Question 1

How do I get an Iowa medical marijuana card?

Accepted Answer

To obtain your Iowa medical marijuana card, you need to have an Iowa medical marijuana doctor confirm that you suffer from one or more of the qualifying conditions and recommend medical marijuana to you. Our staff at Iowa Marijuana Card is here to simplify the process, connecting you with a certified doctor and filing all your necessary paperwork!
 
Steps to Obtaining a Card:
Schedule an appointment
Complete our patient intake form and make your payment
Provide medical records that demonstrate your qualifying condition OR pay a $39 Diagnosis Fee
Attend your telemedicine physician consultation 
Once approved, the physician will complete the Health Care Practitioner Certification (HCPC) and email it directly to the patient

How to Apply to the State:
Download the Healthcare Practitioner Certification Form
Bring it to your healthcare practitioner to discuss medical marijuana and have them sign it.
Complete the Adult Patient Application
Apply online (recommended) or use the paper form.
If you can’t apply online, email medical.cannabis@hhs.iowa.gov or call 515-725-2076 for help.
Include the Following with Your Application:
Signed Healthcare Practitioner Certification Form
Completed Adult Patient Application (online or paper)
Copy of Photo ID (Iowa driver’s license or non-operator ID)
Payment:
$100 standard fee
$25 reduced fee (if you provide proof of SSDI, SSI, Medicaid, or Hawk-I coverage)
Submit Your Application
Online is the fastest option.
Wait for Review and Approval
If you included an email, you’ll get a temporary card by email first.
Your permanent card will then be mailed to the address on your application.
If you didn’t include an email, your permanent card will arrive by mail once approved.

Question 2

Why do you need an Iowa medical marijuana card?

Accepted Answer

Your Iowa medical marijuana card confirms that you're a registered patient in the state's medical marijuana program. With this card, you can legally buy, possess, and use medical marijuana products within Iowa.

Question 3

Do I qualify for medical marijuana in the state of Iowa?

Accepted Answer

Iowa's Department of Health has approved a number of qualifying conditions that allow patients to access medical marijuana in Iowa. The qualifying conditions identified by the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services include: 
​Cancer – if the illness or its treatment produces one or more of the following: severe or chronic pain, nausea or severe vomiting, cachexia or severe wasting
Seizures
Crohn’s disease  
Chronic pain
Multiple Sclerosis with severe and persistent muscle spasms
AIDS or HIV (as defined in Iowa Code, section 141A.1)
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
Parkinson’s disease
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Any terminal illness with a probable life expectancy of under one year – if the illness or its treatment produces one or more of the following: severe or chronic pain, nausea or severe vomiting, cachexia or severe wasting
Ulcerative colitis 
Severe, intractable pediatric autism with self-injurious or aggressive behaviors
Severe, intractable autism with self-injurious or aggressive behaviors
Corticobasal Degeneration

Question 4

Will I definitely get approved for medical marijuana after my appointment?

Accepted Answer

We can't promise approval, as only the doctor decides if you qualify. To improve your chances, bring detailed information about your medical condition, past treatments, and relevant records to your appointment. Don't worry—if you're not approved, you won't be charged.

Question 5

How do I register with the state?

Accepted Answer

Patients must submit a digital photo of their State ID or Driver's License
Patients must upload the completed Health Care Practitioner Certification form (HCPC)
Pay the state fee of $100, unless the patient is eligible for the reduced fee

The fee will be reduced to $25, when scanned proof of any of the following is provided:
	Copy of Social Security Disability Benefit notice (SSDI notice)
	Copy of proof of receipt of Supplemental Security Income Payment (SSI receipt)
	Copy of Iowa Medicaid member card
	Copy of Hawk-I member card

Once patients submit their application to the state, patients should keep an eye out for their application reference number. The application reference number is found in the verification email sent by DHHR. The application processing could take up to 1 week and patients will receive their valid digital card in their email as a pdf attachment.

Question 6

When will you get your medical marijuana card?

Accepted Answer

If your application is approved, you'll get your medical marijuana card within a week.

Question 7

Can minors get a medical marijuana card?

Accepted Answer

Yes, minors are allowed to get a medical card but they must have a designated caregiver. The parent or legal guardian will apply for the card on behalf of the patient, and once the card is issued, the parent or legal guardian will then apply to be the designated caregiver. The minor will not be issued a card, only the caregiver will. Patients under 16 years of age must provide medical records and a letter from their primary care physician before their appointment.The letter must confirm that:- The primary care physician supports medical marijuana as a potential treatment option.- Traditional treatment options and therapies have been considered.

Question 8

What is a designated caregiver, and how many can I have?

Accepted Answer

A designated caregiver is a person who is selected by a patient to possess and obtain marijuana from a medical marijuana dispensary and to dispense and assist them when they use marijuana. A patient may have unlimited caregivers at any one time. It is not legal for caregivers to consume medical marijuana that has been dispensed on behalf of a registered patient. Further, a designated caregiver is not prohibited from receiving compensation or reimbursement of expenses from their patient for assisting them with the medical use of marijuana.

You can apply to become a caregiver at: https://hhs.iowa.gov/omc

Question 9

How do you become a caregiver?

Accepted Answer

Caregivers must be 18+ and apply online to become a caregiver. An individual may act as a caregiver for multiple patients, and a patient may have unlimited caregivers at any one time. Caregivers for an adult patient will not be approved until a patient has been issued their card and will have to pay a state fee of $25. Caregivers must be added to a patient's Health Care Practitioner Certification form and must renew certification & card annually if added to patient's renewal.

You can apply to become a caregiver at: https://hhs.iowa.gov/omc

Question 10

Can a caregiver have more than one patient?

Accepted Answer

Yes, a caregiver may serve more than one patient. A caregiver must apply for a registry card for each patient.

Question 11

Can a caregiver also be a registered qualifying patient?

Accepted Answer

Yes, a medical marijuana caregiver can also be a registered qualifying patient if they meet the eligibility requirements for both.

Question 12

What medical marijuana products can you get in Iowa?

Accepted Answer

In Iowa, you can choose from a variety of medical marijuana products, including: tablets, capsules, liquids, tinctures, sublingual forms, topical gels, ointments, creams, lotions, transdermal patches, nebulizable (inhaled) forms, suppositories, and vaporization options. However, raw flower is not permitted in the state.

Question 13

How much medical marijuana can be purchased from an Iowa dispensary?

Accepted Answer

Medical marijuana patients are eligible to purchase 4.5 grams of THC every 90 days. However, there is a 4.5g THC wavier that allows select patients to access more medical marijuana.

For patients certified for a terminal illness, a healthcare practitioner may recommend more THC per 90-days. In this case, the patient's original healthcare practitioner can only certify them for additional THC after the patient has participated in the program

This form is to be utilized by healthcare practitioners to increase a patient's 'THC per 90-day' purchase limit after participation in the program. The specific amount of THC per 90-days must be indicated by the patient's original certifying healthcare practitioner: 4.5g THC Waiver Form. After your waiver has been completed by your certifying practitioner, patients must verify their account and submit the waiver.

Please note that this form must be completed by the practitioner who originally certified the patient.

Question 14

If my registry identification card is lost, stolen or damaged what do I do and is there a fee to replace the card?

Accepted Answer

1. Obtain a Replacement Card:
Contact the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS): You can contact the Iowa Medical Cannabidiol program by emailing them at medical.cannabidiol@idph.iowa.gov or calling (515) 725-2076 to inquire about the process for replacing your card.
Provide Necessary Documentation: You will likely need to provide a valid form of photo identification, like a driver's license or non-operator's ID, to verify your identity and registration.

2. Is there a fee to replace the card?
No replacement fee: Iowa law doesn't specify a fee for replacing a lost, stolen, or damaged medical cannabidiol registration card. However, there's a fee for a new medical cannabidiol registration card, which might be relevant if you're not simply replacing an existing card, but rather applying for a new one.

Question 15

I received my registry identification card, but my name is misspelled (or has other incorrect information). What do I do?

Accepted Answer

If your Iowa medical marijuana card has incorrect information like a misspelled name, you'll need to contact the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services to get it corrected.

Here's what you should do:

1. Contact the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services:
Email: medical.cannabis@hhs.iowa.gov
Phone: (877) 214-9313

2. Explain the Issue:
Clearly state that your card has incorrect information and provide the correct information.

3. Provide Necessary Information:
Be prepared to provide your:
Full Name.
Date of Birth.
Driver's License Number/State ID Number.
Email address associated with your medical cannabis registry account.
Registration Number.
A copy of your photo ID, if requested.

4. Follow Instructions:
The Iowa Health and Human Services will provide you with instructions on how to proceed with the correction process.
This may involve submitting a form or providing additional documentation.

Important Note:
Do not attempt to alter or correct the information on your card yourself.
Once a replacement card is issued, the prior card is no longer valid.
Follow the instructions provided by the Iowa Health and Human Services to ensure your information is corrected properly and a new, valid card is issued

Question 16

If my registry identification card expired and I didn’t submit my renewal application before the deadline, am I still eligible to purchase Medical Marijuana?

Accepted Answer

In Iowa, medical cards are valid for one year. About 60 days before your card expires, the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services will send you a reminder to begin the renewal process, and we will also notify you when it’s time to renew.

To complete your renewal, you’ll need to schedule an appointment with a licensed healthcare practitioner to confirm that you still qualify for the program. Iowa Marijuana Card makes this easy by offering convenient renewal appointments, so you can stay compliant without any gaps in your legal protection.

The state renewal fee is typically $100, though patients who qualify for certain state assistance programs may pay a reduced fee of $25. Once your renewal is approved, your new card will be issued, and your legal protections will continue without interruption.

Question 17

Does Iowa accept medical marijuana cards from other states?

Accepted Answer

Currently, Iowa doesn't accept medical marijuana cards from other states, so you can't buy from dispensaries here. However, if you're visiting, you can bring your own medical marijuana products as long as they meet Iowa's requirements and you have a valid card from your home state.

Question 18

Is my personal information kept confidential?

Accepted Answer

The privacy of our patients is a top priority of ours, so we go through great lengths to ensure all patient information is protected and kept confidential in our file storage system. We also promise to never share any of your contact information with any third parties.

Question 19

How Will This Transaction Be Shown on My Billing Statement?

Accepted Answer

Your credit card statement will read "Auren Alternative Health".

Frequently Asked Questions for Medical Marijuana