Accessing Medical Cannabis in Oregon

A LEGAL MEDICAL CANNABIS PATIENT ...

1. Is an Oregon resident. Proof of residency is required in the form of a current Oregon driver's license, state ID card, or other document acceptable under OAR 333-008-0022.

2. Has no minimum age. Minor patients under 18 years of age must have a custodial parent or legal guardian apply on their behalf. 

3. Has a debilitating medical condition, as defined under ORS 475C.777, and has been diagnosed by a qualifying attending provider.

A debilitating medical condition includes the following:

• Cancer
• Glaucoma
• A degenerative or pervasive neurological condition
• Positive status for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), or side effects related to treatment
• A medical condition or treatment for a medical condition that produces, for a specific patient, one or more of the following symptoms: cachexia; severe pain; severe nausea; seizures, including seizures caused by epilepsy; or persistent muscle spasms, including spasms caused by multiple sclerosis
• Any other medical condition or treatment side effect adopted by the Oregon Health Authority by rule, or approved by the authority pursuant to a petition filed under ORS 475C.913

For current program guidance and any conditions added by OHA rule, visit the Oregon Medical Marijuana Program.

4. Has a signed Attending Provider's Statement (APS) from an Oregon-licensed attending provider, completed within 90 days of the date the OMMP receives the application.

5. Is registered with the OMMP and holds a valid registry identification card. The standard application fee is $200. Reduced fees are available: $50 for Oregon Health Plan (OHP) recipients, $60 for SNAP recipients, $20 for SSI recipients and qualifying veterans, and no fee for qualifying veterans with a total disability rating of at least 50% from a service-connected injury or illness who received a discharge under other than dishonorable conditions.

6. Holds a valid card. (Cards must be renewed annually.)

ENROLLMENT PROCESS

Step 1: Obtain a diagnosis and signed Attending Provider's Statement (APS) from an Oregon-licensed attending provider. The APS must be signed no more than 90 days before the date OMMP receives your application.

Step 2: Create an account and apply online at ommpsystem.oregon.gov, or download and complete the paper application from the OMMP Forms Library.

Step 3: Upload or include with your paper application: your signed APS, proof of Oregon residency, and a valid government-issued photo ID.

Step 4: If you are under 18, also include a notarized Declaration of Person Responsible for a Minor form signed by your custodial parent or legal guardian. See Enrolling Minor Patients below.

Step 5: If you are designating a caregiver, include the caregiver's name and address. If you are designating a grower or growing your own cannabis, the grow site address is required.

Step 6: Pay the applicable application fee. Online payments are accepted by credit or debit card.

Step 7: If you apply online, you can print a 30-day receipt after submitting a complete application. This receipt has the same legal effect as a registry identification card for 30 days and allows you to possess up to 24 ounces of usable cannabis and purchase from OMMP dispensaries tax-free.

Step 8: Paper applications should be mailed to: OHA/OMMP, P.O. Box 14450, Portland, OR 97293-0450.

If your application is incomplete, OMMP will send a letter identifying what is missing. You have 14 days from that letter to submit the missing materials.

PATIENT RENEWAL

Registry identification cards expire annually and must be renewed each year.

Renewal fees match the new application fee schedule ($200 standard; reduced fees for qualifying patients). OMMP typically notifies patients 60 to 90 days before their card expires. You may renew online at ommpsystem.oregon.gov or by mail to OHA/OMMP, P.O. Box 14450, Portland, OR 97293-0450.

A new Attending Provider's Statement is required at each renewal, with the following exception: qualifying veterans with a total disability rating of 100% or a total and permanent service-connected disability may be exempt from submitting a new APS at renewal. See the OMMP renewals page for documentation requirements.

ENROLLING MINOR PATIENTS 

Patients under 18 years of age may participate in the OMMP. To enroll a minor:

• The application must be submitted by the minor's custodial parent or legal guardian with authority to make medical decisions for the minor.
• The parent or legal guardian must complete and submit a notarized Declaration of Person Responsible for a Minor form, available from the OMMP Forms Library.
• The parent or guardian must agree to serve as the minor's designated primary caregiver and to control the acquisition, dosage, and frequency of use of cannabis for the minor.
• Minor patients are not allowed inside any part of a dispensary where cannabis is present, even if they hold a valid registry card.

A caregiver

• Caregivers must be at least 18 years of age.
• A caregiver may not be the patient's attending provider.
• A patient may have only one designated primary caregiver at a time.
• Caregivers are designated by the patient on their OMMP application or renewal, or through a signed written statement to OHA.
• OMMP will issue a registry identification card to the designated caregiver. There is no separate application fee for caregivers. Caregiver cards are issued at the same time as the patient's card.
• Minor patients under 18 are required to have a caregiver, who must be the minor's custodial parent or legal guardian.

To designate or change a caregiver after cards have been issued, a $100 replacement card fee applies (reduced to $20 for patients who demonstrate SSI eligibility or equivalent reduced-fee status).

For caregiver information, visit the OMMP Patients page.

Dispensaries: 

Registered OMMP patients and their caregivers may purchase cannabis at licensed OMMP-registered medical cannabis dispensaries and at licensed Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission (OLCC) retail stores. As of January 1, 2017, dispensaries may only sell to registered OMMP patients and caregivers. OLCC-licensed retail stores may also sell to registered patients.

Home delivery is permitted. OLCC-licensed retailers may deliver cannabis to patients, caregivers, and adult-use consumers statewide.

What to bring:

• Your valid Oregon OMMP registry identification card
• A valid government-issued photo ID (driver's license, state ID, passport, or U.S. military 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.

Note: Minor patients are not permitted inside any dispensary area where cannabis is present. A caregiver must make purchases on a minor patient's behalf.

Possession Limits:

Under ORS 475C.809, a registry identification cardholder and their designated primary caregiver may jointly possess no more than 24 ounces of usable cannabis.

At OMMP dispensaries, a patient or caregiver may purchase per visit:

• 24 ounces of usable cannabis (flower)
• 16 ounces of a cannabinoid concentrate, whether sold alone or in an inhalant delivery system
• 5 grams of a cannabinoid extract, whether sold alone or in an inhalant delivery system

Home Cultivation:

Medical cannabis can be used at a private residence, but cannot be smoked or vaped in public places where it is illegal to smoke or vape commercial tobacco. Using cannabis in a public place is prohibited for all individuals in Oregon.

Cannabis may not be used in public spaces, in a vehicle, or in view of the public, regardless of medical patient status. Landlords and property managers may restrict cannabis use on rental properties.

SMOKING AND VAPING RESTRICTIONS

Oregon's indoor clean air laws prohibit smoking in enclosed workplaces, public areas, and most public facilities. These restrictions apply to cannabis smoking and vaping in the same manner as tobacco. Patients should review their lease, housing, or workplace policies before smoking or vaping cannabis.

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)

Oregon has an adult-use cannabis program, but registering as a medical cannabis patient still offers important benefits. While the medical program may require additional steps, registration can provide patients and caregivers with added support, stronger protections, and access to medical guidance.

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.

Legal Protections:

Registered OMMP cardholders are exempt from Oregon's criminal laws for possessing, purchasing, or producing cannabis within the limits established by the program. Cardholders must carry their registry identification card whenever they have cannabis in their possession outside their registered address. The protections apply only within Oregon and do not extend to federal law or other states.

Privacy Protections:

Registry identification cardholder information maintained by the OMMP is confidential. Patient records are not subject to public records laws and may not be disclosed to employers or members of the public. The OMMP does not maintain or publish a list of registered patients or their attending providers.

Tax Benefits:

Registered OMMP cardholders are exempt from Oregon's state retail cannabis tax under ORS 475C.678. Oregon imposes a 17% state retail tax on adult-use cannabis purchases. As a registered patient, your purchases from both OMMP dispensaries and OLCC retail stores are exempt from this tax. You must present your valid registry identification card and a valid government-issued photo ID at the time of purchase to receive the tax exemption.

Keeping the Medical Program Strong:

Enrollment helps demonstrate continued patient need for Oregon’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.

Oregon does not recognize out-of-state medical cannabis patient cards and does not have a visiting patient program. Only patients registered in Oregon's program may legally purchase cannabis at OMMP-registered dispensaries and qualify for the state retail tax exemption. However, adults who are 21 years of age or older may purchase cannabis at OLCC-licensed retail stores under Oregon's adult-use law, subject to standard possession limits and the applicable retail tax.

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.