Short answer
Cannabis delivery for medical patients is legal only where a state licenses both a medical cannabis program and a delivery license. Federal law lists cannabis as a Schedule I controlled substance, so a delivery that crosses a state line is a federal offense even with a valid card. Medicare, Medicaid, and TRICARE do not cover cannabis. Patients pay cash or debit at the door. More than 35 states and the District of Columbia run medical cannabis programs, and each one writes its own delivery rules.
Who can place an order
- A state medical card or a physician certification active on the order date.
- Age 18 or older in most states. A patient under 18 needs a registered caregiver.
- A caregiver card if the patient cannot order. Caregiver purchase limits differ from patient limits in several states.
- A government photo ID at the door. The driver checks it against the order and the state patient registry.
What delivery costs
Delivery fees run $0 to $25 in most markets. Order minimums run $30 to $75. Product prices carry state and local sales tax, and a few states exempt medical cannabis from sales tax. Most licensees do not accept credit cards because federal banking rules limit card processing for cannabis. Cash and debit work in most states. A smaller number of states allow ACH transfers.
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What the driver can and cannot do
A driver hands over sealed packages at the address on the order. Drivers cannot sell loose flower at the curb, accept returns on opened products, or deliver to a public space. Delivery hours match dispensary hours in some states and end earlier in others. Some states require a tracking device in the vehicle and a route log filed with the regulator. A few states ban delivery outright and allow only pickup at a licensed storefront.
Possession limits that apply at delivery
State possession limits cap a single order. Common caps are 1 ounce to 3 ounces of flower per patient. Concentrates and edibles carry separate caps, such as 10 mg of THC per serving. A second order on the same day can push a patient past the state limit and void the transaction. Check the state limit before ordering.
How to check a delivery license
- Find the licensee on the state cannabis regulator's public list.
- Confirm the license type covers delivery, not retail sales alone.
- Ask the dispatcher for the order total before the driver leaves.
- Ask what happens if an item is out of stock and what the substitution policy is.
- Keep the receipt. It lists the license number, the products, and the taxes paid.
Federal rules that do not change with state law
Cannabis remains Schedule I under the Controlled Substances Act. The FDA has not approved cannabis for any medical use. The Department of Veterans Affairs lets VA providers discuss cannabis with patients but bars VA providers from recommending or prescribing it, and VA pharmacies do not fill cannabis orders. A state card does not shield a patient from federal charges.