Delaware Medical Marijuana Program

Medically reviewed by Dr. Shatha Atiya on 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.

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. And 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.

Most importantly, Delaware doctors only certify individuals ailing from an illness on the Delaware medical marijuana 2024 list of conditions. Often, the MMJ doctor will recommend medicinal marijuana if you suffer from:

1. A chronic disease whose prescription medication could lead to psychological or physical dependence.

2. Or a chronic medical condition whose treatment causes severe, debilitating psychiatric disorders.

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. Only individuals diagnosed with a disease on the Delaware medical marijuana 2024 list of conditions are eligible for the medical card.

4. All applicants must be residents of Delaware and must provide proof of Delaware residency.

*Please note: Out-of-state patients are not eligible for the Delaware medical marijuana 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 $50 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 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) should be the only establishment where any cannabis-related transactions occur. Personal sales are prohibited by the court of law and you should NOT engage with them in any way, shape, or form.
  • 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 create your medication.

You can find a comprehensive list of marijuana-related penalties and regulations on our dedicated Delaware Marijuana Laws page. 

Speak with Our Medical Marijuana Doctor Today

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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, while 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 Highlights

  • 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 is $50.
  • 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 (in government fees) to apply for the Delaware medical card, and if you wish to renew your medical card, you will need to pay $50 (in government fees) annually. 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 you get your medicine.
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 2022 alone, the Department announced that there were 15,500 qualifying patients with a medical card.

Does Delaware accept out-of-state MMJ cards?

No, Delaware does not honor out-of-state MMJ cards because of the lack of an existing reciprocity program.

So, visiting patients with out-of-state med cards do not have the privilege of buying, possessing, or using medical marijuana in Delaware.

Can I use my New Jersey medical card in Delaware?

No, you cannot use your New Jersey medical cannabis card (NJMCP card) in Delaware.

The state does not honor out-of-state MMJ cards, and access to medical marijuana is exclusive to Delaware med cardholders.

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