Reciprocity

New York is bordered by several states, making frequent cross-border travel familiar, especially for those living in its northern and eastern regions. As a result, New Yorkers with medical marijuana cards often wonder if neighboring states recognize their cards, which would allow them to purchase cannabis while traveling legally. In this article, we’ll explore the concept of ‘reciprocity’ among neighboring states and even those farther from New York.

Do neighboring states, or those even farther away, recognize New York’s medical marijuana cards, and if so, what does that imply for New Yorkers eager to purchase cannabis products in other states?

Understanding Reciprocity for Medical Marijuana Patients

First, let’s clarify what ‘reciprocity’ means in the context of medical marijuana. Reciprocity refers to one state recognizing the medical marijuana laws of another state. This means that a person legally eligible to buy medical marijuana in New York might also be allowed to purchase it in another state that recognizes New York’s medical marijuana cards.

However, New York currently does not have a comprehensive reciprocity agreement with other states, which means that New Yorkers cannot use their medical marijuana cards elsewhere unless those specific states have their own rules allowing it.

Despite this, many states do have forms of reciprocity, though the specifics can vary greatly. Some states allow reciprocity under certain conditions, have medical marijuana programs that recognize out-of-state cards, or have strict limitations on such practices.

States Recognizing New York Medical Marijuana Cards in 2025

As of 2025, New York does not have a reciprocity agreement that allows out-of-state medical marijuana cards to be used within its borders. It does not have provisions for New York medical marijuana cardholders to use their cards in other states that typically allow such reciprocity.