Colorado

A Legal Medical Cannabis Patient in Colorado…

1. Is a resident of Colorado and at least 18 years of age.

2. Has one of the following qualifying medical conditions:

Debilitating Medical Conditions:

• • Cancer
  • Glaucoma
  • HIV or AIDS
  • Cachexia
  • Persistent muscle spasms
  • Seizures
  • Severe nausea
  • Severe pain

Disabling Medical Conditions:

• • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
  • An Autism Spectrum Disorder
  • Any condition for which a physician could prescribe an opioid

3. Has a provider certification submitted electronically by a qualified Colorado healthcare provider.

4. Has completed an online application through the CDPHE registry.

5. Enrollment is current.

Enrollment Instructions

Step 1: See a qualified Colorado healthcare provider

Your provider will evaluate your qualifying condition and, if appropriate, submit an electronic certification to the CDPHE registry. You will receive a printed copy of the certification for your records. You must apply within 6 months of the certification date.

Step 2: Apply online or by mail

• Online applications with correct information are typically approved in 1–3 business days
• Mail-in applications take approximately 6–8 weeks; all correspondence must then be by mail
• Application processing fee: $52 (non-refundable, effective October 15, 2024)
• Fee waiver available if household income is at or below 185% of the Federal Poverty Level (submit a certified Colorado tax return or IRS federal return transcript)
• If you have a caregiver, they must be registered in the online system and provide you with their caregiver ID to enter on your application

For complete instructions, visit How to Apply for a Colorado Medical Marijuana Card — CDPHE.

For FAQs, visit the Medical Marijuana Registry FAQ — CDPHE.

Patient Renewal

Cards issued for debilitating medical conditions have a 1-year registration period. Cards issued for disabling medical conditions may have a registration period of 60 days to 1 year, as determined by the recommending provider.

You can renew your card within 30 days of its expiration. Renewal requires a new provider certification each time. The $52 processing fee applies to renewals. If you have online access to your account, you will receive a reminder when it is time to renew.

Enrolling Minor Patients

Parents/legal guardians of minor children serve as “primary caregivers” and must provide two provider certifications. All minor patients require certifications from two separate providers. For full documentation requirements, visit CDPHE — Apply for a Colorado Medical Marijuana Card.

Colorado defines four types of caregivers:

• Parents of minor patients
• Advising Caregivers (provide advice on medicinal use only)
• Transporting Caregivers (transport cannabis for homebound patients)
• Cultivating Caregivers (grow cannabis on behalf of the patient)

Only Transporting and Cultivating Caregivers are required to register with the Department of Revenue. Caregivers must renew registration annually. Failure to renew annually will result in the revocation of patient counts and removal from the system.

Only homebound and minor patients may have a transporting caregiver. A patient cannot have both a designated caregiver and a medical marijuana center cultivating medical cannabis at the same time (except for parents of minor patients).

Dispensaries

After your enrollment is approved, you can access your registry account and pick up medical cannabis at your nearest licensed medical marijuana store or dispensary.

Some dispensaries in Colorado are for medical marijuana patients only. Others serve both medical and recreational customers. Find licensed dispensaries through the Colorado Marijuana Enforcement Division. [Researched — verify for accuracy]

Find licensed medical marijuana dispensaries through the Colorado Marijuana Enforcement Division.

What to Bring

• Your valid Colorado medical marijuana registry card
• Government-issued photo ID
• A list of your current medications (recommended for your first visit)
• Payment for your medicine. Insurance does not cover the cost of medical cannabis

Home Cultivation

Registered medical patients may cultivate up to six plants (maximum three mature at a time) under state law, the same as the adult-use limit. However, caregivers who are cultivating for multiple patients may cultivate more. Medical patients generally have the right to cultivate regardless of their distance from a licensed dispensary, unlike recreational growers in some jurisdictions.  

*NOTE: The specific laws regarding cultivation vary by municipality. To determine the number of plants you can cultivate, check the laws, ordinances, and rules in the jurisdiction where you live.

• Colorado Counties. (Colorado Counties website)
• Colorado Towns. (Colorado Municipal League website)

Need tips on home cultivation?

Possession Limits

Registered medical marijuana patients in Colorado may possess up to 2 ounces of usable cannabis, double the 1-ounce limit for adult-use consumers.

Cannabis, in its natural form, is inherently safe for most patients, but it is especially susceptible to contaminants during cultivation, manufacturing, handling & even storing. Whether you are purchasing cannabis from regulated, grey, or illicit markets or cultivating your own cannabis, you should be aware of the contaminants commonly found in cannabis and the symptoms that accompany their presence.

Products sold in Colorado’s dispensaries and adult-use retail locations must be tested for contaminants, pesticides, and adulterants based on these thresholds set by state regulators.  

For more information about cannabis safety, download ASA's "What’s in Your Cannabis? A Patient & Consumer Guide to Navigating Cannabis Safety."

It can be challenging for patients to determine which businesses offering cannabis products are licensed and approved by the state. Review this list of medical cannabis retailers to find out where to purchase regulated cannabis in Colorado.

Using cannabis in any form (smoking, eating, or vaping) is not allowed in public places. That includes:

• Ski resorts
• Sporting and music venues
• State and national parks
• Campsites
• Playgrounds
• Sidewalks and roads
• Dispensaries
• Bars, restaurants, and outdoor or rooftop cafes

Property owners, landlords, and rental companies can ban people from using or having cannabis on their premises.

Colorado licenses “hospitality establishments” (lounges and tasting rooms) where customers may purchase and consume cannabis on-site. It is illegal to use or consume cannabis in a motor vehicle, and it is illegal to drive under the influence of cannabis.

Colorado has an adult-use cannabis program, but registering as a medical cannabis patient still offers important benefits, including higher possession limits and access to the medical-only dispensary market.

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 April 28th,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.

Higher Possession Limits

Registered patients may possess up to 2 ounces, twice the 1-ounce adult-use limit.

Access to Medical-Only Dispensaries

Some Colorado dispensaries serve medical patients only and may offer a wider selection of products and formulations.

Keeping the Medical Program Strong

Enrollment helps demonstrate continued patient need for Colorado’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.

Colorado does not accept out-of-state medical cannabis cards. Only Colorado residents can use the medical marijuana program. Out-of-state visitors who are 21 or older may purchase at licensed adult-use dispensaries.

*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.