Apply for a Medical Marijuana Card in Iowa

Talk to a licensed Iowa medical marijuana doctor and get approved or your money back! If you are not approved for medical cannabis by a doctor for whatever reason, we issue a refund in FULL

Getting started only takes a few minutes. Simply sign up, answer a few questions, and schedule your appointment. Everything should be this easy.

Overall Iowa rating:

4.9 out of 5 based on 39 reviews

Legal Status

Medical Program

Possession Limits

Medical patients

No Limit

Recreational users

Illegal

State Taxes

Medical patients

6%

Recreational users

N/A

Cultivation

Cultivation

How to Get a Medical Marijuana Card in Iowa

Step 1
Step 2
Step 3

1BOOK AN APPOINTMENT

Schedule an appointment to see a medical marijuana doctor in IA through Veriheal at a time that is most convenient for you. Provide basic medical history and book your appointment with a licensed medical marijuana doctor. You can attach all medical records to your account with Veriheal once you create it.

Do not hesitate to reach out if you need assistance with getting an appointment set. Our team would be more than happy to help.

2CONSULT WITH AN MMJ DOCTOR

Consult with a doctor for 10-15 minutes to evaluate your ailments, and ask any questions you may have about medical marijuana treatment. After the appointment is complete and if you are approved, the doctor will fill out and send you a digital copy of your Healthcare Practitioner Certification Form, which indicates you’ve been approved for medical marijuana by a licensed physician. Once you have this you can then apply through the state online.

Every patient will need to prove Iowa residency for their application to be accepted by the state of IA.

3GET APPROVED

Once you receive a copy of your Healthcare Practitioner Certification Form from the doctor, you’ll register with the state online and complete the Online Patient Registration Form. There is an additional $100 state fee that Iowa has in place that you will pay upon submitting your application. You will also need to include a copy of your Healthcare Practitioner Certification Form. If a patient receives government assistance or is experiencing financial hardships and can provide documentation of these hardships, the state fee is reduced to $25.

The state will process your application and will approve you within 3-5 business days of completing your application. You can then go pick up your card from any DMV or courthouse.

Each patient in Iowa will need to be re-certified annually by a licensed physician. Veriheal will get in touch with you when your certification is approaching its expiration to help you setup a renewal consultation.

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Overall rating: 4.9 out of 5 based on 39 reviews

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Still not sure about the process?

Watch this video to learn more about getting a medical marijuana card in Iowa.

About Cannabis in Iowa

As of September 2023, Iowa currently has five licensed and operating medical cannabis dispensaries. All eyes are on the state as legislators continue pushing to legalize adult use cannabis. 

Iowa’s Medical Cannabidiol Act signed in 2017 by Gov. Terry Branstad initially allowed qualifying patients to consume pharmaceutical-grade marijuana extracts supplied through state-wide dispensaries. However, since its start, some of its dispensaries and manufacturing facilities have closed due to low-THC levels and lack of physician participation, according to Marijuana Business Daily

Add in how hard COVID-19 hit the Hawkeye State sales, and Iowa is not faring well when it comes to medicinal cannabis sales, adds The Gazette, a local Iowa newspaper. Initially, all dispensary products were supplied by Iowa-based manufacturer MedPharm, which made up to 3% THC-infused capsules, tinctures, and creams. 

That is not the case now.  

“COVID-19 is just one roadblock for Iowa’s medical marijuana program, which saw the departure of Iowa Relief, which had built a manufacturing facility in Cedar Rapids, earlier this month and the closures of two of the state’s five dispensaries in March,” reports The Gazette. 

But among all the restrictions, current Gov. Kim Reynolds recently expanded the program by eliminating the 3% limit of THC and changing the limit to 4.5 grams of THC in 90 days, according to KCRG. The Des Moine news source reports the legislation added severe autism and PTSD disorder to the list of qualifying conditions and allows podiatrists, advanced registered nurses and practitioners, and physician assistants as eligible cannabis card providers.

Qualifying Conditions in Iowa

There are more than a dozen qualifying conditions that make Iowa residents eligible for a medical cannabis registration card. They include: 

The cost for a medical cannabis card is $25 for a one-year registration. The card must be renewed annually to remain valid. 

Caregiver Registration in Iowa

Caregivers of either an adult or minor registered cannabis cardholders are encouraged to apply online for efficient evaluation and a faster approval. To be eligible as a caregiver, the applicant must be named on the Healthcare Practitioner Certification Form that must be signed by the patient’s primary doctor. 

Additionally, the caregiver must have photo identification or a valid driver’s license form Iowa or the bordering states of Nebraska, Missouri, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, or South Dakota. The cost of caregiver registration is $25 payable to the Iowa Department of Public Health. After a caregiver is approved to assist a patient, they must visit any Iowa Department of Transportation facility to register their medicinal cannabis oil card.

Possession and Cultivation Limits for Medical Marijuana in Iowa

Raw leaf and edibles are not legal in Iowa; however, it is allowed in every other form, including oral, vaporizable, topical, nebulizers, and suppositories. Recently, Gov. Kim Reynolds revised the 3% THC cap to 4.5 grams of THC allowable every 90 days. If a patient needs more, their physician can recommend and request a greater quantity be allowed to provide adequate relief for the particular condition.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get a medical cannabis card in Iowa?

It’s simple. Use the form at the top of this page to begin the process, and Veriheal will begin setting you up with a physician who can evaluate your health and confirm your condition.

Once you’re approved, fill out your application with the state and pay your $25 one-year registration fee. Each patient in Iowa will need to be re-certified annually by a licensed physician

The cost for the medical marijuana evaluation and approval with Veriheal is $199, with a full guarantee that if not approved, payment will be reimbursed immediately. Iowa charges a $25 registration fee separate from Veriheal.

To qualify for medical cannabis in Iowa, you must be diagnosed with at least one of the following qualifying conditions: adult autism with aggression and self-injury, ALS/Lou Gehrig’s disease, any terminal illness with a probable life expectancy of less than a year, cachexia, cancer with chronic pain and nausea, corticobasal degeneration, Crohn’s disease, HIV/AIDS, intellectual disability with aggression and self-injury, multiple sclerosis with severe muscle spasms, Parkinson’s disease, PTSD, seizures, severe intractable autism with aggressive and self-injury, ulcerative colitis, and untreatable pain.

While “chronic pain” is not listed under qualifying conditions, untreatable pain is one. So, yes, it is a qualifying condition.

Yes. You must renew your medical cannabis license card annually by visiting a medical marijuana healthcare practitioner to have them recertify your condition, submit required forms to the Iowa Department of Public Health, and paying the Iowa registration fee ($25 annually).

Yes. To be approved for a medical cannabis license in the state of Iowa an applicant must provide either a state driver’s license or identification card to show proof of residency.

That depends on the state you are visiting, which is why it is important to contact the region to find out their medical cannabis rules and regulations.

If you are not approved, then your consultation is free. We entail a network of highly qualified medical practitioners who are willing to evaluate any patient to see if they qualify for medical cannabis. We have a very high approval rate so if you are not approved you are refunded in full.

No, you cannot. You can only get approved for medical marijuana from a practitioner who has registered with the Iowa medical marijuana program. And for that, you can make an appointment with a Veriheal physician, so you do not need to go through your primary care physician.

There are already tons of dispensaries all over the state. You can see a list of dispensaries here.

There is a wide variety of products available to medical cannabis patients in Iowa. Products that can be found in medical dispensaries include oral forms (i.e. tablets, capsules, liquids, tinctures, and sublingual prodcuts), topical products, vapes, concentrates and extracts, as well as suppositories.

As of 2022, patients are not able to purchase flower (loose leaf, “joints,” etc.) or THC-infused edibles (“gummies,” chocolates, etc.).

The state will process your application and will approve you within 3-5 business days of completing your application. You can then go pick up your card from any DMV or courthouse.

Yes, you must have a valid medical cannabis card to purchase and possess cannabis in Iowa legally.

Places to Visit in IA After Enjoying Your Medicine

With the Mississippi River to the east and the Missouri and Big Sioux River to the west, Iowa boasts big water fun in the midwest. Bordered by six states, Nebraska, Missouri, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and South Dakota, the Hawkeye state is most notable for Des Moine, the capital and most populated city that hosts the Iowa State Fair, an annual two-week celebration. A set of great lakes, a sculpture park, scenic byways, and The Bridges of Madison County make traveling through Iowa an adventure. With medical cannabis dispensaries statewide, there is no reason to not stop anywhere below while picking up a monthly prescription.

Des Moines

Take your pick: Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden, Blank Park Zoo, or the John and Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Park. Any of these three spots are just a few ways to enjoy Iowa’s capital. Speaking of, the Iowa State Capitol Building is an excellent site to see, with locals and tourists alike frequenting the age-old edifice. Among other awesome Des Moine destinations, the Robert D. Ray Asian Gardens, Principal Park, and Salisbury House & Gardens are also must-see spots.

Sioux City

Stopping at the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center is where most visitors begin sightseeing in Sioux City. Afterwards, head to the Sioux City Public Museum offers hands-on exhibits to keep up the educational fun. For a little more history, check out the Milwaukee Railroad Museum. Speaking of history, the halls of Sioux City also boasts the Jolly Time Pop Corn Museum, which offers a poppin good time. Lastly, the Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center in Stone State Park gives locals and visitors a taste of Mother Nature.

Cedar Rapids

There are certain spots in Cedar Rapids that must be seen including the Czech and Slovaic Museum and Library, the Brucemore Estate, and Palisades-Kepler State Park. The eastern city also boasts the African American Museum of Iowa and the Masonic Library and Museum. From Uptown Marion to the New Bohemia/Czech Village, nightlife in Cedar Rapids also offers as much p.m. fun as afternoon adventure, making a day in the city a time to remember.

Data Last Updated 09/25/2023

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