Do you qualify for a Puerto Rico medical cannabis permit?
Updated August 2026
Puerto Rico's Act 42-2017 establishes two paths: a 30-day tourist permit for US-citizen visitors, and a 1-year resident card for people with a Puerto Rico address who are 21 and older. Both require a qualifying medical condition evaluated by an independent Puerto Rico-licensed physician. This page explains who qualifies for each track, what qualifying conditions look like under Act 42-2017, and how the evaluation determines eligibility. MedCardPR is an application and coordination service; all clinical decisions are made by independent physicians, and the permit is issued by the Puerto Rico Department of Health.
Contents
Who qualifies for the tourist permit?
US-citizen visitors to Puerto Rico qualify for the 30-day tourist permit if they have a qualifying medical condition recognized under Act 42-2017. Puerto Rico residency is not required; you simply need to be visiting the island and hold US citizenship. An independent Puerto Rico-licensed physician evaluates your qualifying condition during the online application.
Requirements at a glance: US citizen, visiting Puerto Rico, qualifying medical condition under Act 42-2017, valid government-issued ID (US passport, US state driver's license, or REAL ID).
Who qualifies for the resident 1-year card?
Puerto Rico residents 21 and older with a qualifying condition under Act 42-2017 qualify for the annual resident license. A Puerto Rico address is required. The application is also fully online. Processing typically takes 7 to 28 days, compared to the tourist permit which is usually reviewed within the hour.
| Tourist permit | Resident 1-year card | |
|---|---|---|
| Who | US-citizen visitors to Puerto Rico | PR residents 21 and older |
| Puerto Rico residency required | No | Yes |
| Duration | 30 days | 1 year |
| Price (all-in) | $99.99 | $99.99 |
| Typical review time | Within the hour | 7 to 28 days |
| Qualifying condition required | Yes | Yes |
What counts as a qualifying condition under Act 42-2017?
Act 42-2017 covers a range of medical conditions. Examples commonly recognized in the program include cancer, HIV/AIDS, glaucoma, epilepsy, chronic pain, anxiety, PTSD, and migraines, among others. The law includes additional conditions not listed here. An independent physician evaluates whether your specific condition qualifies — this page lists examples only.
MedCardPR maintains individual condition pages that describe how specific conditions are considered in Puerto Rico's program: anxiety, chronic pain, PTSD, migraines, and others are covered in the site's condition guides. Those pages describe the condition and how it may qualify; the physician makes all final determinations.
Do not rely on any page to predict your approval. The physician evaluates each application individually based on the medical facts presented.
What if you are unsure whether your condition qualifies?
The physician evaluation is the correct way to find out. An independent physician reviews your application and makes a clinical determination. Start the application, accurately describe your condition, and let the physician determine eligibility. This page — or any condition guide on this site — cannot tell you whether you will be approved.
Is the qualifying condition decision made by MedCardPR?
No. All clinical decisions are made by independent Puerto Rico-licensed physicians. MedCardPR coordinates the application process; it does not evaluate, influence, or override physician determinations. If a physician determines that an application does not meet the medical standard under Act 42-2017, the permit is not issued.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to be a Puerto Rico resident to get a permit?
No — visitors qualify for the 30-day tourist permit without Puerto Rico residency. If you live in Puerto Rico and are 21 or older, you qualify for the annual resident card instead.
I have anxiety, chronic pain, or PTSD. Do I qualify?
Those conditions are among the ones commonly evaluated under Act 42-2017. An independent Puerto Rico-licensed physician makes the final determination. See the individual condition pages on this site for more detail on each condition.
What if I have a condition that isn't on the examples list?
Act 42-2017 covers conditions beyond those listed here. Start the application and accurately describe your condition. An independent physician will evaluate whether it qualifies.
If I qualify for the tourist permit now, can I later apply for the resident card?
The tourist permit and the resident card are separate tracks for different populations. If you establish Puerto Rico residency and meet the 21+ age requirement, you would apply for the resident card separately at that time.
Does MedCardPR guarantee approval?
No. All medical decisions are made by independent Puerto Rico-licensed physicians. MedCardPR is an application and coordination service and cannot guarantee any outcome.
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Flat $99.99 all-in · about 5 minutes from your phone · typically reviewed within the hour.
Apply for your 30-day visitor permit →Educational information only, current as of August 2026. MedCardPR is an application and coordination service operated by AZ Capital Holdings LLC, not a healthcare provider, dispensary, or pharmacy. We do not sell, dispense, or deliver cannabis and make no medical claims. Medical evaluations are performed by independent licensed physicians. Official permits are issued by the Puerto Rico Department of Health under Act 42-2017. Cannabis is not legal for recreational use in Puerto Rico and remains illegal under US federal law.