How to get into the marijuana industry: by state?
If you want to know how to get into the marijuana industry, you’ve come to the right place. Read on to find out how to qualify as a medical marijuana business and as a user in each state. In all 29 states and the District of Columbia where medical marijuana has been legalized, the use of medical marijuana requires a form, prescription, or another type of written statement from the patient’s physician. These qualifications are always evolving, but we want this page to be a resource of information by state on how to get into the medical marijuana industry by state.
Alaska Qualifications for Medical Marijuana Business
To open a medical marijuana business of any type in AK, you must register with the state’s Alcohol and Marijuana Control Office. To be a medical marijuana user in Alaska, you must register with the Medical Marijuana Registry of Alaska.
Arizona Qualifications of Medical Marijuana Business
To use medical marijuana or qualify as a medical marijuana dispensary business, you must register with the Arizona Department of Health Services.
Arkansas Qualifications of Medical Marijuana Business
To qualify as a medical marijuana dispensary or cultivator in Arkansas, you will need to apply through the Arkansas Medical Marijuana Commission’s website. To use medical marijuana in AR, you must register with the Arkansas Department
of Health.
California Qualifications of Medical Marijuana
To start a cannabis business in California, you must register with CA’s Bureau of Medical Cannabis. Individuals wishing to use medical marijuana must have a qualifying physician’s recommendation or a valid county-issued medical marijuana identification card. More information is available from the California Department of Public Health.
How to get into weed business in Colorado?
People wishing to start a medical marijuana business in Colorado must file an application with the Marijuana Enforcement Division. Individuals wishing to join the medical marijuana registry in CO can do so by visiting the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment’s Medical Marijuana Registry website.
Connecticut Medical Marijuana Qualifications
To use medical marijuana in CT, individuals must obtain a Connecticut medical marijuana certificate from the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection. To open a medical marijuana business in Connecticut, individuals must apply with the Department of Consumer Protection as well.
Delaware Medical Marijuana Qualifications
Full details are not yet available, but qualified patients wishing to use medical marijuana in DE must register with the Delaware Department of Health. Delaware currently has one medical marijuana distribution center and is working to create up to two more centers. Applicants can learn more about how to open a medical marijuana dispensary center here.
District of Columbia Medical Cannabis Qualifications
Qualifying patients wishing to use medical marijuana must have a written letter from their doctor recommending medical marijuana as treatment. Patients, as well as those wishing to open a medical marijuana business in DC, can visit the DC Medical Marijuana Program website to learn more.
Florida Cannabis Qualifications
Qualified patients must join the FL Medical Marijuana Use Registry. Floridians cannot grow their own marijuana but it is legal to apply to open a Medical Marijuana Treatment center under Florida law. Consult the FAQs at the FL Department of Health for more information.
Hawaii Medical Marijuana Qualifications
Hawaii’s Department of Health oversees both a medical cannabis registry program and medical cannabis dispensary program. Information on how to qualify for both programs can be found on their medical marijuana website.
Illinois Medical Weed/Cannabis Qualifications
Illinois Department of Public Health oversees a Medical Cannabis Patient Registry Program. Patients wishing to learn more about the program can do so at the IDPH website. Applicants wishing to open a medical marijuana cultivation center must submit an application with the Illinois Department of Agriculture and those wishing to open a business can file here thanks to the Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Pilot Program Act.
Maine Medical Marijuana Regulations
Maine Medical Use of Marijuana Program information is located at the Department of Health and Human Services of Maine here. Registration with the Maine Medical Marijuana Program is mandatory for those wishing to start a business but optional for patients seeking a prescription, who must simply possess a medical marijuana registry ID card issued by the Maine Department of Health and Human Services.
Maryland Medical Cannabis Pending
The Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission (MMCC) oversees marijuana-related laws and access for businesses and patients in MD. Medical cannabis is currently not available in the state of Maryland, but the MMCC expects availability by the end of summer 2017.
Massachusetts Medical Marijuana Laws
Marijuana use by patients and medical marijuana businesses are regulated by the Medical Use of Marijuana Program of the Department of Health and Human Services of MA. Patients must register to enter the medical marijuana program and to open a medical marijuana dispensary.
Michigan Michigans Medical Marijuana Program
Information on Michigan’s Medical Marijuana Program for patients and businesses can be found here.
Minnesota Medical Marijuana Information
Consult the website of the Minnesota Department of Health for information on medical cannabis for patients and businesses here.
Montana Medical Cannabis Information
The Montana Medical Marijuana Program oversees the distribution of medical marijuana to patients and by businesses; more information is available here.
Nevada Cannabis Industry
Licensed retail marijuana stores must register with Nevada’s Department of Taxation. Individuals seeking medical marijuana prescriptions can find out more about the requirements here.
New Hampshire Medical Weed/Marijuana program
While no current regulations exist for marijuana businesses in the state of NH, patients seeking medical marijuana must register with the Therapeutic Cannabis Program. More information is available here.
New Jersey Medical Cannabis Program
The State of New Jersey’s Department of Health oversees the Medical Marijuana Program for businesses and patients; more information is here.
New Mexico Medical Cannabis Program
New Mexico patients of medical marijuana must obtain an ID card to participate in the registry. Businesses must obtain certification from the New Mexico Department of Health. Information about New Mexico’s Medical Cannabis program, for patients and businesses, is here.
New York: How to get into the marijuana industry
Medical marijuana patients must register online and obtain a registry ID card to participate in the registry. Medical marijuana businesses should apply to the New York State Medical Marijuana Program. Information about New York State’s Medical Marijuana Program is located here.
North Dakota: How to get into the marijuana industry
North Dakota’s Department of Health oversees the state’s medical-marijuana program. More information for patients and those wishing to open a business is located here.
Ohio: How to get into the marijuana industry
The Ohio Medical Marijuana Control Program will allow people with certain medical conditions to buy and use medical marijuana. More information for patients is here.
Oregon: How to get into the marijuana industry
The Oregon Medical Marijuana Program oversees the cardholder registry for patients prescribed medical marijuana. Medical marijuana information for patients, growers, processors, dispensaries, physicians, and laboratories is available here. Learn more about dispensary and cultivation rules here.
Pennsylvania: How to get into the marijuana industry
Pennsylvania residents The Pennsylvania Medical Marijuana Program oversees the medical marijuana operations of the state; a medical marijuana ID card is required to obtain medical marijuana. More information for patients and businesses can be found here.
Rhode Island: How to get into the marijuana industry
The RI Department of Health’s Medical Marijuana Program administers the state’s Medical Marijuana Act provisions and its related laws. More information about the Medical Marijuana Program is located here.
Vermont
Patients and dispensaries must register with the Vermont Marijuana Registry; more information is here.
Washington
The Washington State Department of Health has listed the requirements for becoming a medical marijuana patient here. A patient must first get a medical marijuana authorization and then join the database and get a medical marijuana card. Click here to learn more about how set up a medical marijuana retail store in the state of Washington.
West Virginia
The WV Bureau for Public Health is in the early stages of developing West Virginia’s medical marijuana program, which is not yet functional; however, full details about the program are here.
