A medical marijuana card is a state issued identification card that enables a patient with a doctor's recommendation to obtain, possess, or cultivate cannabis for medicinal use despite marijuana's lack of the normal Food and Drug Administration testing for safety and efficacy. These cards are issued by a state or country in which medical cannabis is recognized. Typically a patient is required to pay a fee to the state in order to obtain a medical marijuana card.
In most states with medical marijuana card programs, the card is valid for up to 12 months and may be renewed. Legal states also have different requirements for obtaining a medical marijuana card. Medical marijuana cards in the United States are now possible to obtain in over 22 states, including states with legalized recreational marijuana such as Washington and Colorado as well as other states such as California and Massachusetts.