Elevated Health MD

Frequently asked questions

Everything patients ask us about getting and using a Georgia Medical Cannabis Card, updated for SB 220. If your question is not here, our team answers the phone.

Georgia’s program changed on July 1, 2026. The card many people know as a Georgia medical marijuana card or Low THC Oil card is now the Medical Cannabis Card, the 5% THC cap is gone, vaporization is legal for patients 21 and older, and independent pharmacies can now dispense. The answers below reflect the new law.

SB 220

The new law, in plain terms

What changed on July 1, 2026, and what it means for what you can buy, hold, and use.

Is a medical cannabis card the same as a medical marijuana card?

In Georgia, yes. What most people search for as a Georgia medical marijuana card, MMJ card, or Low THC Oil card is officially the Georgia Medical Cannabis Card as of July 1, 2026. Same registry, same Department of Public Health, new name and broader rules under SB 220. If you had an unexpired card under the old name, it is still valid.

My old Low THC Oil card has not expired. Is it still valid?

Yes. The program was renamed, not restarted. Any unexpired Low THC Oil Registry card remains valid until its printed expiration date, and law enforcement should continue to recognize it. Replacement and newly issued cards carry the updated Medical Cannabis program name.

How much medical cannabis can I legally possess?

Registered patients and their caregivers may possess products containing up to 12,000 milligrams of total THC, with no single package exceeding 1,200 milligrams. The old 20 fluid ounce volume limit and the 5% potency cap no longer apply. Products should stay in their labeled pharmaceutical packaging.

What products can I buy with my card?

Licensed dispensaries and pharmacies can sell oils, tinctures, capsules, lotions, transdermal patches, ingestibles, and vaporizer products, including flower intended for vaporization for patients 21 and older. Candy and cookie products remain prohibited under state rules, and product selection at any given location may still be catching up to the law, so call ahead if you are looking for a specific form.

Can I vape now?

Yes, if you are a registered patient 21 or older. As of July 1, 2026, licensed production facilities may manufacture vaporizer products, including flower for vaporization and concentrate devices, sold through licensed dispensaries and pharmacies. Smoking or otherwise burning cannabis remains illegal, and public use is prohibited.

What if I prefer to smoke cannabis?

Smoking remains illegal in Georgia regardless of your card status. What changed under SB 220 is that vaporization is now legal for registered patients 21 and older, including flower products intended for vaporization, which is the closest legal option. Combustion of any kind, in any product, is still prohibited.

Can I grow my own cannabis with a medical card?

No. Home cultivation remains illegal in Georgia regardless of your registry status. Your card allows you to purchase from licensed dispensaries and pharmacies only.

Eligibility and process

Getting your card

Who qualifies, what you need, and how the telehealth process works from intake to certification.

How do I get a medical cannabis card in Georgia?

A physician who is fully licensed in Georgia, with a principal practice location in the state, must certify that you have a qualifying condition. That certification is the only legal route into the registry. Once your physician enters your information into the Georgia Medical Cannabis Patient Registry, the Department of Public Health verifies it and emails you a link to pay for your card.

Elevated Health MD handles the evaluation and the records work on both ends of that process.

How do I sign up with Elevated Health MD?

Start with the short intake form at Get Started. Our team reviews your condition and history, confirms whether you look eligible, and schedules your telehealth visit. If the physician certifies you, we file everything with DPH electronically and tell you what to expect next.

Can I do the whole process online?

Yes. The evaluation is a telehealth visit by phone or video, usually 10 to 15 minutes, and your certification is filed electronically. The only offline step is receiving your card, which DPH ships by UPS with a signature required.

What are the qualifying conditions?

Georgia law lists 18 qualifying conditions, including any cancer except non-metastatic skin cancer, ALS, Alzheimer’s disease, autism spectrum disorder, epidermolysis bullosa, stage III HIV, hospice care, inflammatory bowel disease, intractable pain, lupus, mitochondrial disease, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, severe peripheral neuropathy, PTSD, seizure disorders, sickle cell disease, and Tourette’s syndrome. See the full details on our Do You Qualify page.

Can I get a card for anxiety or depression?

Not on their own. Anxiety and depression are not on Georgia’s list of 18 qualifying conditions. You may still qualify if they occur alongside a condition that is on the list, most commonly PTSD, which qualifies patients 18 and older after direct exposure to or witnessing of trauma. Our pre-qualification review tells you where you stand before you pay for a visit.

What documents do I need?

A current, unexpired Georgia driver’s license or state ID showing your Georgia address is the simplest option. A U.S. passport, military ID, or out-of-state license can work, but you will need a second document proving Georgia residency, such as a utility bill, phone bill, medical bill, or pay stub showing your full name and street address. Send us what you have and we will tell you what is missing before anything goes to the state.

Which healthcare providers can certify me?

Any physician who is fully licensed in Georgia with a principal practice location in the state. Nurse practitioners and out-of-state doctors cannot certify Georgia patients. Elevated Health MD connects you with a Georgia-licensed physician by telehealth, or you can ask your own physician if they participate in the registry.

Can I get a card if I have a felony conviction?

Yes. Georgia law does not bar patients with felony convictions from registering. If you have a qualifying condition and a physician certifies you, you can get a card.

Can the physician decline to certify me?

Yes. Certification is always the physician’s medical decision, based on your condition, history, and whether medical cannabis may be an appropriate part of your care. No legitimate provider can promise approval. What we can do is review your records before you book so you are not paying for a visit that is unlikely to succeed, and if you complete a visit and are not approved, our money-back guarantee applies.

Fees and logistics

Costs, timing, and renewals

What you pay, when the card arrives, and how five-year renewals and replacements work.

What does it cost?

Our evaluation and card service is $149, which covers the pre-qualification review, the telehealth visit with a Georgia-licensed physician, and the records filing, and we run promotions regularly. The state charges separately for the card itself: $30 plus a $3.75 portal service fee, $33.75 total, paid to DPH after your certification is verified. Insurance does not cover either fee.

How long does it take to get the card?

Allow up to 10 business days from the time your state payment is processed. Cards ship by UPS and require a signature, so someone needs to be there to receive it. After three failed delivery attempts the card returns to DPH and has to be reshipped. If you use a P.O. Box or do not have a secure home address, DPH ships the card to the health department nearest you for pickup.

How long is my card valid, and how do I renew?

Five years, with the expiration date printed on the front. Renewal requires a new physician visit, which we handle by telehealth at a discounted rate for returning patients, and we send reminders before your expiration date so it does not sneak up on you.

What if I lose my card?

Contact the DPH Medical Cannabis Unit to request a replacement. There is a replacement fee of $33.75, and DPH processes and ships replacement cards within a few business days. Keep a photo of your card on your phone as a backup, since proving your registration is much easier with a copy in hand.

What if I need to add a caregiver after getting my card?

Submit a new application through our site and the state will issue an updated card. The caregiver applies for their own registry card as well, and state fees apply to the new application.

What if I am not approved?

Elevated Health MD maintains a 99% approval rating, largely because we pre-qualify before booking. If you complete your visit and are not approved, our 100% money-back guarantee applies and we refund your payment.

Day to day

Using your card

Where your card works, where it does not, and how to stay on the right side of the rules.

Where can I purchase medical cannabis?

At dispensaries licensed by the Georgia Access to Medical Cannabis Commission and at independent pharmacies licensed by the Georgia Board of Pharmacy, a new option under SB 220. Bring your registry card and a valid government ID. Our dispensary partners page lists locations that work with our patients, with perks and discounts at participating locations.

What are the benefits of having the card?

Legal purchase and possession of medical cannabis products within state limits, legal protection for carrying properly packaged products, access to both licensed dispensaries and pharmacies, and, through Elevated Health MD, partner perks and discounts. Without a card, possession of these same products is a crime in Georgia.

Is my Georgia card valid in other states?

It depends entirely on the destination state. Some states recognize out-of-state medical cards, many do not, and rules change often, so check the destination state’s program before you travel. Also be aware that transporting cannabis products across state lines is prohibited under federal law even between two states with medical programs.

I am visiting Georgia with a card from another state. Does it count?

It may. Georgia law can recognize a valid out-of-state registry card that allows the same possession as Georgia law, for visitors who have been in the state fewer than 45 days. There is no blanket reciprocity, so recognition depends on how your home state’s card compares. If you are staying longer or have moved here, you will need to register in Georgia through a Georgia-licensed physician.

Will having a card affect my employment?

The card does not change your employer’s rights. Georgia employers may still enforce drug-free workplace policies, require testing, and act on results, and SB 220 did not add employment protections for cardholders. If your work involves federal contracts, DOT-regulated driving, or safety-sensitive roles, assume zero tolerance applies.

Does having a card affect gun rights?

This is a federal question, not a Georgia one, and it is genuinely unsettled. The federal firearms purchase form asks about cannabis use, and federal law has long treated users of controlled substances as prohibited purchasers even with a state card. The April 2026 federal rescheduling has not clearly resolved how this applies to registered patients. If firearm ownership matters to you, talk to an attorney before registering rather than relying on anyone’s summary, including ours.

What happens if I am stopped without my card on hand?

You would need to prove your registration, which is much harder without the physical card. Keep products in their original labeled packaging, carry the card whenever you carry products, and keep a photo of the card on your phone as a backup. If the card is lost, request a replacement from DPH promptly. If you are cited before you can prove your status, providing proof afterward can support getting charges dropped, and an attorney can help with that process.

Is my cardholder information confidential?

Your medical records with our physicians are protected health information under HIPAA. The state registry is maintained by DPH for verification purposes and is not a public database. Your employer, landlord, or neighbors cannot look you up in it.

Can a caregiver hold a card on behalf of a patient?

Yes. A parent, legal guardian, or designated caregiver who is a Georgia resident 18 or older can register on behalf of a qualifying patient, including minors. The caregiver applies for their own registry card, pays the same state fee, and must document the caregiver relationship.

  • Georgia-licensed physicians
  • Filed electronically with Georgia DPH
  • Telehealth visits from home

Still have questions?

Ask us directly, or find out if you qualify today.

The pre-qualification review is free to start, and the telehealth visit takes about fifteen minutes from your own living room.

Medical disclaimer. Elevated Health MD provides telehealth evaluations and electronic records processing. Certification is a medical decision made by a licensed physician based on your individual condition and history. No outcome is promised, and physicians are not required to certify any patient. This page is general information, not medical advice.

Legal note. Elevated Health MD does not sell, dispense, distribute, or deliver cannabis products of any kind. Information here reflects Georgia law as of July 1, 2026, including Senate Bill 220, and guidance published by the Georgia Department of Public Health and the Georgia Access to Medical Cannabis Commission. Marijuana remains a controlled substance under federal law; the April 2026 federal rescheduling of state-licensed medical cannabis to Schedule III does not legalize possession outside a state program. Verify current requirements with the Georgia Department of Public Health or a licensed Georgia attorney.