# Medical Marijuana Cards See 62% Growth Year Over Year > **Author:** Benjamin Caplan, MD (ABFM Board Certified, MA Lic. #240562, NPI: 1962722637) > **Publisher:** CED Clinic (https://cedclinic.com) > **Canonical URL:** https://cedclinic.com/approved-medical-marijuana-patient-growth-62-percent/ > **Published:** 2026-04-16T21:03:48-04:00 | **Last Modified / Clinically Audited:** 2026-09-28T10:20:19-04:00 > **Clinical Summary:** Explore the 62% year-over-year approved medical marijuana patient growth reflecting rising demand and clinical guidance needs in new state programs. --- ✦ New CED Clinical Relevance  #76Notable Clinical Interest  Emerging findings or policy developments worth monitoring closely. ⚒ Cannabis News  |  CED Clinic PolicyAccess[Patient Care](https://cedclinic.com/cannabis-cardiovascular-risk-review/)[Medical Cannabis](https://cedclinic.com/therapeutic-benefits-of-thc/)Clinical Education Why This Matters Rapid patient adoption in newly legal states reflects unmet medical needs but also highlights the gap between patient demand and clinical guidance infrastructure. This growth pattern suggests many patients are accessing [cannabis medicine](https://cedclinic.com/essential-oils-industrial-hemp-antimicrobial-benefits/) without adequate physician oversight or evidence-based protocols. Clinical Summary South Dakota’s [medical marijuana](https://cedclinic.com/cannabis-cardiovascular-risk-impact/) program shows 62% year-over-year growth in approved patient cards, consistent with adoption patterns seen in other newly implemented state programs. This rapid uptake typically occurs in the first 2-3 years post-implementation as patients with chronic conditions seek alternatives to conventional treatments. The growth rate exceeds typical pharmaceutical adoption curves, suggesting significant pent-up demand for cannabis-based therapeutic options. Dr. Caplan’s Take “This explosive growth tells me patients were already self-medicating and now have legal access, but most are navigating treatment decisions without proper clinical support. We need physician education programs to catch up to patient demand.” Clinical Perspective 🧠 Clinicians in expanding programs should expect increased patient inquiries about [cannabis medicine](https://cedclinic.com/essential-oils-industrial-hemp-antimicrobial-benefits/) and prepare for conversations about dosing, drug interactions, and realistic expectations. Patients entering these programs benefit most from structured clinical guidance rather than trial-and-error approaches common in early-stage markets. 💬 Join the Conversation Have a question about how this applies to your situation? [Ask Dr. Caplan →](https://benjamincaplan.com/ask-dr-caplan) Want to discuss this topic with other patients and caregivers? [Join the forum discussion →](https://cedclinic.com/interact/discussion-forums/forum/cannabis-industry/) Have thoughts on this? Share it: [𝕏 Share on X](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Just%20read%20this%20on%20CEDclinic.com%3A%20Approved%20medical%20marijuana%20cards%20up%2062%25%20year%20over%20year%20-%20Dakota%20News%20Now%20%40drcaplan&url=https%3A//www.dakotanewsnow.com/2026/04/16/approved-medical-marijuana-cards-up-62-year-over-year/)[in Share on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https%3A//www.dakotanewsnow.com/2026/04/16/approved-medical-marijuana-cards-up-62-year-over-year/)[🦥 Share on BlueSky](https://bsky.app/intent/compose?text=Just%20read%20this%3A%20Approved%20medical%20marijuana%20cards%20up%2062%25%20year%20over%20year%20-%20Dakota%20News%20Now%20--%20via%20%40drcaplan.bsky.social%20https%3A//www.dakotanewsnow.com/2026/04/16/approved-medical-marijuana-cards-up-62-year-over-year/)[📷 Follow on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/drbenjamincaplan/)[📝 Read more on Substack](https://substack.com/@doctorapproved)[🔔 Subscribe via RSS](https://cedclinic.com/category/cannabis-news/feed/) 📰 Source: [https://www.dakotanewsnow.com/2026/04/16/approved-medical-marijuana-cards-up-62-year-over-year/](https://www.dakotanewsnow.com/2026/04/16/approved-medical-marijuana-cards-up-62-year-over-year/) Table of Contents - [FAQ](#FAQ)[What is the clinical relevance rating for this cannabis news?](#What_is_the_clinical_relevance_rating_for_this_cannabis_news) - [What type of cannabis-related topics does this article cover?](#What_type_of_cannabis-related_topics_does_this_article_cover) - [Who should pay attention to this cannabis news update?](#Who_should_pay_attention_to_this_cannabis_news_update) - [Is this a recent development in cannabis policy or practice?](#Is_this_a_recent_development_in_cannabis_policy_or_practice) - [How does this relate to patient care and access?](#How_does_this_relate_to_patient_care_and_access) - [Related](#Related) ## FAQ #### What is the clinical relevance rating for this cannabis news? This article has been assigned CED Clinical Relevance #76 with a “Notable Clinical Interest” designation. This rating indicates emerging findings or policy developments that are worth monitoring closely by healthcare professionals. #### What type of cannabis-related topics does this article cover? The article covers multiple aspects including policy developments, patient access issues, and [patient care](https://cedclinic.com/cannabis-cardiovascular-risk-review/) considerations. It specifically focuses on [medical cannabis](https://cedclinic.com/therapeutic-benefits-of-thc/) applications and clinical practice implications. #### Who should pay attention to this cannabis news update? Healthcare providers, particularly those involved in medical [cannabis prescribing](https://cedclinic.com/addressing-cannabis-education-gap-clinical-care/) and patient care, should monitor this development. The “Notable Clinical Interest” designation suggests it’s relevant for clinicians working with cannabis therapeutics. #### Is this a recent development in cannabis policy or practice? Yes, this is marked as “New” content, indicating it represents recent developments in the cannabis space. The emerging nature of the findings or policy changes makes it particularly noteworthy for current practice. #### How does this relate to patient care and access? The article addresses both patient care considerations and access issues related to medical cannabis. This suggests potential impacts on how patients can obtain and use cannabis therapeutically in clinical settings. [https://cedclinic.com/contact/](https://cedclinic.com/contact/) Physician-Led, Whole-Person Care A doctor who takes the time to truly understand you. Personal care that starts with listening and is guided by experience and ingenuity. Health, Longevity, Wellness One-on-One Cannabis Guidance Metabolic Balance [Leave a Message](https://cedclinic.com/contact/) [Metabolic Care](https://cedclinic.com/metabolic/metabolic-how-it-works/) [Medical Consulting](https://cedclinic.com/book/) [Cannabis Care](https://cedclinic.com/book/) [https://cedclinic.com/contact/](https://cedclinic.com/contact/) RELATED READING AT CED CLINIC Continue exploring the evidence [Texas Voters Support Legal Medical Marijuana Access But Are Largely Unaware Of The …](https://cedclinic.com/texas-medical-cannabis-awareness-gap/) Explore voter attitudes in Texas regarding [medical marijuana](https://cedclinic.com/cannabis-cardiovascular-risk-impact/) access and the knowledge gaps that exist despite strong support. [Learn More](https://cedclinic.com/texas-medical-cannabis-awareness-gap/) [Medicinal cannabis has gone mainstream. But Australia's struggling to cope – The Conversation](https://cedclinic.com/cannabinoid-clinical-research-excellence-australia/) An analysis of how medicinal cannabis adoption is challenging healthcare systems, with lessons applicable to emerging markets. [Read Article](https://cedclinic.com/cannabinoid-clinical-research-excellence-australia/) [First-of-its-Kind Medical Cannabis Education Platform for Clinicians and Patients Now Open …](https://cedclinic.com/medical-cannabis-education-platform-clinicians-patients/) Discover a new educational platform designed to bridge the gap between patient demand and clinical guidance in medical cannabis. [Explore Platform](https://cedclinic.com/medical-cannabis-education-platform-clinicians-patients/) ### Related --- ### Verification & Medical Governance - **Lead Clinical Author:** Benjamin Caplan, MD - **Credentials:** Board Certified in Family Medicine (ABFM), Former CMO Canna Care Docs (250,000+ patients supervised), Founder & CMO CED Clinic & CED Foundation, Author of *The Doctor-Approved Cannabis Handbook* (Penguin Random House). - **Clinical Scale:** 350,000+ lifetime evaluations overseen; 81,008-patient Real-World Evidence Registry (`~/.ced_rwe_vault.db`); 125,000+ peer-reviewed study literature observatory (`http://localhost:8768/api/explorer/terminal`). - **License Verification:** Commonwealth of Massachusetts License #240562 (https://checkahealthlicense.mass.gov/). - **NPI Registry:** 1962722637 (https://npiregistry.cms.hhs.gov/provider-view/1962722637). - **Ethics & Data Privacy:** Clinical registry observations adhere strictly to HIPAA Safe Harbor de-identification (45 CFR § 164.514(b)) and criteria for secondary research exemption under 45 CFR § 46.104(d)(4).