Delaware Medical Marijuana Program
Reviewed by Dr. Shatha Atiya, PsyD. Updated February 26, 2024
Welcome to the best guide on the Delaware Medical Marijuana Program!
By the end of this page, you will have the answers to these questions:
- What do I need to know about the Delaware Medical Marijuana Program?
- How do I get a medical marijuana card through the Delaware Medical Marijuana Program?
- What are the Delaware Medical Marijuana Program rules?
All the information on this page comes from the official Delaware Health and Social Services: Medical Marijuana Program website. So you can trust you are reading an accurate and up-to-date resource. Let’s begin.
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How do I Get Medical Marijuana through the Delaware Medical Marijuana Program?
Since you need a Delaware medical card to obtain medical marijuana, you should know how to register as a patient with the Delaware Medical Marijuana Program. The first step in the application process is getting a medical marijuana certification from a cannabis doctor in Delaware.
Getting your marijuana certification through Quick Med Cards is simple. First, fill out this information form and create your account. Next, schedule an online appointment with a DE medical marijuana doctor near you at a time of your convenience. Consultations happen online via video call through our telemedicine platform of choice, Doxy. Marijuana evaluations only take 10 to 15 minutes, and shortly afterward, you will get your certification if you qualify.
You will use your recently obtained marijuana certification to apply for your medical marijuana card on the Delaware Medical Marijuana Program Portal.
Delaware cannabis doctors can certify you for any condition as long as they believe MMJ treatment could benefit your health.
How do I Get a Medical Marijuana Card in Delaware?
With your marijuana certification on hand, applying for the Delaware medical marijuana card is a straightforward process. But before you can proceed, confirm that you meet the following medical card qualification requirements:
1. Adult patients must be at least 18 years old.
2. Patients under 18 years of age must have a caregiver, such as their parent, apply on their behalf.
3. Patients must have an MMJ certification from a licensed THC doctor in the state.
4. All applicants must be residents of Delaware and must provide proof of Delaware residency.
*Please note: Out-of-state patients can buy medical marijuana from Delaware dispensaries. Also, patients aged 65 and older do not need a certification to apply for the Delaware medical card.
Now that you are ready, here is how you get a medical marijuana card in Delaware:
1. Create an account on the Delaware Medical Marijuana Program Portal.
2. Complete the online patient application.
3. Pay the non-refundable government fee.
4. Upload proof of age and residency.
Which documents do I need to submit to the Delaware Medical Marijuana Program?
Besides the requirements mentioned above, you must have the following documents on hand to complete your Delaware medical card application:
1. A Health Care Practitioner Certification from an MMJ doctor in Delaware.
2. Proof of Delaware residency in the form of a:
- Delaware Driver’s License
- Delaware State Identification
Delaware Medical Marijuana Program Rules
Any Medical Marijuana patient in Delaware should know that:
- Your patient status allows you to get a 3-ounce supply of marijuana over 14 days. There is no legal reason for you to possess any marijuana beyond that explicitly set limit.
- Growing your own marijuana plants is STRICTLY forbidden as per Delaware medical marijuana laws. Any medical cannabis you intend to use needs to be purchased from a state-approved dispensary.
- Regarding legal MMJ purchasing practices in Delaware – licensed DE dispensaries (also known as Compassion Centers) are the only establishment where any cannabis-related transactions can occur. Personal sales are prohibited by the court of law.
- If your treatment includes hashish-based products OR any other type of marijuana concentrates, know that the regulations for unlawful use remain the same. The state of DE treats hash and concentrates just as it treats marijuana – as a Schedule I drug.
- Marijuana paraphernalia (such as bongs, tobacco blunts, and rolling paper) is NOT necessary for any type of medical marijuana treatment. Therefore, you should avoid possessing any such item or using it to administer your medication.
You can find a comprehensive list of marijuana-related penalties and regulations on our dedicated Delaware Marijuana Laws page.
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When did the Delaware Medical Marijuana Program Start?
On May 13th, 2011, Delaware signed Senate Bill 17. Soon after, on July 1st, 2011, it entered into effect, bringing the Delaware marijuana laws into effect with it. This bill allowed patients with a qualifying medical condition to benefit from the use of marijuana for “medicinally therapeutic purposes.” This would be done through a written recommendation from a specialized physician. While the Delaware Medical Marijuana Program took several years to implement, it finally saw the opening of its first medical dispensary near Wilmington, the state’s largest city on June 26th, 2015.
Following 2015’s remarkable signing, the MPP also saw major changes in both 2018 and 2019 regarding its legislation for the discharge of Delaware’s cannabis-related crimes. Senate Bill 197, signed on the 29th of August 2018, allows first-possession offenders of up to an ounce of cannabis to be automatically eligible for a cleared record. Moreover, Senate Bill 37, which was signed less than a year later, on June 30th, 2019, allows for first-offender cannabis misdemeanor charges to be dropped after five years, and felony charges after seven.
Finally, the legalization of adult-use marijuana is happening in 2023. Governor John Carney, through a written statement, announced on April 21, 2023, that he would not veto a bill legalizing recreational cannabis in DE despite his antithesis to the move.
Does Delaware have a medical marijuana program?
Yes, Delaware has a medical marijuana program. The Delaware Medical Marijuana Act authorizes the Division of Public Health (DPH) to regulate the state medical marijuana program. The role of the Delaware Medical Marijuana Program includes:
- Working with regulated vendors to ensure safe and effective products are available to registered patients.
- Controlling product inventory to prevent diversion and use of medical cannabis products by non-patients.
Where to get medical marijuana in Delaware – Delaware Compassion Centers
There are 11 Compassion Centers or medical marijuana dispensaries in Delaware that sell medical cannabis. They include:
1. First State Compassion in Wilmington and Lewes.
2. Columbia Care in Smyrna, Wilmington, and Rehoboth Beach.
3. Fresh Cannabis in Newark and Seaford.
4. The Farm in Felton and New Castle.
5. Best Buds in Dover and Georgetown.
Also, as a medical marijuana patient, you can obtain different forms of medical cannabis from Delaware dispensaries to suit your needs. For example:
- Cannabis edibles such as cookies, gummies, and chocolate bars.
- Pre-rolls
- Vaporizers
- Concentrates
- Tinctures
- Cannabis flower
Key Takeaways
- The Division of Public Health runs the Delaware Medical Marijuana Program.
- A Delaware cannabis doctor must certify you for MMJ, and you must register with the state’s medical marijuana program to get a medical card.
- You must be a resident of Delaware with a qualifying condition to be eligible for a medical card.
- The state fee for the Delaware medical marijuana card depends on how long you would like it to last. It costs $50 for one-year validity, $75 for two years, and $100 for three years.
- A Delaware medical marijuana card lets you buy up to 3 ounces of cannabis every 14 days.
Common Questions about the Delaware Medical Marijuana Program
Below are answers to questions patients have about the Delaware Medical Marijuana Program.
How much does medical marijuana cost in Delaware?
It costs $50, $75, or $100 in government fees depending on how long you would like your card to last. Also, it costs $20 to replace your Delaware medical marijuana card if you lose or damage it.
As for the cost of medical marijuana in Delaware, $6 is enough to get a single dose. However, the price depends on the amount and the form of medical marijuana you buy, plus the dispensary where you get your products from.
Below are the starting prices for medical marijuana in Delaware:
- 1g of cannabis flower from $12
- 1 ounce of cannabis flower from $300
- Disposable vape pens from $25
- 0.5g vape cartridges from $35
- Tinctures from $23
- Topicals from $6
- 1g concentrate starting at $30
- Cannabis edibles from $15
How many people in Delaware use medical marijuana?
The number of people with a Delaware medical marijuana card has been steadily growing since the program started in 2013.
In 2023, the Department reported that 29,039 patients had a medical marijuana card.
Does Delaware accept out-of-state MMJ cards?
Yes. Out-of-state patients with valid medical cards from their home state can buy MMJ from Delaware dispensaries.
A dispensary agent can guide visiting patients in completing an out-of-state application. Once complete, the patient will receive an out-of-state medical card for cannabis purchases.
Can I use my New Jersey medical card in Delaware?
Yes. You can apply for an out-of-state medical card when buying medical marijuana from Delaware dispensaries if you have a valid New Jersey medical marijuana card.
Patient Resources and Forms
Contact details for the Delaware Medical Marijuana Program
State Agency: Delaware Health and Social Services (DHSS) – Division of Public Health
Phone: 302-744-4749
Fax: 302-744-5366
Email: MedicalMarijuanaDPH@delaware.gov
Website: https://dhss.delaware.gov/dhss/dph/hsp/medmarhome.html