Certification Process
- Get certified by a qualified healthcare provider:
- Must be a Minnesota-licensed physician, physician assistant (PA), or advanced practice registered nurse (APRN)
- Be a Minnesota resident
- Register online:
- Use the Medical Cannabis Registry
- Your healthcare provider will review your medical history and submit your name to the state for review
Finding a Medical Marijuana Healthcare Provider
- National “pain clinics”: Often the fastest way to get certified, but authenticity may be difficult to verify
- Local mental healthcare providers: Can manage medication and certify conditions
- Resources for finding providers:
- Green Goods Healthcare Provider Search
- RISE Medical Card Assistance Request Form
Approved Medical Conditions for Medical Cannabis
Veterans can use a separate certification form in lieu of a healthcare practitioner certification. Non-veterans can be certified for the following conditions:
- Alzheimer’s disease
- A progressive brain disorder that affects memory, thinking, and behavior.
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
- A neurological disease that causes muscle weakness and impacts physical function.
- Autism spectrum disorder (must meet DSM-5 criteria)
- A developmental disorder affecting communication and behavior.
- Cancer
- A disease in which abnormal cells divide uncontrollably and can invade nearby tissues.
- Chronic motor or vocal tic disorder
- A condition characterized by persistent motor or vocal tics.
- Chronic pain
- Pain that persists or recurs for more than 3 months.
- Glaucoma
- An eye condition that damages the optic nerve, often caused by abnormally high pressure in the eye.
- HIV/AIDS
- A viral infection that attacks the body’s immune system.
- Inflammatory bowel disease, including Crohn’s disease
- Chronic inflammation of the digestive tract.
- Intractable Pain
- Pain that is exceedingly difficult to manage or treat effectively.
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- A common disorder affecting the large intestine.
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder
- A mental health condition characterized by uncontrollable, recurring thoughts and behaviors.
- Obstructive Sleep Apnea
- A sleep disorder where breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep.
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- A mental health condition triggered by experiencing or witnessing a terrifying event.
- Seizures, including those characteristic of epilepsy
- Sudden, uncontrolled electrical disturbances in the brain.
- Severe and persistent muscle spasms, including those characteristic of multiple sclerosis (MS)
- Involuntary muscle contractions that can be associated with various neurological conditions.
- Sickle cell disease
- An inherited red blood cell disorder.
- Terminal illness, with a probable life expectancy of less than one year
- A disease that cannot be cured and is expected to result in death within a short period.
- Tourette syndrome
- A disorder characterized by repetitive, involuntary movements and vocalizations.