How to Get Your Medical Card in Georgia
Georgia doesn't sell medical cannabis to anyone who walks in. You need a Georgia medical cannabis card, and the only way to get one is through a Georgia doctor who certifies that you have a qualifying condition.
The good news: the process is short, most of it happens online, and since July 1, 2026 the card covers more products than it used to. This guide walks through each step, from checking whether you qualify to holding the card. For the short version, with costs and limits at a glance, see our Georgia medical marijuana card page.
What the Georgia medical cannabis card is
The card shows that you are registered with Georgia's Medical Cannabis Patient Registry, run by the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH). With it, you can buy and carry medical cannabis legally in Georgia.
The program used to be called the Low THC Oil Registry. It was renamed when the law changed on July 1, 2026. If you already have a Low THC Oil card that hasn't expired, it stays valid until the date printed on it. New and replacement cards carry the new name.
Who can get a card
To get a card in Georgia you need:
- Georgia residency. You have to live in Georgia.
- A qualifying condition, confirmed by a doctor (see the list below).
- A Georgia doctor's certification. The doctor must be fully licensed and have their main practice in Georgia.
- Age 18 or older. Patients under 18 can be registered through a parent, guardian or legal custodian, who gets a caregiver card.
Qualifying conditions in Georgia
Georgia's current list includes:
- ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease)
- Alzheimer's disease
- Autism spectrum disorder (18 and older), or severe autism (under 18)
- Cancer, except skin cancer that has not spread
- Epidermolysis bullosa
- HIV, when diagnosed as stage III
- Hospice care, inpatient or outpatient
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Intractable pain
- Lupus
- Mitochondrial disease
- Multiple sclerosis
- Parkinson's disease
- Peripheral neuropathy, when severe
- PTSD from experiencing or witnessing trauma (18 and older)
- Seizure disorders related to epilepsy or a head injury
- Sickle cell disease
- Tourette's syndrome
Not sure whether your condition counts? Read more on our qualifying conditions page, or start an application and let the doctor decide at your visit.
What you need before you start
Have these ready and the process goes quickly:
- A current photo ID. A Georgia driver's license or Georgia ID card is best. A U.S. passport, military ID or out-of-state license also works if you add a proof of address.
- Proof of Georgia address, if your ID doesn't show your current Georgia address. A utility, phone or medical bill, or a pay stub, with your full name and street address.
- An email address, because that's where the state sends your payment link.
- Any medical records about your condition, if you have them. They help the doctor, though you don't always need them.
Step by step: getting your card
1. Apply online
Start your MJCard application. It takes a few minutes: your details, your ID, and a few questions about your health.
2. See a Georgia doctor by video
You meet a Georgia-licensed doctor by video, often the same day. The doctor talks with you about your condition and your treatment so far, and decides whether medical cannabis fits.
3. The doctor registers you with the state
If you qualify, the doctor certifies your condition and enters your details and ID in the state's patient registry. You don't file anything with the state yourself.
4. Pay the state card fee
DPH checks your details and emails you a payment link. The state's fee is $30 per card, plus a $3.75 service fee if you pay online. If you can't pay online, you can mail a $30 money order instead.
Pay within 60 days. After that, the state cancels the request and you have to ask your doctor to start it again.
5. Get your card in the mail
Your card arrives by UPS within about 10 business days after your payment goes through. Someone has to sign for it. If you use a P.O. Box or don't have a secure home address, you can pick it up at your nearest county health department with your photo ID instead.
You can check the status of your card anytime on the DPH medical cannabis page.
How much it costs in total
Getting a Georgia medical card has two separate costs:
- The doctor's visit, paid to MJCard. This covers your video visit and the registry paperwork.
- The state card fee, $30 (plus $3.75 online), paid to the Georgia Department of Public Health.
Health insurance doesn't cover the state fee.
What changed on July 1, 2026
Georgia widened its medical cannabis program on July 1, 2026:
- New name. The Low THC Oil Registry became the Medical Cannabis Patient Registry.
- More conditions, including lupus and inflammatory bowel disease.
- New possession limit. Patients and caregivers may now carry products containing up to 12,000 mg of THC in total, and each package can hold up to 1,200 mg.
- More product types. Licensed sellers can offer oils, tinctures, capsules, patches, lotions and vaporizers, including cannabis flower made for vaporizing.
Some things did not change. Smoking cannabis is still illegal in Georgia, as are cannabis candies and cookies, growing your own plants and recreational use.
Where to buy with your card
Once you have your card, you can buy from:
- Dispensaries licensed by the Georgia Access to Medical Cannabis Commission. You'll find the list on the Commission's website.
- Pharmacies licensed by the Georgia Board of Pharmacy to sell medical cannabis.
Bring your card and your photo ID every time you buy.
Keeping your card active
Your card is valid for five years. The expiration date is printed on the front. Georgia also expects your doctor to review your certification every year, so plan a short follow-up visit annually.
If you move, change your name, or lose your card, contact the Georgia Medical Cannabis Program at (770) 909-2765, Monday to Friday, 8 AM to 4:30 PM.
Visiting from another state
Georgia doesn't have full reciprocity with other states. A card from another state may be recognized if you've been in Georgia for less than 45 days and your card allows what Georgia law allows. If you're moving to Georgia, you'll need a Georgia card.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get my Georgia card online?
Mostly, yes. With MJCard your application and doctor's visit happen online, and the state emails you to pay the card fee. The card itself arrives by mail.
How long does it take?
Often the doctor's visit is the same day. After that, it depends on how quickly DPH checks your details and you pay the state fee. Your card ships within about 10 business days of payment.
What if the doctor can't certify me?
If the doctor can't certify you at your visit, MJCard refunds your payment in full.
Can a caregiver get a card?
Yes. A parent, guardian or legal custodian of a patient under 18, or an adult the patient chooses, can apply for a caregiver card. Each card costs $30.
Ready to start?
Getting a Georgia medical card comes down to three things: a qualifying condition, a visit with a Georgia doctor, and the state's $30 fee. Start your application and a Georgia-licensed doctor can see you by video, often today.
This guide is general information, not legal or medical advice. Georgia's rules can change; check the Department of Public Health for the latest.