Arizona vs. California medical marijuana card: how they compare
Live near the Arizona–California line? You can only get a card in the state where you live, but here's how the two programs compare.
Side by side
| Arizona | California | |
|---|---|---|
| First visit online | Yes | Yes |
| State fee | $150 | Set by each county, up to $100 |
| Card lasts | 2 years | Up to 1 year |
| Patient limit | 2.5 ounces of usable marijuana | 8 ounces of dried marijuana per patient |
| Home grow | 12 plants in a locked facility, only if no dispensary was within 25 miles when you were authorized | 6 mature or 12 immature plants per patient |
| Recreational | Legal | Legal |
| Listed conditions | 14 | 12 |
Residency is what matters
Both programs are for residents. Moving across the line means applying again in your new state — and you can't carry cannabis between them.
Read more
Sources
- ADHS Medical Marijuana Program (home)
- ADHS Registry Identification Card Renewal Fact Sheet
- A.R.S. 36-2801 Definitions
- A.R.S. 36-2804.03 Issuance of registry identification cards
- A.R.S. 36-2804.02 Registration of qualifying patients and designated caregivers
- ADHS Director's Blog - PTSD added as qualifying condition
This guide is general information, not medical or legal advice. Laws change — confirm details with your state agency. State facts last checked October 7, 2026.