Understanding the Montana Medical Marijuana Program

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Reviewed by Dr. Shatha Atiya, PsyD. Updated January 16, 2025

Are you a Montanan seeking wellness through alternative medicine? Then, understanding the workings of the state’s medical marijuana program is a great first step.

By the end of this page, you will have the answers to these questions:

How does the Montana medical marijuana program work?
How do I register with the Montana medical marijuana program online?
Why should I get a medical marijuana card in Montana when recreational cannabis is available?

All the information on this page comes from the official Montana Department of Revenue: Cannabis Control Division website. So, you can trust that you are reading accurate and up-to-date information. Let’s begin.

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The Montana Medical Marijuana Program

The Cannabis Control Division oversees the Montana Medical Marijuana Program (MMP). This regulatory body plays a pivotal role in ensuring safe and legal access to medical cannabis for qualifying patients.

The division issues medical cards to eligible patients who meet the Montana medical marijuana requirements. Additionally, it maintains a confidential registry of patients who receive identification cards.

Beyond patient registration, the Cannabis Control Division licenses and regulates the cultivation, manufacture, transport, and sale of marijuana. It issues various cannabis license types, including cultivator, manufacturer, dispensary (adult-use and medical), testing laboratory, transporter, and combined-use licenses.

The Montana Medical Marijuana Program aims to provide a safe and regulated framework for patients to access medical marijuana. In addition, it ensures the integrity of the industry and the protection of public health.

Qualifying Conditions and Requirements

You must be a resident of Montana ailing from an illness on the list of qualifying conditions to be eligible for medical marijuana.

The qualifying conditions for a medical card in Montana include:

A central nervous disorder resulting in chronic, painful spasticity or muscle spasms
Admittance into hospice care
Cachexia or wasting syndrome
Cancer
Crohn’s disease
Epilepsy or an intractable seizure disorder
Glaucoma

HIV/AIDS
Intractable nausea or vomiting
Multiple sclerosis
Painful peripheral neuropathy
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Severe chronic pain

Aside from the requirements above, a medical marijuana doctor in Montana must issue you with a complete Physician Statement (Cannabis certification or recommendation.) The certification confirms that you have a qualifying medical condition. After getting certified, you must register on the Montana Medical Marijuana Registry.

During your application on the registry, you must provide the following documentation:

Passport-style photo
Proof of Montana residency
A complete physician statement

Moreover, you must pay $20 in state fees for the Montana medical marijuana card. If you lose your medical marijuana card, it costs $10 to replace it.

Minor Patient Information

Minors in Montana may also qualify for medical marijuana under certain circumstances. First, the custodial parent or legal guardian must sign a statement consenting to the minor’s use of marijuana. The parent/legal guardian must also submit the required materials during the medical card application.

Importantly, minors must have their physician statement signed by two doctors. However, one physician is acceptable if they’re specialists in oncology, neurology, or epileptology. This added layer of medical oversight ensures cannabis therapy could benefit the minor’s health.

Finally, the parent/guardian must agree to serve as the minor patient’s caregiver. That means regulating the acquisition, dosage, and frequency of the minor’s marijuana use. Also, they must ensure that the minor uses marijuana products through means other than smoking. A background check is necessary for parents/ guardians who wish to grow marijuana for their child.

Caregiver Information

Qualifying patients in Montana can choose up to two individuals to act as caregivers or designated purchasers. These designated purchasers can legally get medical marijuana on behalf of the patient.

Caregivers play a crucial role in the state’s medical marijuana program by helping those unable to visit dispensaries on their own obtain cannabis.

As a qualifying patient, you can choose a caregiver during your initial application or upon annual renewal. You must provide your caregiver’s name, date of birth, and other relevant documentation during the application process. It is worth noting that Montana medical marijuana laws require that caregivers must be at least 21 years of age.

Out-of-state Medical Marijuana Cards

Montana does not offer reciprocity for out-of-state medical marijuana cards. As a result, visiting patients cannot access medical cannabis in the state with their non-Montana MMJ cards.

Still, Montana medical marijuana cardholders have the advantage of using their cards in several other states that recognize out-of-state MMJ cards. Even so, reciprocity laws vary from state to state. Therefore, Montana medical cardholders should research and understand the reciprocity laws and requirements of the state they plan to visit.

Some states that may recognize the Montana medical card include:

Arizona
Arkansas
Hawaii
Maine
Michigan
Mississippi
Missouri
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
Oklahoma
Puerto Rico
Rhode Island
Utah
Washington, D.C.

How to Apply for a Medical Marijuana Card in Montana

Applying for a medical marijuana card in Montana is essentially a two-step process:

1. Get your Medical Marijuana Recommendation:

i) Book your appointment with one of our Montana medical marijuana doctors.

ii) Attend your online marijuana evaluation over a video call.

iii) Receive your complete and signed physician recommendation.

2. Register with the Montana Medical Marijuana Registry.

i) Complete the medical marijuana card registration and pay the $20 application fee.

ii) Print your Temporary medical marijuana card.

iii) Receive your medical marijuana card within 30 days.

Quick Med Cards is the cheapest and fastest medical card provider in Montana. Schedule an appointment with one of our Montana medical marijuana doctors today to get started.

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Renewing your Montana Medical Marijuana Card

Renewing your Montana medical marijuana card is similar to the initial application process. You can begin the renewal process 60 days before your current card expires. Follow these instructions to renew your medical card online.

Schedule an appointment with an MMJ doctor in Montana.
Attend your cannabis evaluation over a video call.
Receive your complete and signed physician statement.
Log into your Medical Marijuana Registry account.
Complete your renewal application.
Pay $20 for your medical marijuana card.
Print your temporary medical card.
Receive your new Montana medical card within 30 days.

You can use Quick Med Cards to renew your Montana medical marijuana card even if you used another provider previously. Choose the most affordable and fastest renewal option in the state.

Marijuana Dispensaries in Montana

Montana dispensaries provide access to marijuana for both medical and recreational consumers. Here’s what you need to know:

Types of Dispensaries: Medical-only dispensaries cater exclusively to registered cardholders, while adult-use dispensaries serve both cardholders and recreational consumers.
Age Restrictions: Recreational users must be at least 21 years old. Cardholders must be at least 18, and minors with a Montana medical card may access dispensaries with their legal guardian.
Access for Medical Cardholders: The Montana medical card allows patients to buy medical cannabis from any dispensary in the state and receive marijuana deliveries.
Adult-Use Marijuana Availability: Recreational marijuana sales are legal in “green” counties but prohibited in “red” counties where voters opposed Initiative 190.
Finding Dispensaries: Check our resources section at the bottom of this page for a list of licensed marijuana dispensaries in Montana.

Whether you’re a cardholder or an adult-use consumer, Montana dispensaries offer a wide selection of quality cannabis products.

Growing Marijuana in Montana

Besides dispensaries, Montanans have the option to grow marijuana at home. Adults aged 21 and over can cultivate up to two mature marijuana plants and two seedlings. Meanwhile, patients with a Montana medical card can grow four mature plants and four seedlings. Please note, anyone cultivating cannabis at home must keep their plants away from public view.

Recreational Marijuana in Montana

Montana legalized marijuana for adults aged 21 and over on January 1, 2021. A year later, on January 1, 2022, recreational, or adult-use, marijuana began.

The state’s 56 counties are split into “green” and “red” based on their stance on Initiative 190. In green counties, where voters supported the initiative, adult-use sales flourish. Conversely, red counties, where the majority opposed the initiative, only allow medical marijuana sales.

Since legalization, recreational sales have boomed in Montana. In September 2024 alone, Montana dispensaries sold $23,965,392 worth of recreational marijuana.

Benefits of a Medical Marijuana Card in Montana

Why get a medical card if recreational cannabis is available? Here are 7 benefits cardholders enjoy over recreational users in Montana:

Significant Cost Savings: The state tax on medical cannabis is only 4%, compared to 20% for recreational cannabis. With a medical card, you can access much cheaper marijuana and save significantly.
Cultivate More Marijuana Plants: Grow up to four mature plants and four seedlings for personal use, double the limit for recreational users.
Access to Higher Potency Products: Medical marijuana is exempt from potency caps imposed on recreational cannabis, giving you access to stronger strains and formulations.
Expert Guidance: Get personalized advice and support from licensed marijuana doctors to ensure your cannabis regimen meets your health needs.
Nationwide Reciprocity: Use your Montana medical card to access medical cannabis programs in other states.
Lower Age Restrictions: Adults 18 and older can access medical marijuana, while minors can qualify under the supervision of a parent or legal guardian.
Unrestricted County Access: Purchase medical marijuana in any county in Montana, even those that prohibit recreational sales.

Montana Medical Marijuana Laws

Montana legalized medical marijuana in 2004. Years later the state legalized adult-use marijuana for individuals 21 and older through Initiative 190 (I-190). This landmark initiative paved the way for recreational cannabis sales to start on January 1, 2022, in counties where most citizens voted for I-190.

Key aspects of Montana’s marijuana laws include:

Possession Limits:
- Cardholders can possess up to 1 ounce of usable marijuana, 8 grams of concentrates, and 800 milligrams of THC edibles. (The same limit applies to recreational users.)
- Cardholders can buy a maximum of 5 ounces per month and no more than 1 ounce daily.
- Cardholders can petition the department for an exception to the monthly purchase limit if their condition warrants it.
Prohibited Activities:
- Operating a vehicle or motorized transport while under the influence of marijuana.
- Smoking or consuming marijuana in public places, on school grounds, or in correctional facilities.
- Performing solvent-based extractions without a license.
Workplace Considerations:
- Employers may prohibit marijuana use, discipline employees for violating workplace drug policies, and decline to hire individuals based on marijuana use.
Cultivation Rights:
- Cardholders can cultivate up to four mature marijuana plants and four seedlings in their home. (Recreational users can grow half of this amount.)

Marijuana Tax

Montana’s approach to taxing marijuana involves a two-tiered system, consisting of state and local taxes.

At the state level:

Medical marijuana is subject to a 4% state tax.
Adult-use marijuana sales are taxed at a higher rate of 20%.

At a local level:
While the Montana Legislature sets the state taxes, counties can enact additional local taxes. These optional taxes can be levied on medical, adult-use, or both categories, with a maximum rate of 3%. These local taxes are additive, compounding on top of the state-imposed taxes.

Marijuana Limits

Montana cannabis laws set limits on the amount of cannabis medical and recreational users can possess. Moreover, the laws also set limits on the potency of adult-use cannabis.

The possession limits for both medical and recreational consumers in Montana include:

1 ounce of marijuana flower
800 milligrams of THC in products like edibles
8 grams/8 milliliters of marijuana concentrate

Medical users can buy 1 ounce daily and 5 ounces monthly. However, they can petition to increase their possession limit to 8 ounces monthly.

There are no potency limits for medical marijuana. However, adult-use cannabis is restricted to these potency limits:

Marijuana flower: Total THC content may not exceed 35%.
Edibles: Up to 10 mg of THC per serving and up to 100 mg THC in an entire package.
Capsules, patches, and suppositories: No more than 100 mg THC per item and 800 mg THC per package.
Topicals: No more than 6% THC and 800 mg THC per package.
Other products, including concentrates and extracts: No more than 800 mg THC per package.

Montana Medical Marijuana Rules

While the Montana medical card gives you many benefits, there are rules you must follow:

Do not give any unauthorized person access to your medical marijuana card, cannabis products, or marijuana plants.
Do not violate drug laws, as the state will revoke your medical card upon conviction.

Unless it is a more severe penalty, registered cardholders who violate the medical marijuana rules can face:

A fine of up to $500
Imprisonment in a county jail for up to 6 months
Both a fine and imprisonment

If a violation of the medical marijuana rules is a criminal offense under Title 45 of Montana’s laws, it will be charged and prosecuted accordingly.

Common Questions about the Montana Medical Marijuana Program

Do you still have questions about the Montana Medical Marijuana Program? You may find your answer below.

Does Montana have a medical marijuana program?

Yes. Montana has a medical marijuana program, overseen by the Cannabis Control Division. The program issues medical marijuana cards to qualifying residents. Additionally, it maintains a confidential registry of individuals who receive medical cards.

Is it hard to get a medical marijuana card in Montana?

No. Getting a medical marijuana card in Montana is easy as long as you meet the criteria. You can even complete the entire application online from the comfort of your home. First, a Montana cannabis doctor must confirm that you have a qualifying condition by issuing a physician statement form. Then, you submit your application on the state’s online registry. That’s all it takes.

How much medical marijuana can I buy in Montana?

With a medical marijuana card, you can buy up to 1 ounce of usable marijuana daily and up to 5 ounces per month. If your medical condition requires more, you can petition for an increase in the monthly limit to 8 ounces.

How much is a medical marijuana card in Montana?

The state fee for a Montana medical marijuana card is $20, and a replacement card costs $10. However, you must pay for the doctor’s consultation and recommendation. Quick Med Cards offers the most affordable option in Montana. Our marijuana evaluation and certification costs range from $45 to $149.

Can anyone go to a dispensary in Montana?

Only adults above 21 and cardholders 18 and above can go to a dispensary in Montana and buy marijuana. Minors with medical cards may also visit Montana dispensaries in the company of their parent or legal guardian.

How many recreational dispensaries are in Montana?

There are about 379 licensed dispensaries in Montana. Some dispensaries sell both recreational and medical cannabis while others only sell medical marijuana.

How much is an ounce of marijuana in Montana?

The average price for an ounce of high-quality marijuana in Montana is around $266.13, while medium-quality marijuana averages $245.26. The cost of an ounce can vary depending on the quality and location of the dispensary. It is worth noting that recreational marijuana is subject to a 20% state cannabis tax. Meanwhile, medical cannabis is only subject to a 4% tax.

What is the tax on recreational marijuana in Montana?

There is a 20% state tax on recreational marijuana in Montana. Additionally, depending on the county you reside in, there may be a local option tax rate, which can be up to a maximum of 3%. These local taxes are in addition to the state taxes.

Can dispensaries deliver in Montana?

Yes. Dispensaries in Montana can deliver medical marijuana to registered cardholders. That includes providing curbside service at the dispensary. However, recreational users cannot receive deliveries, even though they can order online.

How do I get a medical card in Montana?

Quick Med Cards is the cheapest and fastest way to get your Montana medical card.

You can get your Montana medical marijuana card online by following these steps:

Book an appointment with one of our Montana medical marijuana doctors.
Attend your online marijuana evaluation over a video call.
Receive your complete and signed physician statement.
Register on the Montana Medical Marijuana Registry.
Complete the medical marijuana card registration.
Pay the $20 fee for your Montana medical marijuana card.
Print your temporary medical marijuana card.
Receive your medical marijuana card within 30 days.

Patient Resources and Forms

How to Contact the Montana Cannabis Control Division

State Agency: Montana Department of Revenue

Phone: (406) 444-0596

Fax: (406) 444-4110

Email: DORCCD@mt.gov

Mailing Address:

Montana Department of Revenue
Cannabis Control Division
PO Box 5835
Helena, MT 59604-5835

Website: https://mtrevenue.gov/cannabis/

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