Frequently Asked Questions for Medical Marijuana

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.

An Iowa medical marijuana card shows that your name has been added to the Iowa medical marijuana registry by a licensed Iowa physician and that the patient is a legal Iowa registered medical marijuana patient. With this card, you can:

1. Buy marijuana from dispensaries in the state of Iowa

2. Possess marijuana and marijuana products in the state of Iowa

3. Consume marijuana and marijuana products in the state of Iowa

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

We can’t guarantee approval for anyone, as the doctor is the only person who determines whether a patient qualifies. To make it more likely that you receive approval from the doctor, we recommend bringing as much information as possible to your appointment about your medical condition, past treatments, and any relevant medical records.

However, you don’t have to worry; the entire cost of your appointment will be a nominal flat fee, and if you are not approved by the doctor for any reason, you will not be charged.

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.

Patients will receive their identification card within 1 week of application, if their application is approved.

We believe cost shouldn’t be a barrier. We offer the lowest prices in the state, with payment options including monthly plans and discounts for veterans and referrals. After your first appointment, follow-ups are free for 12 months. The state application fee is $100, but it’s reduced to $25 if you provide proof of Social Security Disability (SSDI), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Iowa Medicaid, or Hawk-I membership.

Currently, insurance and Medicaid don’t cover medical marijuana costs because it’s still illegal at the federal level. Until that changes, you’ll need to pay out of pocket for your medical marijuana expenses.

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.

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

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

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

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

Once you have a recommendation from a certified doctor and your Iowa medical marijuana card, you can buy medical marijuana at any licensed dispensary in Iowa.

These are the types of medical marijuana products available:

• Oral forms-tablets

• Capsules

• Liquids

• Tinctures and sublingual forms

• Topical forms:

  • Gels

  • Ointments

  • Creams

  • Lotions

  • Transdermal patches

• Nebulizable (inhaled forms)

• Suppositories

• Vaporization

Raw flower is NOT an allowed form in Iowa.

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.

No, you can’t grow your own medical marijuana in Iowa. You must buy it from a state-approved dispensary.

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.

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

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.

Yes, your employer can still drug test you even if you use medical marijuana. While they can’t discriminate against you for being a medical marijuana patient or caregiver, it’s up to each employer to decide on exceptions.

As of right now, Iowa does not have medical marijuana reciprocity with other states. This means that there are no out-of-state dispensary purchases allowed. However if you are visiting Iowa, you are allowed to bring your own medical marijuana products, as long as it meets Iowa's product requirements and you must have a medical marijuana card from your home state.

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.