Can I use my Minnesota medical card at the Anoka Cannabis Company?

Anoka Cannabis Company launched as an adult-use (recreational) dispensary. Medical patients can purchase there, but the tax-exempt benefit of a medical card applies at the 16 licensed medical dispensary locations operated by Green Goods and RISE. If municipal stores add medical licensing in the future, cardholders would benefit there too.

How much does a Minnesota medical marijuana card cost?

The state registration fee is $0 — it was eliminated in July 2023. The only cost is a doctor certification consultation, which ranges from $45 to $199 depending on the provider. Certifications are now valid for 3 years, making the effective annual cost as low as $15 to $50.

How much do medical cardholders save on taxes compared to recreational buyers?

Medical cannabis purchases are 100% exempt from the 15% cannabis excise tax and the 6.875% state sales tax. At $200 per month in purchases, that saves roughly $528 per year. At $300 per month, savings reach approximately $792 annually.

What are the qualifying conditions for a Minnesota medical marijuana card?

Minnesota has 20 listed qualifying conditions including chronic pain, PTSD, cancer, epilepsy, and Crohn disease. The state also has a broad catch-all provision that allows any healthcare practitioner to certify a patient for any condition they believe would benefit from medical cannabis.

How many cities in Minnesota are opening municipal dispensaries?

Thirteen Minnesota cities have applied for municipal cannabis licenses: Anoka (now open), Blaine, Buffalo, Byron, Elk River, Grand Rapids, Lauderdale, Mounds View, Osseo, Owatonna, St. Anthony Village, St. Joseph, and Wyoming. Osseo is expected to open by mid-2026.

Is a medical card still worth it now that Minnesota has recreational dispensaries?

Yes — arguably more than ever. Medical cardholders are exempt from the roughly 22% combined tax on recreational purchases, receive pharmacist-guided care, have enhanced employment protections under state law, can access cannabis at age 18 instead of 21, face no THC potency caps, and enjoy expanded possession limits up to 450 grams.

What is the tax rate on recreational cannabis in Minnesota?

Recreational cannabis carries a 15% state excise tax (raised from 10% in May 2025) plus the 6.875% state general sales tax, plus applicable local taxes — a combined burden of roughly 22%. Medical purchases are completely exempt from all of these taxes.

Medical

Inside America's First Government-Run Dispensary — And Why Minnesota Medical Cardholders Are the Biggest Winners

MMJ.com Medical Team

February 6, 2026

18 min read

Written by

John Progar

About the Author

This article was written by the MMJ.com Medical Team, a group of licensed healthcare professionals specializing in medical cannabis certification. Our team has helped over 10,000 patients obtain their medical marijuana cards.

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