IA Medical Marijuana Card for Des Moines Patients, Certified by Real Licensed Doctors

You can get your med card in Des Moines in minutes once you meet with our doctors, and then the state takes 3 to 7 days to finish processing it. You’ll receive your official card as a digital PDF, so you don’t have to wait to start getting relief. Your permanent card arrives in the mail shortly after.

To apply for your med card in Des Moines, you need the following:

• Valid photo ID: Your IA driver’s license, state-issued ID card, or U.S. passport
• Proof of Iowa residency: A recent utility bill, bank statement, property tax statement, or rental agreement with your Des Moines address (must match what’s on your application)
• Healthcare Practitioner Certification Form: Our doctors complete this during your video call and send it to you
• $100 state registration fee: Iowa’s Office of Medical Cannabidiol collects this payment when you submit your application online
• Medical documentation (helpful but not required): If you have records showing your qualifying condition, they can support your application, but many patients get approved based on the doctor’s evaluation alone

To qualify for an IA medical marijuana card in Des Moines, you need to meet these requirements:

• Residency: You must be a legal resident of Iowa and provide proof with your state-issued ID or driver’s license.
• Age: You must be 18 years or older. Patients under 18 may qualify through a caregiver.
• Qualifying Condition: You must have a diagnosed medical condition that is recognized under Iowa’s medical cannabis program. These include chronic pain, seizures, PTSD, cancer, HIV/AIDS, Crohn’s disease, and multiple sclerosis.

Patients must also be evaluated by a state-registered physician who will issue a certification if they believe medical cannabis could benefit your condition.

You don’t need medical records to get approved in most cases. Our doctors focus on understanding your symptoms and how your condition affects your daily life during your video consultation. If you have records available, they can be helpful, but you can still get approved without them.

In Des Moines, Iowa’s medical cannabis program provides multiple forms of medical marijuana so you can find the right option for your qualifying condition.

• Oils: These work in vape cartridges or you can take them by mouth, depending on what the product label says.
• Capsules: You swallow these like regular pills, which makes dosing easy and consistent throughout your treatment.
• Edibles: Gummies, baked goods, and candies all count as approved edible forms in Iowa’s program.
• Topicals: Lotions, balms, and creams you rub on sore muscles or joints for localized pain relief.
• Tinctures: These are liquid drops you put under your tongue, and they work faster than edibles because they absorb quickly.
• Liquids: Drinkable cannabis products like infused beverages or syrups you mix into drinks.
• Suppositories: These offer an alternative method for patients who need different delivery options based on their condition.

Des Moines dispensaries carry various strains in these approved forms, and staff can help you select products based on your symptoms. For patients dealing with chronic pain or sleep issues, Granddaddy Purple offers relaxation effects and comes in several formats at Iowa dispensaries.

Your medical marijuana card won’t show up on standard background checks in Iowa. The registry is confidential under HIPAA, so your employer and landlord have no access to this information. Federal jobs or firearm licenses may require disclosure since federal law treats marijuana differently than Iowa does.

In Des Moines, getting a medical cannabis card doesn’t take away your guns under Iowa law, but you need to know about the federal conflict before you register with the state database.

• Iowa protects your right to own firearms as a medical cannabis patient, and the state will not confiscate your guns or revoke your permits because you have a medical card.
• Federal law says anyone who uses marijuana cannot legally buy or own firearms, even if you’re a registered medical patient in Iowa, because cannabis is still federally illegal.
• When buying a gun from a licensed dealer, you’ll fill out ATF Form 4473 that asks if you use marijuana, and lying on this form is a federal crime that carries penalties.
• Your medical cannabis registration in Iowa stays confidential and isn’t shared with gun dealers or federal agencies, but the legal conflict between state and federal law still exists.
• Many patients in Des Moines who value both medical relief and gun ownership talk to a lawyer who knows Iowa and federal law to understand their risks and options.
• This is your decision to make based on your health needs and priorities, and understanding both sides of the law helps you choose what’s right for your situation.

Cardholders in Iowa have options when traveling to states like Arizona, Arkansas, Maine, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, and Utah that recognize your certification, though you should check reciprocity agreements by state because the rules change depending on where you’re headed. If someone with an out-of-state card visits Iowa, they can possess their medicine within Iowa’s limits but can’t purchase from a dispensary in Iowa. You cannot carry cannabis over state borders because federal law treats that as illegal trafficking, regardless of what individual states allow.

Yes. Elevate Holistics works with state-licensed physicians who are certified to recommend medical marijuana through the state’s program. We match you with a doctor based on availability, and every physician in our network is:

• Licensed by the Iowa Board of Medicine and registered with Iowa’s Medical Cannabidiol Program
• Trained to evaluate qualifying conditions including chronic pain, PTSD, cancer, epilepsy, and Crohn’s disease
• Available to help patients understand their condition and treatment options
• Committed to providing care during your evaluation

If you need a doctor who knows your condition or speaks your preferred language, let us know when booking and we’ll connect you with a match.

If you’ve got an MMJ card and you’re in Des Moines, you’ve got one main spot that’s going to work for you. Iowa keeps things limited when it comes to medical cannabis dispensaries, but the good news is you won’t have to drive far to find a reliable place that takes your card.

Bud & Mary’s (7239 Apple Valley Drive, Windsor Heights) sits west of Des Moines in Windsor Heights, right off Interstate 235 near the 73rd Street exit. If you’re coming from downtown Des Moines or East Des Moines, hop on I-235 west and you’ll be there in under 15 minutes. The location is in a shopping area near Valley West Mall, so it’s easy to combine your visit with other errands if you need to. Bud & Mary’s (which used to be called MedPharm Iowa) was one of the first licensed medical cannabis dispensaries in the state, and they’ve built up a reputation for patient education and products. They carry the Aliviar brand of tinctures, capsules, topicals, and vapes. Keep in mind Iowa doesn’t allow flower or edibles yet, so you’re looking at oils, capsules, creams, and vaporizers here. Staff members take time to walk you through product options and dosing, which helps if you’re new to medical cannabis or switching from other medications.

So whether you’re in downtown Des Moines, over near Drake University, out in East Des Moines by the fairgrounds, or down in the south side neighborhoods, Windsor Heights is your closest licensed option for using your MMJ card without leaving the metro area. Always call ahead to confirm hours and product availability, but this spot should keep you covered around Des Moines.