HOW TO APPLY FOR A COLORADO MEDICAL MARIJUANA CARDHOW TO APPLY FOR A COLORADO MEDICAL MARIJUANA CARD
Before you are able to shop at a Medical Marijuana store, you need to follow a few steps in order to obtain a Medical Marijuana Card.
***You must be at least 18 years-of-age, or have parental consent to apply for a card. You must also have a valid Colorado ID or Drivers License, or be able to prove residency with the proper documents. For more information on how to prove residency please visit this link “PROOF OF RESIDENCY WAIVER“.***
#1: You must see a Doctor who is registered with the State of Colorado and comfortable with recommending Medical Marijuana. They will determine if your medical condition fits the criteria for applying for a Medical Marijuana Card. If you meet the criteria the Doctor will write you a recommendation for a Medical Marijuana Card. The doctor can submit the recommendation online to the Colorado Department of Health and Environment (CDPHE), or give you a paper copy that you can mail into the CDPHE if you do not have access to the internet.
*For a list of Doctors in the Durango area please call us at, 970-385-8622
#2: Once you have obtained a Doctor recommendation, you must submit the recommendation, along with an application, to the Colorado Department of Health and Environment. This can be done one of two ways, Online or by Mail.
ONLINE: If you choose to to apply online then you can follow this link: https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdphe/medical-marijuana-registry-patients which will direct you to the CDPHE’s website. Click on “Apply or Renew” and then follow the directions for applying online; You will have to create an online account with the CDPHE where you can pay the application fee online with a debit or credit card. Applying online typically has a processing time of 3-4 days.
OR
BY MAIL: If you choose to apply by Mail, you MUST print out an application from the CDPHE’s website at: https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdphe/apply-by-mail and then follow the steps on the application. You can also stop by our shop and we will provide you with the application and proper paperwork in order to apply by mail. Typically mail in applications take 35 or more days to process. When mailing in your application you will need to make sure you include an enlarged copy of your Colorado ID, or proper documents proving your Colorado residency, a copy of your application, a copy of your doctor recommendation, and a check or money order for your application processing fee addressed to the CDPHE. Please mail your application via Certified Mail to:
CDPHE
HSV-8630
4300 Cherry Creek Drive South
Denver, CO 80246
#4: Once you have submitted your application to the CDPHE you have a 35 day temporary shopping window while your card is being processed. If you applied online the wait should only be 3-4 days, but if you applied by mail you will have to wait 35 or more days before you will receive your card in the mail. You may shop on your temporary card Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm, and you must provide your valid ID or Drivers License and proof of application in order to shop.
There are two ways to provide proof of application:
ONLINE: If you applied online, you can print out your doctor recommendation and application directly from your account. You will need to provide a paper copy of your application the first time you shop at any Medical Marijuana store, but after that you can use a smartphone to access your account and use your digital copies to shop with us. Remember to bring your valid ID or Drivers License with you each time!
OR
BY MAIL: If you applied by mail, you will need to bring your copies of your doctors recommendation and application, the Certified Mail receipt from the post office, and your valid ID or Drivers License to be able to shop. Be sure to bring along all of these documents each time you shop!
#5: Once your application is approved, the CDPHE will issue you a Medical Marijuana Card. You will need to either print off your card from your online account, or receive it by mail depending on what method you chose to submit your application through. Your Medical Marijuana Card will be valid for 1 year after approved. You will have to follow the same application process each year in order to renew your card.
Don’t hesitate to call us with any questions or concerns that you may have about the application process!
For more information you can visit the CDPHE’s website via these handy links:
MEDICAL MARIJUANA REGISTRY HOME PAGE– https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdphe/medicalmarijuana
FAQs ABOUT THE NEW ONLINE REGISTRATION SYSTEM– https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdphe/medical-marijuana-online-registration-system-frequently-asked-questions-faq
HOW TO CONTACT THE CDPHE– https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdphe/medical-marijuana-contacts