Many patients need a medical marijuana card. But the cost of a med card could often feel out of reach ($99-$149 on average). 

If you are in a recreational cannabis state, you might wonder if getting a medical card is worth the price. In most cannabis states, getting your med card grants you access to added benefits, such as increased possession limits, tax savings, and the capability to grow cannabis at home.

In this article, we explore how much a medical marijuana card is in your state, how much your MMJ card can save you on purchases, and how much cannabis you need to buy to offset the cost of obtaining your MMJ card.

How Much Can You Save With a Med Card?

Over-reduced taxes are the best-recognized way medical marijuana patients save money while visiting the dispensary. But that is not the only mode to save. 

Tax Savings for Marijuana Patients

Thankfully, many states with a marijuana program have rules that excuse medical marijuana patients from paying taxes on their buying. It means maximum medical marijuana patients automatically save 10% to 20% on all dispensary purchases compared to adult-use or recreational clients. 

For example, Washington state medical marijuana patients are exempted from the state’s 47.4% entertainment tax. Since the state average for an excellent ounce of flower is about $326, that means Washington medical marijuana patients could save up to $154 per ounce each time they shop!

Other Ways a Med Card Saves Patients Money

• Being a medical marijuana patient might carry additional benefits Depending on your state. It is harder to quantify but could save you even more money. 
• Higher ownership limits. Save gas and time by making fewer tours to the dispensary.
• Higher THC concentration restrictions. Many states permit medical cannabis dispensaries to carry products, for example, edibles plus tinctures, with an upper THC concentration.
• Wider product choice. Spend cash only on the products and stresses you know work for you.
• Home farming. Growing your private cannabis could yield huge savings every month. Some states only permit home farming for medical cannabis patients, and others permit med cardholders to grow more plants. 
• In states that do not have an adult-use cannabis program, a medical marijuana card is the single way to buy and own cannabis legally.

 

Can You Get a Discount on a Medical Marijuana Card?

Each state sets its rules on discounts for medical marijuana cards. Though, you may qualify for a discount if one of the following applies to your fiscal or personal condition:

• Veteran status
• Senior citizen and Medicare recipient
• SNAP cardholder
• First responder
• Medicaid recipient
• Pediatric patient

The discount amount might be as high as 50 percent, depending on your home state. You will be required to show evidence of qualifying status to obtain any discount on a medical cannabis card. 

Alaska

In Alaska, all cannabis – whether used for medicinal or recreational purposes – is taxed similarly.

The State of Alaska marijuana tax is presently set at $50 for every ounce of marijuana bud or flower, $25 for every ounce for immature or abnormal bud or flower, and $15 for each ounce on leaf or trim. 

Alaska charges a tax on cannabis growers; however, it does not have a statewide sales tax plus, so it does not need Alaska cannabis sellers to gather a statewide sales tax at retail (i.e., when selling to the public).

Though, some local areas, for example, Anchorage, do have a sales tax. In this situation, cannabis sellers are vital to collect the local sales tax while selling medicinal cannabis.

Arizona

In Arizona, medicinal cannabis is dependent on transaction license tax (TPT), Arizona’s sales tax. Medicinal cannabis is dependent on the similar state and local TPT as other acquisitions. Though not like recreational cannabis, it is not reliant on an extra excise tax. 

Arizona officials, though, have tried in the former to add 5% excise tax on medicinal marijuana sales.

Arkansas

In Arkansas, medicinal cannabis is taxed at a similar state plus local sales tax rate as other purchases. 

Along with state plus local sales tax, a 4% medicinal cannabis unique opportunity tax is executed on gross receipt from sales of operational cannabis by a farming facility, dispensary, or other cannabis business. 

Ohio

Ohio Patients could receive a 50% concession on the yearly $50 certification fee if they qualify underneath veteran otherwise disability status. 

To qualify under veteran status, deliver a copy of one of the following: 

1. Division of Defense Identification Card 
2. DD214, DD215, or State Guard Bureau military discharge license representing disposition of discharge
3. Report of separation from the State Archives National Staffs Records Center in St. Louis, Mo
4. Veterans ID Card from the Division of Veterans Affairs.

Illinois

One of the main advantages of becoming an MMJ patient is the lower tax rate that Illinois patients relish. While several upfront charges are related to the MMJ application, even casual marijuana users could save considerable cash by becoming medicinal marijuana patients. 

Let us break it down as stated by July 2021 prices:

If you are an entertaining user who smokes 1 ounce of flower plus 1 gram of concentrate each month, you could expect to spend about $600-$800 each month, with 28%-38% of that quantity being several forms of tax. Illinois’s entertaining marijuana tax rate is several of the country’s maxima. On top of the dispensary charges for their marijuana, adult-use marijuana customers in Illinois could anticipate paying:

Illinois Sales Tax – 6.75%

Wholesale Tax – 7%

Retail Excise Tax – 15%, 20%, or 25%

Add that all up, and recreational marijuana consumers are covering the tax funds of the state. While top dispensaries list entertaining charges with tax to avoid tax shock at the register, the quantity adult-use customers pay is far more than a medicinal marijuana patient pays.

As stated above, medicinal cannabis users do, though, have the upfront costs related to gaining their MMJ card. Aside from the physician visit to get approval, would-be patients must pay a non-refundable application charge to the State of Illinois of $ 50 for one year, $ 100 for two years, or $ 125 for three. There are decreased application fees accessible for veterans and patients on disability. Their application charges are $ 25, $ 50, and $ 75, respectively. 

Using the similar standards of 1-ounce flower plus 1 gram of concentrates each month, a medicinal marijuana consumer in Illinois would anticipate paying about $ 400-$ 500 for their earth medicine. The savings is vast since marijuana patients must pay 1% of sales tax on cannabis-associated goods bought at a marijuana dispensary. Through these unbelievable tax savings, Marijuana patients could expect their medicinal cannabis card toward paying for itself within just one or two months.

Another attractive bonus of gaining your medicinal marijuana ID card is that patients in Illinois can officially produce their own plant to use as their medication – without purchase from a dispensary. Accepted medicinal cannabis patients can produce up to 5 cannabis plants in their homes at a time. While creating cannabis plants could be a complicated and frightening task, patients have the prospective to save dollars with this plus.

Eventually, recreational adult-use cannabis users could save serious money by gaining their medicinal marijuana cards. Apply for your Medical marijuana certificate today to save money and build up your stack.

California

For California patients, you will save a range (dependent on your county). Usually, this range is among 5-10% of each purchase. It might not appear like a lot, but the costs certainly add up over time.

• Considering whether getting a medical marijuana card is worth the price, consider the savings and pluses.
• California Medical Card Tax Savings
• As of January 2018, the charges to get a medical card include the following:
• Medical Recommendation: ~$50
• Register with County: $100 ($50 with Medical)
• Savings with a medicinal card range from 5-10% on sales tax. If you spend more than $150 a month on dispensary products, receiving a medical card in maximum counties is a no-brainer.

Colorado

With a medicinal marijuana card, clients save money. The rules allow them to pay regular sales tax. The recreational clients pay cannabis excise taxes.

Our Louisville medical marijuana clients pay 8.635% sales tax. Our Louisville recreational cannabis clients pay over 20.735% in sales tax; thus, having a medical card could create excellent savings on each purchase.

For example, if somebody spends $100. The medical patient pays $108.64. The recreational client pays $120.74.

Connecticut

Connecticut’s nearly 54,000 medical marijuana patients will now be capable of purchasing 3 ounces of cannabis once a month. There are numerous benefits to having a medical marijuana card in Connecticut. These comprise:

• Lower taxes
• Lower legitimate consumption age
• Possibly upper ownership limits, depending upon physician’s recommendations.
• Medicinal patients get priority in terms of products (i.e., they get first selection of a better choice of products)
• Only medical marijuana cards plus license holders can legally produce cannabis plants in Connecticut.

Delaware

Delaware is one of the limited states in America that does not charge a sales tax on medicinal cannabis. That means patients with a Delaware medical card could save a lot of cash on the monthly cost of MMJ. Even though it seems that adult-use (recreational) cannabis might be legal in 2022, it will be taxed. Grownups over twenty-one (21) will have to pay about 20% excise tax on every purchase. That is the present proposed tax rate for entertaining cannabis in Delaware. 

Maine

Maine has a complete 15% or more tax on cannabis for non-medical card holders. Adults over twenty-one (21) years old will be capable of buying cannabis for adult use. But they will pay an upper tax rate than patients with a medical card.

• Adult-use retail: Acquisitions are dependent on a 10% marijuana excise tax, plus the statewide 5.5% sales tax. No extra local municipal taxes are allowable.
• Medicinal marijuana: There are no marijuana excise taxes enforced on medical sales, but they are dependent on the usual statewide sales tax of 5.5%—except for edibles, which are taxed at 8%. No extra local municipal taxes are allowable.
• Wholesale: The excise tax on growers is $335 per pound of flowers, $1.50 per pound for seedlings, $94 per pound for trim, plus 35 cents per pound for seeds. 

Massachusetts

While you have a Massachusetts medicinal marijuana card, your permitted medical condition qualifies you to pay no state sales tax on your dispensary buying. That is a big deal considering the Massachusetts sales tax rate is 6.25%.

Now add the 10.75% state excise tax on all entertaining marijuana purchases along with the 3% local tax that the city or town might charge on top of the sales plus excise tax.

That is a whopping 20% tax for entertaining marijuana consumers that medicinal marijuana card holders DON’T pay. To put that in viewpoint, imagine a medicinal marijuana cardholder and an entertaining user bringing similar products to the money register. Let’s say that the entire cost of these products is $50. While the Massachusetts medicinal marijuana cardholder pays just the $50, the Massachusetts sales, excise, plus local tax would push the non-card holder’s bill to $60.

Michigan

If you have an eligible medical condition, having a medicinal marijuana card could save you a large quantity of money over time. The charge of gaining your card over the state of Michigan is $40 (lately reduced from $60), which is suitable for two years. The renewal charge is also $40 right now. Then there is a necessary physician authorization, which includes a visit to a physician who verifies your qualifying state and submits the required application form to the state. The charge for this service is flexible (from $70-150), dependent on the quality of advice/service offered.

Therefore, where are the savings? The savings convert evident when you start buying products. Michigan charges all entertaining or adult-use clients an extra 10% excise tax on top of the 6% sales tax — that is 16% in taxes. Medical patients do not have to pay the additional 10% tax. Comparing the actual prices of medical vs. recreational products shows that recreational products are costlier overall (20-30% higher than medical). Add this to the 10% tax, indicating that a medical patient saves about 30-40% on each purchase. It adds up to a significant amount of cash over two years!

Missouri

Missouri enforces a sales tax of 4% on Medical Marijuana. Many other states, for example, Washington, execute a 37% tax on their recreational marijuana. 

Even Illinois has a Cannibals Farming Privilege tax of 7%. Thus, getting your Missouri 420ID Card will save you money in purchasing your medicinal marijuana in Missouri vs. going to other states.

Nevada

Medical patients pay 4.6% tax compared to 15% for entertaining buying. By Nevada law, medicinal marijuana card holders are exempted from a 10 percent excise tax charged to entertaining buyers on their buying. Products for medicinal patients — the same as products sold to entertaining patients — are often subject to extra concessions from dispensaries looking to attend to cannabis patients.

Remember, medicinal marijuana cards charge $100 while applied directly to the Nevada Division of Public Plus Behavioral Health, and an obligatory doctor’s referral for the application might cost an extra $100 to $200. Suitable for two years, the cards would merely pay for themselves afterward $2,000 to $3,000 worth of marijuana buying over two years.

Oregon

With your Oregon Medicinal Marijuana Card, you might save up to 30% on the state marijuana tax on entertaining products. That means enormous savings on edibles, oils, flowers, and concentrates. In Oregon, with a $200 medicinal marijuana card, you will require to buy 10 ounces to make it more inexpensive for medical than retail marijuana. Though, retail marijuana in this state is some of the lowermost in the nation.

Pennsylvania

For maximum people, the fee to get a medicinal marijuana card in Pennsylvania is $50. You’ll furthermore need to pay a $50 renewal stipend yearly. You will receive an email with a link to pay your renewal charge every year. Some people might qualify for concessions on this fee. If you are eligible for Medicaid, SNAP, WIC, CHIP, PACE, or other government aid programs, you may be qualified for a concession.

If you have a medicinal marijuana card in Pennsylvania, you can own up to a 30-day supply of accepted cannabis products. If you do not have a medical marijuana card, you cannot carry any marijuana with you. However, several cities in PA have opted to legalize ownership of fewer than 30 grams of marijuana.

Pennsylvania policymakers want to ensure all patients have access to reasonable medicinal marijuana. That’s why patients pay no excise tax before they use their medicinal card at a certified dispensary.

Washington

Patients in Washington enjoy the most acceptable cannabis prices compared to their retail equivalents and need to purchase just three ounces of flower to realize savings. Getting a medical marijuana card in other states is not as financially advantageous: Patients would have to buy sixteen ounces in Maine before they start saving cash, and those in Nevada would not see any savings.

West Virginia

There are no policies right now to make adult-use authorized in West Virginia. But if you have a medicinal card, not only will you be capable of buying cannabis from a licensed dispensary, but you can partake in special offers. There are concessions offered at several dispensaries weekly. You can use your MMJ at home or in a private home.

Tips for saving money as a medicinal marijuana patient

Suppose you are a medicinal marijuana patient looking for means to save money and avoid paying pointless fees. In that case, there are many ways to save cash while still getting cannabis products for medical necessities.

Ask about the saving program. Several dispensaries offer a saving program for fixed clients. Thus, if you spend a definite amount or visit the store a substantial number of times, you might get a discount.

Keep an eye on sales. Various dispensaries deal sales throughout holidays, especially cannabis-friendly holidays such as 4/20 plus 7/10, holidays similar to July 4 or Thanksgiving.

Buy wholesale. If you identify your requirements and want to make the best use of your expenses, purchase a large quantity of cannabis ahead of time. State rules bound the amount of cannabis you can purchase; however, there are frequently good deals on buying an ounce of marijuana flower at a time, and you might save on the grower’s fee.

Produce your own cannabis. It might be a no-brainer for several, but developing your own cannabis is an excellent means to save cash. However, producing your own does need a great deal of time, patience, and effort.

Conclusion

An unfortunate truth of being a medicinal marijuana patient is the price of keeping pace with your everyday requirements and medication. Yet, there are programs in addition to organizations struggling for greater, more reasonable medicinal marijuana access. Study and compare local dispensaries and check with your state’s public health division to see what exclusive rules and exemptions there are in your region. Use all resources accessible in your state and local authority to ensure your cannabis requirements are being met and your medical disorders are being treated suitably.