Medical marijuana is currently legal and regulated in 14 different states in the US. However, it is still illegal under federal law. Each state that has legalized medical marijuana has a different program for registration, and different procedures an guidelines for obtaining a medical marijuana prescription. Most of these states allow both patients and their caregivers to register for the program, provided certain guidelines are met. There are also restrictions placed on the amount of medical marijuana that each patient or caregiver can have or grow at any given time. These requirements vary according to the laws in each one of these states, but a limit of 6-12 plants per person is common for those who grow it.

Even in states where medical marijuana is legal, obtaining medical marijuana can still be extremely expensive compared to states that have not yet legalized any form of marijuana. In California, dispensaries exist in certain cities that distribute medical marijuana and also sell other delicacies such as marijuana tea and pot brownies. Although these dispensaries are rapidly increasing in popularity and currently only dispense to those who have a medical marijuana prescription, they are technically not legal in the state of California. Due to their popularity and the contributions that these shops make to the local economy, a number of city governments in the state have legalized the medical marijuana dispensaries.

The states were medical marijuana is legal and patients can obtain a [[medical marijuana prescription are:Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine,Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington. However, some counties of California do not participate in the program. Some of these states require a medical marijuana card and participants must register with the state. Other states have no official registry and only have guidelines limiting the amount of marijuana that someone can have in their possession at one time. All of these states require either a medical marijuana prescription or documentation of a medical condition that warrants the use of medical marijuana. It is important that you are aware of and familiar with the marijuana laws of your state, since the consequences for violation can result in legal action or criminal misconduct. Arizona is one state where marijuana laws may soon change. A proposition to allow the use of medical marijuana in this state is slated to appear on the November ballot for a vote by the people. This proposition would allow seriously ill patients to receive a prescription for marijuana and purchase it through local clinics. Patients who do not have access to the clinics would also be allowed to cultivate their own marijuana plants for medicinal purposes.

Regardless of the state that you are in, getting a medical marijuana prescription requires documented proof of a chronic physical condition that warrants the use of marijuana as treatment. There are a number of conditions that marijuana can be prescribed to treat, including chronic pain, glaucoma, cancer, epilepsy, HIV, AIDS, and Multiple Sclerosis. The medical condition has to be documented, and you also have to be able to prove that other treatments have failed to adequately treat the condition or have caused unbearable side effects.

As mentioned before, not every state that has legalized the use of medical marijuana has a medical marijuana registry. Currently, Maine is one of the states that does not have a registry nor does it require the use of a medical marijuana card, but this state still requires documentation of a medical condition that warrants the use of it. For those states that do have a registry or require a medical marijuana card, there are different procedures and requirements for each. Each of these states lists the specific state agency that is in charge of overseeing the medical marijuana program on their state government website. Here, you can also download the specific forms that need to be completed in order to legally obtain medical marijuana. Read the requirements and complete these forms carefully. Some states will also require that you send in a picture of yourself or a copy of your photo ID when registering.