Puerto Rico's medical cannabis program operates under Law 42-2017, a statute enacted to give patients with serious or chronic health conditions a legal pathway to access medical cannabis under physician oversight. The program is administered by the Puerto Rico Department of Health, which issues the official card or permit once an application clears all required steps. MedCardPR is an application and coordination service that helps patients move through that process online.

Who decides if you qualify?

Qualification is a medical decision, not an administrative one. When you apply through MedCardPR, your intake is reviewed by an independent Puerto Rico licensed physician. That physician evaluates your condition against the criteria set by Law 42-2017 and decides whether to issue a recommendation. MedCardPR does not screen applications for eligibility, does not make any medical determinations, and cannot predict or guarantee outcomes. The physician's evaluation is the deciding step.

This structure exists by design. Law 42-2017 requires that every authorization flow through a licensed physician's review to ensure that the program stays within a medical framework. MedCardPR's role is to organize the intake, coordinate the evaluation, and facilitate the steps between application and issuance.

Conditions listed under Law 42-2017

The following conditions are among those recognized under Puerto Rico's medical cannabis law and its regulatory framework:

This list covers the core qualifying categories established by the law and regulatory guidance. It is not exhaustive. Law 42-2017 gives physicians some discretion to evaluate conditions that are not explicitly listed if the clinical presentation is consistent with the program's framework. If you live with a serious ongoing condition that does not appear above, it is still worth applying and letting the physician assess your case.

What if you are not sure whether you qualify?

Uncertainty about eligibility is one of the most common reasons people delay applying, and it is usually unnecessary. The physician who reviews your application is the person with the authority and the training to determine whether your condition qualifies. MedCardPR cannot make that call for you, and neither can any list of conditions.

If you have a chronic condition that limits your daily functioning, causes ongoing pain or discomfort, or has not responded well to other treatments, it is generally worth completing an application so the physician can evaluate your situation. The intake takes about five minutes and prompts you to describe your condition in plain language. No specialist referral is required to start.

What you need to apply

The online application collects a straightforward set of information:

A government-issued photo ID: a passport or US state driver's license for visitors, or a comparable government document for residents
A recent selfie for identity verification by the physician's office
Your Social Security number, required for the official Puerto Rico Department of Health application process
Your contact information: email address and phone number
A description of your qualifying condition

Formal medical records are not required to begin. The independent physician can evaluate your condition based on what you describe in the intake. If you have recent records from your treating physician or specialist, you may include them to support the review, but their absence is not a barrier to applying.

Tourists and residents apply differently

Law 42-2017 establishes two distinct authorization types with different timelines and requirements. US citizens visiting Puerto Rico apply for the 30-day tourist permit. People whose primary residence is Puerto Rico apply for the annual resident license. The qualifying conditions are the same under both paths, but the documents you need, the processing time, and the cost structure differ.

Applying under the wrong path causes delays. If you are visiting and apply as a resident, or if you are a resident and apply as a tourist, the application will encounter problems. Take a moment to confirm which path applies before starting.

After the physician review

If the physician issues a recommendation, MedCardPR coordinates the next steps with the Puerto Rico Department of Health. The official card or permit is issued by the Department, not by MedCardPR. For tourist permits, the approved document is typically emailed within a short time after the physician review completes. For resident licenses, the process involves additional steps through the Department of Health and takes longer, generally between 7 and 28 days.

If the physician does not approve the application, that is a medical decision that MedCardPR cannot override or appeal. As with any medical evaluation, approval is not guaranteed.

Questions people commonly ask

Do I need an in-person appointment?

No. The entire process, including the physician evaluation, takes place online through the MedCardPR application. There is no in-person visit required at any step.

Can I apply if I am just visiting Puerto Rico?

Yes. As a US citizen visiting Puerto Rico, you can apply for the 30-day tourist permit without any Puerto Rico residency requirement.

Will my mainland US medical card work here?

No. Puerto Rico does not recognize out-of-state or mainland medical cannabis cards. Visitors need a separate Puerto Rico permit issued by the Department of Health under Act 42-2017.

How long does it take to hear back?

Tourist permit applications are typically reviewed within the hour after payment. Resident license applications involve additional steps and take longer, often between 7 and 28 days depending on the Department of Health's workflow.

What does MedCardPR charge?

For the tourist permit, the all-in cost is $99.99, which includes Puerto Rico tax and government fees with no additional charges. Resident license pricing is shown on the application. MedCardPR does not sell cannabis or cannabis products.

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Qualifying Conditions for a Puerto Rico Medical Cannabis Card