Since 2015, Minnesota's Medical Cannabis Program has provided a treatment option for people who are facing debilitating medical conditions, helping to improve their quality of life. This page provides information on how to become a patient in the program.
To be eligible to participate, a patient must be a Minnesota resident and have their medical condition certified by a participating health care provider. See more details about qualifying medical conditions.
Watch these videos to learn about these patients' journeys with medical cannabis.
Before you can participate in the program, you must get your medical condition certified online in the Medical Cannabis Registry by a Minnesota-licensed physician, physician assistant, or advanced practice registered nurse.
Note: If you are a veteran, a separate certification form has been established in lieu of a health care practitioner certification. You can find the veteran certification form here.
Tips for finding a participating health care practitioner:
NOTE: The Division of Medical Cannabis does not maintain or share a list of health care practitioners who are participating in the program.
BEFORE going to your appointment with your health care practitioner, consider setting up a new personal (non-employer based) email account, if you do not already have one. The Division of Medical Cannabis will use this email address to send you updates and information, including your enrollment/application link.
DURING your visit, give your email address to your health care practitioner. Ask for an appointment summary and a list of your current medications. Take this to your initial visit at your Medical Cannabis Dispensary.
AFTER your health care practitioner certifies your condition, or have submitted a veteran certification form, you will receive an email from the Division of Medical Cannabis that contains:
NOTE: Your certification will expire if your enrollment application is not submitted and approved by the Division of Medical Cannabis within 90 days. To help ensure that your enrollment is approved before then, please complete your enrollment application within the first 60 days of certification. Your enrollment application may take up to 30 days to process after you submit a completed application.
Once you receive your certification email, you are now ready to enroll! Follow the link in the email to enroll (check your spam or junk folder in case you do not see the email in your regular inbox).
If you need help managing your Medical Cannabis Registry account or picking up your medical cannabis, you can add a caregiver, parent/legal guardian, or spouse to your account at this time.
BEFORE you start your online enrollment, gather your:
Your completed enrollment application will be reviewed by Division of Medical Cannabis staff. This may take up to 30 days, and you will receive an email as soon as your application has been processed. Division of Medical Cannabis staff may contact you by email if we need additional information.
NOTE: Patients registered in Minnesota's Medical Cannabis Program must re-enroll every three years if they want to continue participating in the program. For more details, see How to Re-enroll in the Medical Cannabis Program.
Once your enrollment is approved, you can access your Medical Cannabis Registry account and pick up medical cannabis at your nearest Medical Cannabis Dispensary. See Medical Cannabis Dispensary Locations.
BEFORE you go to your Medical Cannabis Dispensary:
NOTE: The Division of Medical Cannabis does not approve the Patient Self-Evaluation or dispense medical cannabis. Medical Cannabis Dispensary staff will approve your Patient Self-Evaluation prior to or at the time of pick up.
A pharmacist at the Medical Cannabis Dispensary will review your account and recommend a medication.
