Several states and territories with medical marijuana programs offer protections or access to patients visiting from out of state.
While some allow visiting patients to purchase from licensed dispensaries, others offer only legal protection for possession. Below is a breakdown of which jurisdictions provide access, protection, or both—along with any requirements, limitations, or temporary registration steps needed.
Arizona
Recognition Type: Legal protection (possession) only
Limited reciprocity: Out-of-state cardholders are considered “visiting qualifying patients” and may possess medical cannabis if their condition is on Arizona’s approved list, but may not purchase from Arizona dispensaries.
(Note: Adult-use cannabis, including licensed sales, is legal in the state).
Arkansas
Recognition Type: Both – dispensary access and possession (with temp. visiting card)
Visiting patient registration required: Out-of-state patients must apply as a visiting patient (submit an intake form, $50 fee) and have a qualifying condition also approved in Arkansas. If approved, Arkansas issues a temporary 90-day medical card that allows purchases (up to 2.5 oz every 14 days) at state dispensaries.
Delaware
Recognition Type: Both – dispensary access and possession
Full reciprocity (new in 2024): Delaware now recognizes out-of-state medical marijuana certifications that meet similar requirements to its own. Visiting patients with a valid out-of-state ID card have the same rights as Delaware patients, meaning they can possess and purchase from DE compassion centers.
(Note: Adult-use cannabis sales have been legalized in Delaware, but currently only medical cannabis dispensaries are open.)
District of Columbia (D.C.)
Recognition Type: Both – dispensary access and possession
General reciprocity: D.C. accepts medical cannabis cards from most states with medical programs (35 out of 37 as of 2024). Out-of-state patients can buy from licensed dispensaries in D.C. (up to the possession limit of 1 ounce) by showing their home state card. (DC maintains a list of accepted states, subject to updates.)
Hawaii
Recognition Type: Both – dispensary access and possession (with temp. visiting card)
Temporary card required: Hawaii does not directly accept other states’ cards but allows visitors to apply online for a 329V temporary card before or upon arrival. The visiting card is valid for up to 60 days (max two 60-day terms per year) and enables purchases at Hawaii dispensaries. (Expedited processing is available for patients with severe or terminal conditions.)
Louisiana
Recognition Type: Both – dispensary access and possession
In-pharmacy process: Visiting patients may purchase medical cannabis from Louisiana’s licensed pharmacies. To do so, they must fill out a short form at the dispensing pharmacy and present a valid out-of-state medical marijuana ID card. Once verified, they enjoy the same purchase and possession limits as Louisiana patients. (LA began allowing out-of-state purchases as of Aug. 1, 2022.)
Maine
Recognition Type: Both – dispensary access and possession
Full reciprocity: Out-of-state medical patients can shop at Maine dispensaries by simply showing a valid medical cannabis registry card or equivalent documentation from their home state. No separate Maine registration is required. Maine’s program formerly required condition matching, but it now allows any visiting patient with proper documentation to purchase. Adult-use cannabis is also legal in Maine.
(Note: Adult-use cannabis, including licensed sales, is legal in the state).
Maryland
Recognition Type: Both – dispensary access and possession (limited scenario)
Limited reciprocity: Maryland does not recognize out-of-state cards in general. However, a non-resident receiving medical treatment in Maryland can register with the state to obtain medical cannabis during their stay. Outside of this medical-treatment exception, out-of-state cards aren’t honored, but note Maryland legalized adult-use in 2023, allowing 21+ visitors to purchase recreationally.
(Note: Adult-use cannabis, including licensed sales, is legal in the state).
Michigan
Recognition Type: Both – dispensary access and possession
Discretionary reciprocity: Michigan law permits dispensary sales to out-of-state medical cardholders, effectively granting visiting patients the same legal protections as in-state patients. However, dispensaries retain discretion – some may choose not to honor out-of-state cards. (In practice, this became less crucial after Michigan’s 21+ recreational market opened in 2019.)
(Note: Adult-use cannabis, including licensed sales, is legal in the state).
Mississippi
Recognition Type: Both – dispensary access and possession (planned)
Planned temporary card (not fully implemented): Mississippi’s 2022 medical law includes a provision for out-of-state patients to obtain a 15-day temporary medical cannabis card (renewable once for another 15 days). Visiting patients would need to apply through the state ($75 fee) and would have strict purchase limits. (As of mid-2025, Mississippi’s regulators were still finalizing this reciprocity process, so out-of-state cards are not yet usable there.)
Nevada
Recognition Type: Both – dispensary access and possession
Full reciprocity: Nevada accepts all valid out-of-state medical marijuana cards. A visiting patient with a qualifying card can possess and purchase up to Nevada’s legal limits as if they were a Nevada patient. (Nevada also has adult-use sales for 21+, but reciprocity allows medical visitors to benefit from higher possession limits and lower taxes.)
(Note: Adult-use cannabis, including licensed sales, is legal in the state).
New Hampshire
Recognition Type: Both – dispensary access and possession
General reciprocity (recent change): As of June 2023, New Hampshire’s reciprocity law took effect, allowing registered patients from other states (or Canada) to purchase at NH’s licensed Alternative Treatment Centers while visiting. Visitors must present a valid out-of-state medical card; purchases are limited to three visits per year (each subject to NH’s 2 oz per 10-day limit). (Previously, NH only allowed possession for out-of-state patients whose condition was on the NH-approved list.)
New Jersey
Recognition Type: Both – dispensary access and possession (with in-state certification)
Limited reciprocity: New Jersey law allows visiting medical patients to be treated as local patients for up to 6 months. In practice, an out-of-state cardholder must consult a NJ-licensed physician or telehealth provider to get a New Jersey recommendation, and show their home state card, to register in NJ’s program. Once certified in NJ, they can buy and possess up to 3 oz. (NJ also permits adult-use sales for 21+ visitors.)
(Note: Adult-use cannabis, including licensed sales, is legal in the state).
New Mexico
Recognition Type: Both – dispensary access and possession
General reciprocity: New Mexico recognizes out-of-state medical cards. A visiting patient (21 or older) can present a government ID and their medical card at a New Mexico dispensary and register as a “reciprocal patient” on the spot. The patient then has the same purchase/possession rights as NM patients (up to 2 oz flower, etc.). (Once the out-of-state card expires, a patient would need a New Mexico card to continue purchases. NM also legalized adult-use in 2021.)
(Note: Adult-use cannabis, including licensed sales, is legal in the state).
Oklahoma
Recognition Type: Both – dispensary access and possession (with temp. visiting card)
Temporary card required: Oklahoma offers 30-day “out-of-state patient” licenses to visiting patients. An out-of-state patient must apply to the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority (online form) and provide proof of their home state ID/card. Only state-issued cardholders qualify (a doctor’s note alone isn’t enough). Upon approval and payment ($100), the 30-day Oklahoma card allows purchases and possession under OK law, and can be renewed.
Pennsylvania
Recognition Type: Legal protection only (special case)
No general reciprocity: Pennsylvania does not accept out-of-state MMJ cards for dispensary purchases. However, for minors with serious conditions, PA’s “Safe Harbor” provision (Section 2106) allows parents/guardians to lawfully obtain medical cannabis from another state for their child. (This was a stopgap until PA’s own dispensaries opened. Adults visiting PA have no legal protections for out-of-state cards, and PA remains medical-only.)
Puerto Rico
Recognition Type: Both – dispensary access and possession
General reciprocity: Puerto Rico honors valid medical cannabis cards from any U.S. state or territory for visitors age 21+. Important caveat: the mainland card must include a photo, and by itself it cannot be used to purchase cannabis flower in PR. If a visitor’s card lacks a photo or they need to buy flower, they must obtain a 30-day temporary local certification through the PR Medicinal Cannabis Program. Other forms (e.g. oils, edibles) can be purchased with just the out-of-state card.
Rhode Island
Recognition Type: Both – dispensary access and possession
Full reciprocity: Rhode Island accepts out-of-state medical marijuana cards and treats visiting patients the same as locals. A visitor with a valid card and government ID can purchase from RI compassion centers (up to RI’s limit of 2.5 ounces) and possess/use medical cannabis legally. No additional registration is required.
South Dakota
Recognition Type: Both – dispensary access and possession (with visiting patient registration)
Visiting patient program: South Dakota’s program allows non-resident patients to enroll as visiting patients by showing proof of their home state medical card/ID and paying an annual $75 fee. Once enrolled, an out-of-state patient receives a SD temporary card and may purchase/possess medical cannabis under South Dakota’s rules (possession limit 3 oz). (SD’s reciprocity was established by the 2020 voter initiative.)
U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI)
Recognition Type: Both – dispensary access and possession (with temp. visiting card)
Temporary card required: The USVI’s medical cannabis law extends reciprocity to visitors, but tourists must apply for a temporary medical card to use/purchase while in the islands. (In practice, with USVI’s cannabis regulations evolving, officials have indicated visitors will need to register upon arrival to access dispensaries.) The temporary card gives the patient local legal protections and dispensary access for the duration of their stay. (USVI legalized adult use in 2023, but is still establishing its dispensary system.)
Utah
Recognition Type: Both – dispensary access and possession (with temp. visiting card)
Temporary card required: Utah permits visiting patients to apply for a non‑resident medical cannabis card if they have a condition that qualifies under Utah law. A non-resident card is valid for 21 days and can be obtained for up to two 21-day periods per calendar year. During that period, the visitor can purchase and possess cannabis within Utah’s limits (e.g. up to a 30-day supply). (After two renewals, further use requires obtaining a full Utah patient card.)
West Virginia
Recognition Type: Both – dispensary access and possession (extremely limited)
Limited reciprocity by agreement: West Virginia’s medical cannabis law only authorizes reciprocity for terminally ill cancer patients, and even then only if WV enters a formal agreement with the patient’s home state. In other words, an out-of-state patient with terminal cancer could be allowed to purchase and use medical cannabis in WV if their state and West Virginia have a reciprocity agreement. (As of 2025, no broad reciprocity exists in WV aside from this narrow provision.)
