+ Medical Marijuana CardWE EXPLAIN IT
STEP BY STEP

AMCC PATIENT INFORMATION

+ Medical Marijuana CardWE EXPLAIN IT
STEP BY STEP

AMCC PATIENT INFORMATION

How Do You Get an Alabama Medical Marijuana Card?

Facts on this page were checked against official sources, including the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission and Code of Alabama Title 20, Chapter 2A, by the Dr. Green Relief editorial team. Last reviewed October 29, 2026.

Hand holding a card with a cannabis leaf

Alabama rules from AMCC sources

Alabama Medical Marijuana Card Rules at a Glance
Here is what Alabama law requires.

An Alabama medical cannabis card starts with a certification, and only physicians registered with the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission (AMCC) can certify you. Alabama residents 19 and older with a qualifying condition can apply. Alabama does not allow telemedicine for certification, so the visit is in person. AMCC charges $40 a year for a virtual card or $50 a year for a physical one.

Start with the AMCC patients page: it posts the current list of registered certifying physicians and each dispensary opening.

Alabama medical cannabis card facts (checked October 29, 2026)
Registry and card issuer	Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission (AMCC), Alabama Medical Cannabis Patient Registry System
Who can apply	Alabama residents 19 or older; a patient under 19 needs a registered caregiver
Certifying physician	Holds an Alabama Medical Cannabis Certification Permit from the Board of Medical Examiners and is registered with the AMCC
Card term	1 year; the physician certification lasts up to 90 days, or 30 days for a patient who can become pregnant
Limits	Up to 70 daily dosages in possession and 60 daily dosages per 60-day purchase period
Sources	AMCC patients page; Compassion Act, Code of Ala. Title 20 Chapter 2A; AMCC patient rules (538-X-2-.05(7) card term, .05(9) renewal); ALBME medical cannabis; AMCC fee schedule (538-X-1, Appendix A); AMCC portal instructions for patients; Board of Medical Examiners rule 540-X-25-.10; AMCC dispensary rule 538-X-8-.02(5); AMCC 2025 annual report

To hear about changes to Alabama’s program, sign up for Dr. Green Relief updates with the form below. A registered physician must examine you in person, in the same room, before certifying you. At that visit the physician must also take your full medical history before deciding whether to certify you. If you are certified, you complete your own registration on the AMCC patient portal. When you register, you choose either a virtual card or a physical card.

Alabama passed its medical cannabis law in 2021, and its first dispensary opened on June 4, 2026. The AMCC registers patients and announced openings in Talladega on August 28, 2026 and Athens on September 14, 2026.

Alabamians can also sign up below for updates on Alabama’s medical cannabis program.

Doctor writing notes beside medical marijuana bottles

An Alabama Medical Marijuana Card starts with a certification

See an AMCC-registered Alabama physician in person to receive your initial doctor’s certification.

After you have been certified for the use of medical cannabis, you enroll in the Alabama Medical Cannabis Patient Registry to obtain your state-issued medical card. Once that is complete you will be able to legally use approved medical cannabis products. A certification is not a prescription under Alabama law.

IN-PERSON EXAM
BY AN ALABAMA PHYSICIAN

To obtain your Alabama Medical Marijuana Card, a registered certifying physician must first examine you in person, in Alabama, and certify you for medical cannabis. Alabama does not issue medical cannabis cards to non-residents, even visitors who hold another state’s card.

Laptop icon with a medical cross and a person

ALABAMA MARIJUANA CARD
REGISTRY APPLICATION

After being recommended by a registered certifying physician, the next step is to enroll in the Alabama Medical Cannabis Patient Registry. You and the physician each do one part. The physician starts your record, and you must finish it within 60 days or it goes stale.

RECEIVE ALABAMA
MARIJUANA CARD

Patients 19 or older holding a valid Alabama Medical Marijuana Card, and registered caregivers, can legally buy medical marijuana at licensed dispensaries, and those patients may also possess and use approved products in Alabama; a patient under 19 may use them, but only their registered caregiver may buy or possess them. No cardholder may grow cannabis. Learn more about the benefits of having a medical card in Alabama, where recreational use is illegal.

Cannabis buds and medicine jars on a table

Qualifying Medical Conditions

AIDS / HIV
Seizures
Cancer
Chronic Pain
Crohn’s Disease
Nausea
Cachexia
PTSD
Spasticity

And More: 16 Conditions Qualify For Medical Cannabis In Alabama.
Alabama Law Requires An In-Person Certification Visit

Alabama Marijuana Doctors:
What The Law Requires

Alabama Law Requires An In-Person Certification Visit

FAQS

Requirements

Residency & Age Requirements

You must be a resident of Alabama. Patients must be 19 or older, or under 19 with a registered caregiver.

Alabama Medical Card
Qualifying Conditions

According to Alabama law, medical cannabis can be certified for 16 qualifying conditions, after conventional treatment has failed unless cannabis is the standard of care. These include:

Spasticity from a motor neuron disease, including ALS
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
Cancer-related cachexia, nausea or vomiting, weight loss, or chronic pain
Chronic or intractable pain where conventional therapy and opiates are contraindicated or ineffective
Crohn’s Disease
Depression
Epilepsy or a condition causing seizures
HIV/AIDS-related nausea or weight loss
Spasticity from multiple sclerosis or a spinal cord injury
Panic disorder
Parkinson’s disease
Persistent nausea (excluding nausea related to pregnancy, cannabis-induced cyclical vomiting syndrome, or cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome)
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Sickle Cell Anemia
Terminal illness
Tourette’s Syndrome

Providing medical documentation

If you have medical documentation of a qualifying condition (such as medical records, prescription bottles, a summary of your office visit, or a doctor’s letter confirming your diagnosis), you’re ready for a certification exam with a registered Alabama physician.

If you don’t have medical documentation of a qualifying condition, a registered certifying physician may diagnose it at the in-person visit, as Alabama law allows, but only if the condition is within that physician’s usual practice or specialty.

General

When will medical
cannabis products be available?

Medical cannabis products have been available in Alabama since the first dispensary opened in Montgomery on June 4, 2026. Check the AMCC patients page for new dispensary openings.

I have a qualifying condition.
Does it make me automatically qualified for the Alabama Medical Marijuana Card Program?

No, a qualifying condition alone is not enough. A registered certifying physician in Alabama must certify you, and Alabama law requires records showing conventional treatment failed unless cannabis is the standard of care.

Where do I find an Alabama
Medical Marijuana Doctor?

The AMCC publishes a list of registered certifying physicians, each approved by the Alabama Board of Medical Examiners. Choose one you can visit in person, because Alabama does not allow telemedicine for certification.

Can veterans become legal medical
marijuana patients in Alabama?

Yes. Veterans who are Alabama residents with a qualifying condition register like any other patient, after an in-person certification.

What are the restrictions for
a medical marijuana cardholder?

Alabama cardholders may buy only from licensed dispensaries (a registered caregiver buys for a patient under 19), must stay within the state’s dosage limits and may not drive while impaired. Purchases happen only inside an AMCC-licensed dispensing site, and you show your card on entry. Plus, marijuana remains a federally controlled substance, and an Alabama card is state permission only, not federal permission. This means that cardholders need to be careful about where they use their medicine and how they transport it. Purchases are capped at 60 daily dosages per 60 days, and possession at 70 daily dosages. Additionally, AMCC rules require cardholders to carry their card whenever they have medical cannabis with them and to keep it in the dispensary package or a dispensary-provided container until it is used.

Can I grow my own medical marijuana
if I have obtained my ID card?

Patients and caregivers are not allowed to cultivate cannabis in Alabama.

Doctor’s Certification

Can any doctor issue a certification?

No, not just any doctor can certify you. In Alabama, only physicians who hold an Alabama Medical Cannabis Certification Permit from the Board of Medical Examiners and are registered with the AMCC may certify patients, and a certification is not a prescription. The AMCC lists those physicians on its patients page. Before your first certification, the physician must obtain a drug screen. A positive result for an illicit drug, or for a controlled substance you have no prescription for, bars certification. A positive result for cannabis does not. If you can become pregnant, you need a negative pregnancy test before every certification and recertification. Both requirements come from Board of Medical Examiners rule 540-X-25-.10.

Marijuana ID Card

How to Obtain A Medical
Marijuana Card in Alabama?

An Alabama resident with a qualifying medical condition who is certified by an AMCC-registered physician can qualify for a medical marijuana card. The process to obtain a medical marijuana card in Alabama runs through a registered physician and the AMCC portal. First, the patient must be at least 19 years of age and a resident of the state. For minors with qualifying conditions, their caregiver must also register with the AMCC. Next, book an in-person visit with a physician on the AMCC registered list and bring records that show your diagnosis and the treatments you have tried. The physician decides whether you have a qualifying condition. If you qualify, the physician enters your certification in the AMCC patient registry. Finally, go to the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission website and complete your registration. Have your photo ID ready; the certification is already on file. Once approved, you get a digital card, or a physical card for $10 more a year.

How long is an Alabama medical cannabis card valid?

An Alabama medical cannabis card is valid for one year from the date it is issued, and it must be renewed every year. Your physician certification is shorter: up to 90 days, or 30 days for a patient who can become pregnant. Keep both current to keep buying.

When should I renew the certification?

Your physician certification lasts up to 90 days, so you see your registered physician again in person to recertify. Your card renews yearly, and the AMCC patient rules say the renewal, fees and documents must be submitted “not less than 14 calendar days before the expiration date.”

Is it optional to have
a cannabis ID card?

A medical cannabis card is required. Only registered patients and caregivers with a valid Alabama card may enter a dispensary, and each purchase is checked against the patient registry. Without a valid card you cannot buy legal medical cannabis products.

What is the fee for
this identification card?

The AMCC patient registration fee is $40 for a virtual card or $50 for a physical card, and the same fee applies at each yearly renewal. This does not include the cost of the physician’s evaluation, which is required for participation in the program.

Is it okay to use medical
cannabis while waiting for
my Alabama Marijuana Card?

No. Alabama’s legal protection for medical use covers only registered patients and caregivers who hold a valid medical cannabis card, and growing cannabis is not allowed. Licensed dispensaries are open, and only registered cardholders may buy, though a patient under 19 may not: a registered caregiver buys for them.

I lost my Alabama Medical
Marijuana Card. What should I do?

If you lose your Alabama medical cannabis card, notify the AMCC within 10 days. The Commission cancels the old card and issues a new one with a new registry number for a $25 physical or $20 virtual replacement fee.

What’s the process of renewal?

Under the AMCC patient rules, the Commission notifies Alabama medical marijuana patients 45 calendar days before their cards expire, and renewal submissions, fees and documentation “must be submitted not less than 14 calendar days before the expiration date.” A patient’s medical cannabis card will expire automatically if they do not renew their registration.

How far in advance should I renew?

The AMCC patient rules say renewal submissions, fees and documentation must be submitted “not less than 14 calendar days before the expiration date” on your card. To work out the latest day the rule allows, count back 14 calendar days from that expiration date. The AMCC portal instructions for patients give a later date, “on or before the card expiration date,” for completing the renewal, so if your date is close, ask the AMCC at [email protected]. The medical cannabis card will automatically expire if a patient’s registration is not renewed.

What kind of life change should
I report to the Commission?

You must report changes in the information you gave the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission. Commission rules give you 72 hours after you learn of a change, such as a new home address, to report it. Other changes that you’ll need to report include changes in your phone number, email address, and any other contact information. Reporting on time keeps your registry record accurate, and failing to report a change within 72 hours is a ground for Commission sanctions.

If I obtained my Alabama
Medical Marijuana Card,
who would know about it?

Your registry record is confidential under Alabama law and may not be sold, but licensed prescribers, pharmacists, dispensaries and the Alabama Board of Medical Examiners can access it. Police may check it only on probable cause or reasonable suspicion of a drug law or DUI violation, and only to confirm your card is valid and that what you carry fits your daily dosage limit and product type.

Registry Application

Why should I apply for and
obtain a medical marijuana card?

For patients whose conventional treatment has not worked, Alabama law lets a registered physician consider medical cannabis. A valid Alabama card protects registered patients 19 or older, and registered caregivers, from state arrest for possessing up to 70 daily dosages. It also gives you access to lab-tested products in approved forms such as tablets, tinctures and topicals.

What are the state fees for the
Alabama Medical Marijuana Card?

Alabama’s state fees are $40 a year for a virtual card or $50 for a physical card, $20 or $25 to replace a lost card, and the same fees for a caregiver card for each patient. The physician’s visit fee is separate. Alabama has no fee waivers: as of October 29, 2026, the AMCC fee schedule sets the same fees for every patient, with no reduction for veterans, Medicaid or low income.

What are possible reasons for
a denied ID card application?

The AMCC can deny or refuse a card for several reasons. For example, an applicant without a qualifying condition cannot get a card. An inaccurate or incomplete registration is marked deficient, and false or misleading information is a ground for the AMCC to refuse a card. Additionally, a patient under 19 can register only with a registered caregiver. Your registration also goes stale if you do not finish it on the AMCC portal within 60 days of your physician’s certification.

What should I do if
my application is denied?

If the AMCC denies your application, start in your AMCC patient portal, where your registration status appears. Then take these steps.

First, make sure you understand why your application was denied. If the AMCC marked your registration deficient, for example for a missing document, correct it within 60 days of submitting it; after that the registration goes stale, its fees are forfeited and you must reapply. However, if your application was denied because you don’t meet the eligibility requirements, then you’ll need to explore other options. If you believe the AMCC denied you in error, contact the Commission at [email protected] to ask why and what you can do next.

Can a minor apply for the Alabama
Medical Marijuana Card Program?

No, a minor cannot apply for the Alabama Medical Marijuana Card Program. Today, the minor’s caregiver registers through the AMCC portal.

Products recommended for a minor may not exceed 3 percent THC. So, while a minor will not be able to directly apply for the Alabama Medical Marijuana Card Program, their registered caregiver can do so on their behalf.

How long does
the card application take?

The AMCC does not publish a processing time. Your registration must be completed within 60 days after the physician starts it, or it becomes stale.

Is it possible to
expedite the application?

The AMCC publishes no expedited option. Your physician enters the certification at the visit, and you then complete registration and payment online.

What is the required
paperwork to apply for the
medical cannabis ID card?

You need an unexpired Alabama driver’s license or ID card, or other approved proof of identity and residency, plus a color photo taken within the last 30 days and the certification your registered physician enters in the AMCC registry.

How would I know that
my application has been approved?

Your registration status appears in your AMCC patient portal account, where a virtual card is also available once approved.

State Program

What types of medical
cannabis products are
approved for use in Alabama?

The following products are allowed:

Products That Are Not Allowed:

Raw plant material, including marijuana flower
Smoking and vaping products
Candies, cookies, or other food products

How can I participate in the program?

To qualify for Alabama’s medical cannabis program, patients must be Alabama residents 19 or older (or have a registered caregiver), hold valid ID, and be certified in person by an AMCC-registered physician. Products are sold at privately owned, state-licensed dispensaries, which began opening in 2026.

Is medical cannabis program
participation publicly known?

No. Alabama law keeps your registry information confidential, apart from the access the Compassion Act allows, and bars its sale.

Will there be more
qualifying conditions to
be added to the program?

Alabama’s 16 qualifying conditions are written into the Compassion Act (Code of Ala. 20-2A-3), and the statute as updated in November 2024 still lists the same 16.

Caregivers

Who can be a legal
representative or caregiver?

A patient 19 or older may name a parent, legal guardian, grandparent, spouse or health care power of attorney as caregiver. A patient under 19 must have a registered caregiver (under the statute a parent or legal guardian; the AMCC rule also allows a grandparent, spouse or health care power of attorney). Caregivers must be Alabama residents, 21 or older unless they are the patient’s parent or legal guardian, hold a caregiver card, and pay a fee for each patient.

Can a legal representative
purchase medical cannabis?

Only if that person is a registered caregiver. That person must meet the Alabama caregiver rules in the answer above: residency, age, a listed relationship to the patient and a caregiver card. A registered caregiver may buy and possess medical cannabis for the patient within the limits of 60 daily dosages per 60-day purchase period and 70 daily dosages in possession, but may not use it unless also a registered patient.

Laws

Is Medical Marijuana
Legal in Alabama?

Yes. Medical cannabis is legal in Alabama for registered patients under the Darren Wesley ‘Ato’ Hall Compassion Act (Act 2021-450). A certification is not a prescription, and registered patients 19 or older and registered caregivers are protected only within the 70 daily dosage limit.

However, there are still some restrictions in place. For instance, smoking medical cannabis is not allowed, and patients are only able to consume certain types of products, such as oils, pills, and topical treatments. Within these limits, the law gives patients with qualifying conditions a legal path to medical cannabis in Alabama.

How is medical
cannabis legal in the state?

On May 17, 2021, Governor Kay Ivey signed the Compassion Act (Act 2021-450), which legalizes and regulates medical marijuana products. Medical cannabis sales under that law began in 2026, when the first licensed dispensary opened in Montgomery.

Can I use medical cannabis in
public once I have obtained
the Alabama Medical Marijuana Card?

Not everywhere. Alabama law bars medical cannabis at K-12 schools, child care facilities, correctional facilities and on federal property, and in a vehicle unless it is sealed in its original package and kept out of reach while the vehicle is moving. Smoking is never allowed.

Can I drive under the influence
of cannabis if I am in Alabama?

No. Patients under the influence of medical cannabis are prohibited from operating motor vehicles, watercraft, heavy machinery, or aircraft.

I have a medical marijuana card.
Am I now exempted
from federal prosecution?

No. Getting your medical marijuana card does not protect you from federal prosecution. The federal government has not decriminalized marijuana, so even if you are using it for medical purposes, you can still be charged with a crime. Alabama’s law protects registered patients 19 or older and registered caregivers from arrest and prosecution for possession under state law only, not federal law. Federal law still applies in Alabama, so a federal charge remains possible even for a cardholder. So if you are a registered patient 19 or older or a registered caregiver, a valid Alabama card shields you from state arrest for possession within the 70 daily dosage limit, but it gives no protection under federal law.

Should my employer know that I am
a participant in the Alabama
Medical Marijuana Card Program?

Alabama law gives cardholders no job protection: an employer may refuse to hire or may fire a worker for medical cannabis use. Some employers may ask employees whether they take part in the program. Before you tell your employer that you are a medical cannabis patient, check these points. First, read your employer’s drug policy, because Alabama law does not require an employer to accommodate medical cannabis use. Second, you should consider whether or not disclosing your participation in the program could jeopardize your employment. If you believe an employer acted unlawfully, an Alabama employment attorney can tell you whether any law other than the Compassion Act applies.

Can I get fired for being a medical
marijuana patient in Alabama?

Yes, Alabama law allows it. Employers in Alabama need not accommodate medical cannabis use. Being a registered patient is lawful in Alabama, yet the Act gives patients no state protection in employment. Alabama law lets employers refuse to hire or fire workers for medical cannabis use, so check your employer’s policy first. Alabama keeps registry records confidential, but that confidentiality gives you no job protection.

Dispensaries

Are there dispensaries in Alabama?

Yes. Alabama’s first medical cannabis dispensary opened in Montgomery on June 4, 2026, and the AMCC listed openings in Talladega on August 28 and Athens on September 14, 2026. Licensed dispensing sites are planned in nine cities.

Where do I purchase medical
marijuana once I have my MMJ card?

You buy at AMCC-licensed dispensing sites. The AMCC patients page lists each opening, and you show your Alabama medical cannabis card at the door. A licensed dispensary may not deliver medical cannabis to anyone, patients included, under the AMCC dispensary rules.

Can anyone purchase
medical cannabis in the state?

No. Only registered patients 19 or older and registered caregivers with a valid Alabama card may buy. Caregivers must be 21 or older unless they are the patient’s parent or legal guardian, and patients under 19 must have a registered caregiver.

How much medical marijuana
can I purchase at once?

In Alabama, patients 19 or older and registered caregivers may buy up to 60 daily dosages per 60-day period and may possess no more than 70 daily dosages at any time. Each daily dosage is set by your physician, up to 50 mg of delta-9 THC, or up to 75 mg after 90 days of continuous care if your physician finds it medically appropriate, with more only for a terminal illness. Under Alabama law, a patient recommended a daily dosage above 75 mg of delta-9 THC automatically has their driver’s license suspended, even with a valid medical cannabis card. Purchases are tracked in the patient registry.

Reciprocity

Can I use my Alabama medical
marijuana card in another state?

No. An Alabama card states that it is valid only in Alabama. Alabama also bars non-residents from getting or using an Alabama card, even if another state has certified them. It also honors no medical cannabis card issued by another state. Before you travel, check the rules of the state you are visiting. Each state decides which visiting patients it accepts, and outside Alabama that state’s law, not your Alabama card, decides what you may possess.