, provided they fill out a visiting patient form and can provide proof of their out-of-state medical marijuana registration. Visiting patients also need to pay a $50 application fee. If approved, a visiting patient may purchase medical marijuana in Arkansas for 30 days per application.
Qualified registered patients are allowed to purchase up to 2.5 ounces from a dispensary every 14 days.
In 2024, Delaware voted to expand their medical cannabis program and make it easier for residents to access plant medicine. Some of the new stipulations include eliminating the need for a debilitating medical condition, allowing for longer expiration dates, and permitting patients over 65 to self-certify for medical cards. The state also voted to allow medical marijuana reciprocity, so out-of-state cardholders can now utilize their benefits in Delaware just as they would at home.
In May 2021, Governor Kemp signed legislation into law, Senate Bill 195, which permits 30 state-licensed dispensaries to sell high-CBD/low-THC oil products to eligible patients. Out-of-state patients with medical cannabis cards in their home states are allowed to purchase low-THC oil from dispensaries in Georgia.
Hawaii now lets visitors from other U.S. states and territories use their home-state medical cannabis cards to get a 60-day Out-of-State (OSP) card. This OSP card allows access to Hawaii dispensaries for medical cannabis purchases. Patients under 18 need a registered caregiver to accompany them when visiting.
Louisiana passed a law in August of 2022 that allows out-of-state medical marijuana patients to purchase their products in Louisiana while they are visiting. If you are a current patient with an out-of-state medical marijuana card visiting the state, you can search for a Louisiana dispensary close to you and call them for specific details about how to use your current state’s medical marijuana card to purchase medical cannabis in Louisiana.
In Maine, adults who are at least 21 years old can possess and use marijuana. While retail sites were thought to be open to the public by 2018, the deadline seems to have been set back. Nonetheless, adults can still possess up to 2.5 ounces of cannabis flower and 5 grams of hashish or concentrates. Medical marijuana patients from certain states can use their patient status to purchase at any of Maine’s medical dispensaries with proper identification. Maine will currently honor qualified patients from the following states:
More information about Maine’s marijuana program can be found here.
Michigan’s dispensaries can choose whether or not they will recognize an out-of-state medical marijuana card. However, Michigan legalized recreational cannabis in 2018. Adults who are at least 21 years old are legally permitted to possess up to 2.5 ounces of cannabis flower or 15 grams of concentrates. Dispensaries for medical marijuana are accessible throughout the state.
Recreational marijuana became legal in Nevada in 2017, allowing adults 21 and older to purchase and consume cannabis for personal use. Previously, Nevada had legalized medical marijuana in 2000, and Nevada had medical marijuana reciprocity with all states.
For recreational use, adults 21 years and older can legally possess up to 1 ounce (28 grams) of cannabis edibles, flower, or topicals and 3.5 grams of marijuana concentrates. Medical cannabis patients and caregivers can possess up to 2.5 ounces of edibles, flower, concentrates, or topicals per two-week period.
In New Hampshire, medical marijuana patients from out of state are allowed to possess up to 2 ounces of usable cannabis but are not permitted to purchase from local dispensaries. The patient must also have the same qualifying medical conditions that are listed in New Hampshire’s medical marijuana program.
New Mexico’s Medical Cannabis Program currently allows medical cannabis patients from out of state to possess and purchase medical cannabis while in New Mexico. A patient with proof of authorization from a medical cannabis program outside of New Mexico (including any state, the District of Columbia, a territory or commonwealth of the U.S., or a New Mexico Indian nation, tribe, or pueblo) qualifies as a reciprocal patient.
Medicinal cannabis patients from other states may register for a nonrenewable, six-month MCP card for use during their stay in New Jersey. Out-of-state patients will need to consult with a registered New Jersey healthcare practitioner who will enroll them in the state’s registry. They will need to use the reference number and registry ID number they receive from the provider and a current copy of their registration in their home state’s program to set up an account in the patient portal.
Oklahoma recognizes out-of-state cannabis cards. In the Sooner State, out-of-state medical marijuana patients are able to purchase from dispensaries after applying for a temporary license. The temporary license costs $100, takes about 2 weeks to process, and is valid for 30 days with the ability to be renewed. If approved, patients can possess:
As long as patients bring their physical medical marijuana card with a government-issued ID card from the same state, visiting patients can have access to dispensaries in Rhode Island. Out-of-state patients are also permitted to possess the same amount of medical marijuana as in-state patients. The possession limits are 2.5 ounces of usable cannabis.
Like other states on this list, Utah requires patients to meet one of its own qualifying conditions in order to extend medical marijuana reciprocity. Those qualifying conditions include:
Washington, D.C. only allows medical marijuana reciprocity from certain states that have an equally functioning medical marijuana program. These MMJ states include:
While cannabis is decriminalized and is legal for recreational use, only authorized MMJ patients are able to purchase it from dispensaries. Current marijuana laws prohibit the retail sale of cannabis in D.C.
If your state is not on the aforementioned list, you can still bring your medicine as long as you keep a minimum on your person. You can legally possess up to 2 ounces of cannabis flower for personal use, while concentrates and hashish remain illegal. If you visit D.C., be absolutely sure you avoid consuming cannabis on federal land and stick to using it only on private property.
More information about D.C.’s marijuana program can be found here.
Per the state regulations, only terminally ill cancer patients in MMJ states that have comparable medical cannabis programs may use and make lawful purchases in West Virginia. Don’t hesitate to get in touch with the state authorities to confirm which states have a reciprocating agreement with West Virginia.
The following states do not allow medical marijuana reciprocity for medical cannabis patients in other states.
While medical marijuana and/or low THC and high CBD products may be legal in these states, they do not serve out-of-state patients.
However, many of these states have legalized adult-use cannabis. Adults over the age of 21 can purchase cannabis in these states but do not have access to the same high-potency strains or cheaper price points that medical card users have.
Iowa’s program allows out-of-state visitors to possess cannabis. However, only residents registered with the state’s medical program can purchase at dispensaries.
As the Kentucky medical cannabis program – which began in 2023 – continues to develop, it will likely allow reciprocity for patients registered in bordering states.
Ohio recently voted to legalize the consumption, purchase, and growth of recreational cannabis, and recreational dispensaries opened in summer 2024. However, out-of-state patients cannot purchase medical products.
South Carolina is not an MMJ state, and it only allows for low THC or high CBD products for eligible patients who suffer from various forms of epilepsy. At this time, medical marijuana is still illegal.
Tennessee laws only allow low THC and high CBD oil for patients who suffer from one or more qualifying conditions. This really only provides for protection from the law and doesn’t offer avenues for patients to purchase these products.
You cannot use your medical marijuana card anywhere in the U.S. Your ability to use your medical marijuana card depends on where you have obtained your card, where you are attempting to use it (and whether it is an MMJ state), and other factors.
You can use your Florida medical marijuana card in some select states. These include:
Pennsylvania dispensaries accept out-of-state medical cards from only the states that have a reciprocity agreement with them.
You cannot use an out-of-state medical card in Illinois.
This article was originally published in November 2023 and updated in October 2024.
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