Montana

A LEGAL MEDICAL CANNABIS PATIENT ...

1. Is a resident of Motana. 

2. Has one of the following medical conditions: 

• A central nervous system disorder resulting in chronic, painful spasticity or muscle spasms
• Cancer
• Glaucoma
• HIV/AIDS
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Crohn's disease
• Cachexia or wasting syndrome
• Severe or chronic pain
• Severe nausea
• Seizures, including those characteristic of epilepsy
• Terminal illness with a life expectancy of less than 12 months
• Admittance to hospice care
• Any other condition approved by the Cannabis Control Division

Montana physicians may only certify patients for conditions on this approved list.

3. Has a statement from a Montana licensed physician (Medical Doctor or Doctor of Osteopathy) recommending medical cannabis. 

4. Has registered with the Montana Department of Revenue. 

5. Registration is up to date (renewed annually) 

Becoming a Patient as a Minor:

Patients under the age of 18 require a parent or legal guardian to agree to act as a caregiver, and a physician's statement from 2 Montana-licensed physicians (Medical Doctor or Doctor of Osteopathy). There is a separate Physician Statement for a Debilitating Medical Condition for Minors. 

ENROLLMENT PROCESS

Step 1. Review the Required Documents

Before applying, patients should review the documents required for Montana’s medical cannabis application.

Step 2: Schedule an appointment with a Montana-licensed MD or DO.

Telehealth consultations are available.

Step 3: Obtain a completed Physician Statement for Debilitating Medical Condition.

For minor patients, a separate form is required. Minors generally require two physician certifications.

Step 4: Apply through the TransAction Portal (TAP).

Create an account at the Montana TransAction Portal (TAP) and submit the application within 60 days of the physician statement date.

Step 5: Upload required documents.

Upload: government-issued photo ID; a recent passport-style color photo (taken within 6 months); and your physician statement.

Step 6: Pay the $20 fee and print your temporary card. (Valid for 60 days)

Pay the $20 state application fee. Print your TAP temporary card for immediate use. Your permanent card will arrive by mail.

Patients should review the Medical Marijuana Application Guide (PDF, 1.08 MB) for more detailed instructions.

PATIENT RENEWAL

A new Physician Statement from a Montana-licensed MD or DO is required yearly. Applications for renewal must be submitted within 60 days of obtaining the new physician's statement, and the renewal process can be started up to 60 days before your current card expires. The $20 application fee applies. Cards are valid for up to one year from the date of approval, unless the certifying physician specifies a shorter validity period.

ENROLLING MINOR PATIENTS 

Minor patients (under 18) generally require two physician certifications, each signed by a separate Montana-licensed MD or DO. One certification may suffice if the certifying physician is an oncologist, neurologist, or epileptologist. A custodial parent or legal guardian must sign a consent statement and register as the minor's designated purchaser. Acceptable documentation of legal guardianship includes a birth certificate or court order. If the legal guardian will be cultivating cannabis on behalf of the minor patient, a Consent to Fingerprint Form is also required. The designated purchaser must be at least 21 years of age and is authorized to purchase and administer cannabis on behalf of the minor patient. Full application requirements are available on the Cardholder Information page of the Montana Department of Revenue. 

In Montana, caregivers are registered as Designated Purchasers. A registered cardholder may designate up to two individuals to acquire and deliver their medical cannabis. Each designated purchaser must be at least 21 years of age. Designated purchasers may be added during the initial application or at the time of annual renewal through the TransAction Portal (TAP). Full requirements are available on the Cardholder Information page.

Possession Limits: 

Registered cardholders may purchase up to 1 ounce of cannabis flower per day and up to 5 ounces of cannabis flower per month. Patients who need a higher monthly limit may petition to increase it to 8 ounces.

Dispensaries: 

After your enrollment is approved. You can access your Medical Cannabis Registry account and pick up medical cannabis at your nearest medical cannabis dispensary. Find Medical Cannabis Dispensary Locations.

Registered medical cannabis cardholders may purchase cannabis from licensed dispensaries in Montana.

Adult-use dispensaries may sell cannabis to registered cardholders, adults age 21 and older, or both. Medical-only dispensaries may sell cannabis only to registered medical cannabis cardholders.

What to bring:

• Your photo ID (your caregiver must bring theirs when picking up medicine).
• Montana registry card 
• Payment for your medicine. Payment options vary by location. Note: Insurance companies do not cover the cost of medical cannabis.

Home Cultivation:

Medical cannabis can be used on private property, but cannot be smoked or vaped in public places where it is illegal to smoke or vape commercial tobacco.

Patients CANNOT medicate or possess medical cannabis in these locations: 

• school bus or van
• any correctional facility
• state-operated treatment program, including the Minnesota sex offender program
• the grounds of a child care facility or a family or group family day care program
• the grounds of federal facilities (such as courthouses, post offices, airports, and national parks)

Vaping or smoking medical cannabis is prohibited: 

• all public transportation
• anywhere the vapor would be inhaled by a nonpatient minor or where the smoke would be inhaled by a minor
• any public place, including any indoor or outdoor area used by or open to the general public or a place of employment, as defined in section 144.413, subdivision 1b

Montana has an adult-use cannabis program, but registering as a medical cannabis patient still offers important benefits. Registration provides patients with access to the medical cannabis program, legal protections under state law, and purchasing rules specific to registered cardholders.

Federal Protections Apply Only to Registered Patients

Some federal protections are now available, but only to patients who are officially registered in their state’s medical cannabis program.

A federal order issued on April 28, 2026, AG Order No. 6754-2026, treats a state medical cannabis certification or registration as similar to a prescription under federal law. This means that being registered is not just a state requirement; it may also affect whether a patient qualifies for federal protections.

To receive these protections, a patient’s registration must stay active, current, and in good standing. Learn more here.

Access to Licensed Dispensaries

Registered cardholders are eligible to purchase medical cannabis from any licensed dispensary in Montana. Patients should bring their valid registry card and government-issued identification when purchasing medical cannabis.

Medical Cannabis Tax Rate

Medical cannabis is taxed by the state at 4%. Counties may also adopt a local-option marijuana excise tax of up to 3% on medical cannabis, adult-use cannabis, or both.

Purchase Limits for Registered Cardholders

Registered cardholders may purchase up to 1 ounce of cannabis flower per day and up to 5 ounces of cannabis flower per month. Patients who need a higher monthly limit may petition to increase the monthly limit to 8 ounces.

Keeping the Medical Program Strong

Enrollment helps demonstrate continued patient need for Montana’s medical cannabis program. A strong registry helps protect and sustain the program, supports continued access for patients with serious health needs, and reinforces the importance of maintaining a medical pathway alongside adult-use access.

Montana has both medical and adult-use cannabis programs, but its medical cannabis program is limited to residents only.  While visiting patients cannot utilize the medical cannabis dispensaries, patients who are at least 21 years of age or older with a valid state-issued identification from their home state, such as a driver’s license, may purchase cannabis at the adult-use licensed retail outlets. Unfortunately, this excludes access for visiting minors. Patients, especially minors should travel with their medical cannabis ID cards (or their equivalents) in case of any potential interaction with law enforcement. Montana prohibits the consumption of cannabis in any public place.

• Adult use Possession Limit: 1 oz of cannabis flower or 8 grams of cannabis concentrate; 800 mg of THC-infused cannabis products or edibles
• Adult use Purchase Limit: 1 oz of cannabis flower or 8 grams of cannabis concentrate; 800 mg of THC-infused cannabis products or edibles

For more information about traveling as a medical cannabis patient, check out our Travel Guide.

*UPDATE: AG ORDER NO. 6754-2026 CHANGED FEDERAL CANNABIS LAWS  ON APRIL 28, 2026: Learn more here.

Federal cannabis laws affect far more than whether a patient can access medical cannabis. For decades, federal prohibition has limited protections for medical cannabis patients under laws such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Fair Housing Act (FHA). As a result, patients have often been denied the basic protections that people with other serious health conditions expect in employment, housing, healthcare, and access to federal programs.

Federal prohibition has also affected patients’ access to essential healthcare, housing, and financial support programs, sometimes forcing patients to choose between the medicine they need and the benefits they depend on. It has also created barriers to federal employment, healthcare autonomy, firearm ownership, and other aspects of daily life.

As federal and state cannabis laws change, implementation matters. Advocates must stay vigilant to ensure public agencies, private institutions, employers, housing providers, and healthcare systems update their policies in ways that respect patient rights and protect safe, legal access to medical cannabis.

It is important to stay active, engaged, and informed. Sign up to get ASA updates and learn more about ending patient discrimination. 

Rights and protections for medical cannabis patients are evolving. In some cases, outdated policies may impact how patients are treated. In other cases, like those in the military, policy changes will have to come from Washington, DC. In the case of organ transplants, stigma still plays a role in medical cannabis patients having access to life-saving treatment, even if state laws ban discrimination.  Please use the resources below to better understand patient rights and how to navigate these programs and services.