Medical Marijuana Card Renewal Rules by State

Missing a renewal can mean a new certification, a new fee and a gap in access. The rules differ more than most patients expect. Florida opens renewal 45 days before expiry and tells you not to apply earlier. New Jersey opens it 60 days before. Ohio needs a physician visit every year. This guide lists what each state's own pages say.

Renewal Rules by State


Ohio	1 year	Physician visit each year	Not stated. A card that is not renewed expires automatically.
Virginia	Certification up to 1 year	Practitioner certification	Not stated.
Pennsylvania	Certification up to 1 year	Annual payment	Email 30 days before the payment is due. Certification expires if unpaid within 60 days.
Florida	1 year	Annual renewal application	Opens 45 days before expiry. Do not submit earlier.
New Jersey	2 years	Renewal with a recent photo	Opens up to 60 days before expiry.
New York	Not stated	Provider certification	The pages we read did not state a renewal period.
Georgia	Certification is annual	Physician certification	The page did not state the card's own expiration.
Michigan	2 years	Physician recertification	A 2019 release says the renewal period is 90 days. Online renewal has conditions.
Illinois	1, 2 or 3 years	Choose a term and pay its fee	A 2021 report describes lifelong certifications.
Oklahoma	2 years for adults	Reapply with the Authority	The Authority's page did not state a renewal window or fee.
Arkansas	1 year	Annual renewal	Sources differ on timing. Caregivers renew separately.
Colorado	1 year	Annual renewal	A physician can set a shorter term of 60 days to one year.
Missouri	3 years	Renew through the registry portal	Submit 60 days before expiry and at least 30 days before.
Massachusetts	Not stated	Free renewal with an active certification	No fee to renew.
Arizona	Not stated	Same fee as a new application	The card term was not stated in our sources.
Louisiana	Recommendation up to 12 months	A new clinician recommendation	Must carry an expiration within 12 months.
New Mexico	Not found	Not found	We could not find renewal details.
California	Set by each county	County process	Not applicable at the state level.
North Carolina	No program	Not applicable	No card to renew.

Patterns Worth Knowing

Annual physician contact is the norm. Ohio requires a physician visit at least once a year, Michigan requires recertification at renewal, and Georgia describes certification as annual.
Two states use longer cards. New Jersey cards last two years, and Michigan cards last two years. Illinois lets patients choose one, two or three years.
Timing windows are specific in two places. Florida allows renewal beginning 45 days before the card expires, and New Jersey reminders go out 60 days before expiry.
Pennsylvania ties the card to a payment. The state emails you 30 days before the annual payment is due, and a certification expires if you do not pay within 60 days of submission.

Estimate Your Own Date

Each state guide has a renewal date finder that estimates your expiry from your approval date: Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Virginia. The tools use the terms in the table above and say when a state gives no renewal window.

What Renewal Costs

Fees usually repeat at renewal. Our card cost comparison lists each state's fee, and the state guides show a planner that adds up several years.

States Without a Card to Renew

North Carolina has no medical program. California leaves the optional medical card to counties, so check your county's renewal rules. New York registers patients when a provider certifies them and the pages we read did not state a renewal period.

Frequently Asked Questions

How early can I renew my Florida medical marijuana card?

Renewal applications may be submitted starting 45 days before the card expires. The state says not to submit earlier.

How long does a New Jersey medicinal cannabis card last?

Two years. Renewal reminders go out 60 days before it expires, and your renewal photo needs to be recent.

Do I need to see a doctor to renew in Michigan?

Yes. Renewal requires recertification by a physician, and online renewal needs a medical evaluation within the last six months.

What happens if my Pennsylvania card payment is late?

A certification expires if payment is not made within 60 days of submission.

Read the State Guides

Last verified November 13, 2026. Fees and rules change, and each state guide links its sources. Educational only, not medical or legal advice.