A cannabis caregiver is someone who is authorized to provide cannabis to a person (patient) for medical purposes.
Most of the time, caregivers assist those who are unable to obtain marijuana on their own, including any medical cannabis patients who are under the age of 18 and thus unable to enter a dispensary or patients who are too ill to leave their house.
States that have legalized marijuana for medical use usually let patients choose a caregiver to help them acquire and use cannabis products.
If you are over 21, you are not obligated to have a caregiver. However, doing so is highly recommended if your condition makes it difficult for you to access or use medical marijuana.
Patients under 18 must select a caregiver, and if that caregiver is not present, they are not allowed to possess or use marijuana.
The federal government intervenes with cannabis caregiver rules and regulations in numerous states.
The approval process for medicinal cannabis caregivers is in place in more than half of USA states.
Because medical marijuana is still illegal on the federal level, each state has its own application procedures, restrictions on caregiver possession, and requirements for individuals who wish to qualify as medical marijuana patients.
Despite the fact some duties vary from state to state, registered medical marijuana caregivers have a number of duties in common.
Caregivers help patients administer or take medical marijuana. This involves preparing the medication for the patient and distributing it to them.
The state government requires aspiring caregivers to fill out and submit an official application. Every state has a different application procedure and set of requirements for registering caregivers.
Unless their state allows adult use, caregivers must make sure the patient receiving medical cannabis gets a doctor’s recommendation.
Caregivers must ensure the patient’s medical marijuana card is renewed before it expires.
Patients and their caregivers may either grow their own cannabis or buy it directly from an authorized dispensary.
Caregivers may provide patient transportation or deliver medical marijuana to the patient’s residence or another authorized permanent location.
Each state has its own specific requirements and procedures for becoming a cannabis caregiver. Double check the laws in your state before applying to become a cannabis caregiver.
A caregiver often has to be both a state resident and a citizen of the United States.
The majority of states mandate that aspiring caregivers be at least 21 years old and prohibit the medical marijuana caregiver from also being the patient’s physician.
Caregivers must register with the state medical marijuana registry and pay certain fees to complete the registration process. These payments are separate from those that are required of medical marijuana patients.
Caregiver registration is often only valid for a year or two and, similar to medical marijuana patients, caregivers must renew their licenses every year or every two years.
Interested in learning how to apply as a medical marijuana caregiver in your state? The process is briefly described here for each state that has their own medical marijuana program.
However, please double check with your state as rules can and do change without warning.
As of February 2023, the medicinal marijuana program in Alabama is still under development and is not yet accepting applications from patients or caregivers, but the program has set qualifications.
Qualifications for aspiring caregivers are the following:
A caregiver’s registration may be done alongside the patient’s registry, including the following requirements:
The Commission shall register no more than two caregivers for each patient, and an individual may serve as a caregiver for no more than three patients.
Caregivers may purchase and possess medical cannabis, but may not use medical cannabis unless he/she is also a registered qualified patient
For application updates, check the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission (AMCC) website frequently.
FEES:
Not yet accepting applicants
A person may be listed as the primary caregiver or alternate caregiver for a patient if the person
submits a completed application form provided by the department.
An aspiring caregiver must meet the following qualifications:
To start the process of the application form, the aspiring caregiver shall submit their completed application for with the following requirements:
If the applicant is a minor, the parent or legal guardian residing in Alaska must fill in the caregiver application form, stating that they consent to serve as the minor’s primary caregiver.
A person may be a primary caregiver or alternate caregiver for only one patient at a time unless
the primary or alternate caregiver is simultaneously caring for two or more patients related to the caregiver by at least the fourth degree of kinship by blood or marriage.
A primary and alternate caregiver may only act as the designated caregivers for the patient when they are physically in possession of the caregiver registry identification card.
Before mailing your application, review it to ensure all required information has been completed. If your application is not complete, it will be denied and you will not be allowed to reapply for a period of six months.
FEES:
$25 – application fee
$20 – renewal fee
A designated caregiver must meet the following criteria:
Before the aspiring caregiver can apply using the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) online system, the patient must have already completed the online application and received approval from ADHS.
The aspiring caregiver must submit:
Patients and authorized caregivers are only allowed to grow cannabis if there isn’t a dispensary within 25 miles of their residence and if they have permission from the state to do so.
A person may be the designated caregiver for no more than five patients, and each patient may only have one designated caregiver.
FEES:
$200 – for a designated caregiver’s initial or a renewal registry identification card. A caregiver must apply for a new card for every patient under their care (up to five patients).
A caregiver must register, submit an application, and pay an application processing fee separately from the qualified patient. Qualified patients under 18 years of age cannot purchase medical marijuana from a dispensary, and their legal guardian or parent is required to register as a caregiver to buy medical marijuana for them.
To get a designated caregiver registry card and legally buy medical marijuana for a patient who qualifies, you must meet the following requirements:
Applications can be submitted online or by mailing a form to the Arkansas Department of Health.
Qualifying registered patients and their designated caregivers cannot grow or cultivate medical marijuana. Marijuana-infused products must be purchased through licensed Arkansas medical marijuana dispensaries.
A caregiver may serve more than one patient and must apply for a registry card for each patient.
FEES:
$87 – caregivers to adult patients (includes the application processing fee and criminal history
application fee
$50 – for each registry card for each patient
$50 – caregivers to minor patients (criminal background check is not required)
A primary caregiver is someone who takes responsibility for the patient’s housing, health, or safety. This may be an individual or the owner, operator, or employee of an appropriately licensed clinic, facility, hospice, or home health agency.
As a primary caregiver, you cannot apply for a Medical Marijuana Identification Card (MMIC) for yourself. Only patients or their legal representatives may apply for an MMIC for themselves and/or their primary caregivers in person.
An aspiring caregiver must be 18 years old and above to be designated. The country program will take your digital photo at the time the patient submits their application and will require you to present identification, such as a driver’s license issued by the California Department of Motor Vehicles, a California identification (ID) card, or another form of government-issued photo ID.
A caregiver may only handle one patient and may not care for another qualified patient in a different county.
FEES:
Fees vary by county. You will need to contact your county’s program to find the fee your county charges for an MMIC application. Each county program may charge up to $100 per MMIC application or renewal, and up to $50 per card for Medi-Cal eligible applicants. These fees are waived for participants in the County Medical Services Program.
If the patient applicant is a Medi-Cal beneficiary, their primary caregiver’s card fee will also be discounted by 50%.
There are four different caregiver roles available in Colorado:
Only those who handle transportation and cultivation must register with the Department of Revenue. Only homebound and minor patients may have a transporting caregiver.
Unless they are growing more than 36 plants for the patient, parents or legal guardians of minor children designated as the “primary caregiver” are exempt from having to sign up in the caregiver registry.
Parents growing fewer than 36 plants are encouraged, but not required, to list their growing site in the caregiver registry.
To be a caregiver in Colorado you must meet the following qualifications:
Online applications are preferred, but if you do not have access to the internet or email, you may register as a caregiver by mail. During your registration, you will be asked for the following documents:
After the Medical Marijuana Registry reviews and verifies your information, you will be mailed a letter with your caregiver registration ID number and instructions to complete the registration process.
The next step requires you to complete another form. Every year, caregivers must update their registration information.
FEES:
$0 – No fees for caregiver application
A patient may designate one individual to function as their caregiver with regard to their use of medical marijuana, provided their doctor certifies that they need a primary caregiver.
After the doctor certifies that the patient requires a primary caregiver, the patient can choose a caregiver who meets the requirements.
Caregivers are required to be at least 18 years old and must not have previous convictions for offenses involving controlled substances.
A primary caregiver applicant can only access the online registration system if the applicant is identified as the patient’s primary caregiver.
The caregiver should register for a DAS Business Network account in order to access the online certification system.
You can log in and start the registration process after completing this one-time registration form and email account verification.
As part of the application, you will be asked to upload the following requirements:
Registered caregivers may only provide care for one eligible patient. If a caregiver and each qualifying patient have a parental, guardianship, conservatorship, or sibling relationship, the caregiver may care for more than one qualifying patient.
Patient doctors’ registration certificates expire one year after their certification.
FEES:
$25 – Registration Fee
To be eligible for a Designated Caregiver card that allows you to legally purchase medical marijuana for an eligible patient, you must meet the following qualifications:
To begin the application procedure, you’ll need to fill out the Designated Caregiver Application as the first step.
The patient’s 10-digit registry number is required in order to apply. You must submit an application for each patient, if you intend to serve as the designated caregiver for more than one person.
You can apply online, or print and mail in a paper copy of the application form.
One caregiver may care for up to five patients and must have an identification for each patient.
FEES:
$50 – Registration fee
A patient can ask their doctor to add a caregiver to their application via the Medical Marijuana Use Registry (MMUR) during their certification appointment.
Prospective caregivers will receive an email with an application for their caregiver ID once their patient has specified them as caregiver in the patient’s MMUR application.
Caregivers are qualified if they are:
Caregiver applications must include the following:
Applying online will expedite your application, but paper applications are also accepted by the Florida Office of Medical Marijuana Use.
All identification cards issued under the Medical Marijuana Use Registry expire one year after the doctor’s original prescription date. You must submit renewal applications at least 45 days before the expiration of your card.
Renewal application forms CANNOT be used to buy marijuana from a dispensary or from a delivery service. Online applications take an average of 10 business days for approval.
Please allow an additional 3-5 days for postal delivery of your application if you are applying by mail.
FEES:
$75 – Application Fee
There is no medical marijuana caregiver program in Georgia as of early 2023
After December 31, 2023, caregivers in Hawaii will not be allowed to grow medical cannabis, except for minors/adults lacking legal capacity or on islands that do not have a dispensary.
Patients must indicate their caregivers on the application they complete when registering for their ID with the Hawaii Department of Health (HDOH) Medical Cannabis Registry Program.
A caregiver in Hawaii must be someone that is at least 18 years old who has agreed to undertake responsibility for managing the well-being of the qualifying patient with respect to the medical use of cannabis.
Only one caregiver is permitted for each patient and caregivers may only have one patient at any given time.
Minor patients are required to have a caregiver. HDOH does permit registration of up to two caregivers for a minor patient provided that both primary caregivers are the parents, guardians, or persons having legal custody of the minor patient.
Upon the patient’s registration, all necessary registration information on the caregiver must be provided, including a clear photocopy of their valid ID (driver’s license, state ID or passport) The caregiver must also sign the patient’s application form.
Until they have their medical cannabis card (aka: 329 registration card) in hand from the Medical Cannabis Registry Program, patients are not permitted to consume cannabis for medical purposes.
When in possession of medical cannabis, patients and caregivers must keep their valid ID and valid 329 card on them.
FEES:
$38.50 – cost is paid by the patient when they apply for their card; this fee also covers the caregiver.
There is no medical marijuana caregiver program in Idaho as of early 2023
Patients can pick a specific caregiver to help them use medical cannabis. Patients under the age of 18 may have two designated caregivers, as long as both are parents or legal guardians with substantial decision-making authority.
An applicant for a designated caregiver identification card must meet the following requirements:
Designated caregivers must apply online through the state’s online application portal for the Medical Cannabis Program or fill out and submit a printed application.
The registered designated caregiver is prohibited from serving more than one registered patient, using medical cannabis, growing, owning, or dispensing it, as well as purchasing and possessing more medical cannabis than the patient is permitted to have in any two-week period.
FEES:
$25 – Designated Caregiver Fee for 1 Year Term
There is no medical marijuana caregiver program in Indiana as of early 2023
There is no medical marijuana caregiver program in Iowa as of early 2023
There is no medical marijuana caregiver program in Kansas as of early 2023
There is no medical marijuana caregiver program in Kentucky as of early 2023
There is no medical marijuana caregiver program in Louisiana as of early 2023
To apply online to be a medical cannabis caregiver in Maine, applicants may visit the Regulatory Licensing & Permitting page. Caregiver applicants are encouraged to submit online applications since they are processed more quickly, but applicants may also submit a printed version of the application.
The caregiver applicant needs to meet the following requirements:
After submission, the caregiver applicant will receive a confirmation email at the email address
provided during the application process. This confirmation email will include a fee notice for the $20 licensing fee, and if the applicant indicated it has been over 12 months since the last background check, the fee notice will include the $31 background check fee.
You must submit the necessary fee(s) for your application to continue moving forward through the process.
Upon approval by OCP and payment of the licensing fee, the registry identification card
will be issued, printed, and mailed to the mailing address provided during the application
process.
FEES:
$20 – Licensing Fee
$31 – Background Check Fee
$10 – Renewal Fee
$10 – Reissuance Fee if card was lost, stolen, or damaged
A registered patient may have up to two caregivers at once. Minor patients are required to have at least one caregiver and up to two caregivers. Only parents and legal guardians of minor patients are eligible to serve as their caregivers.
Additionally, caregivers serving minor patients must register with the Commission prior to registering the minor patient.
Caregiver applicants must complete and submit an online application by visiting the Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission (MMCC) portal. They must meet the following requirements to be designated as a caregiver for a registered patient:
The full registration process for caregivers is done online and all at once. You cannot save and finish the online application form later; it must be finished and submitted in one sitting.
Before beginning the application process, it is important that you have all the necessary data and documentation in an electronic format prepared for upload.
When the application is accepted, the patient must sign in to their account and add the caregiver applicant to their patient registry as a caregiver.
When registration and MMCC approval have been completed, registered caregivers can buy an ID card. Once registered, a caregiver may serve a maximum of five registered patients at one time.
FEES:
$25 – ID Card
$100 – Replacement Card
The Massachusetts Online System is the quickest and most convenient way to register as a marijuana patient caregiver. You can also register by mail, but paper applications take much longer to process. For the purpose of registering as a personal caregiver online, you will need the patient’s four-digit PIN.
After you log in to the online system, you will need to upload copies of the following forms of identification:
Your request will be processed once the patient has confirmed you as their personal caregiver. Following that, you will receive information about the progress of your registration. If accepted, your registration card will arrive in the mail within 10 to 15 business days.
You can print your temporary registration card while waiting for your official one. Temporary cards will expire four weeks from the day that your registration is accepted.
An individual may not serve as a personal caregiver for more than five patients at one time. A patient may designate up to two personal caregivers.
A person may not receive payment or other compensation for their service as a personal caregiver and must carry their Massachusetts Medical Use of Marijuana registration card at all times while in possession of marijuana.
You will need to renew your registration every year to remain active as a caregiver.
The maximum quantity of cannabis medical marijuana patients may possess at one time is a 60-day supply, or up to 10 ounces.
FEES:
The Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission does not charge a fee for a caregiver registration card for the Medical Marijuana Program.
$10 – Replacement fee if card is lost, stolen or destroyed
The Michigan Medical Marijuana Program (MMMP) allows an active patient to apply with one caregiver via mail — the program prefers that patients submit their applications using the paper application packets if they want to apply with a caregiver.
The patient must first have a medical evaluation from an active, licensed Michigan physician that is signed and dated within six months from the date they are received by the MMMP.
Medical marijuana patients in Michigan must register their caregivers by including them on their patient registration forms.
The designated caregiver must provide the following documents when the patient submits an application through mail:
Mail only one completed application and all required items in one envelope
FEES:
$40 – Application Fee
A medical cannabis patient in Minnesota who wishes to have a caregiver must provide the caregiver’s information on their application. After the patient submits their application, the listed caregiver will receive an email asking them to register for a new account.
A patient’s parent, legal guardian, or spouse can also act as a caregiver but don’t need to create a caregiver account.
The applying caregiver must provide the patient with the following details:
A background check is not required for caregivers who are the patient’s parents, spouses, or legal guardians. Background checks can take up to 30 days.
Once the caregiver’s account has been approved, the caregiver will receive an email letting them know they can help their patient get and use medicinal cannabis. The caregiver will be asked for proof of identity at the Medical Cannabis Dispensary when picking up their patient’s medical cannabis.
Parents, legal guardians, and caregivers must log in to the Registry to complete the Patient Self-Evaluation Report, which is required before picking up medical cannabis for your patient.
FEES:
$200 – Patient’s Annual Enrollment Fee, which includes the caregiver registration
$15 – Background Check
Before submitting an application, register with the Mississippi Medical Cannabis Portal. You’ll need a valid email address to register, and you’ll need to create an account name and password.
When you register with the Portal, choose “Caregiver Applications” as the type of application you are submitting.
Once the registration information is submitted, you’ll receive an e-mail message to confirm your registration. You’ll be returned to the Portal to sign in with your new username and password, and to create your application.
In general, caregivers must:
The following information must also be provided by the applicant, in the format and manner specified by the Department:
Once your application is submitted, it will be available for review by Mississippi Medical Cannabis Program personnel. Please be sure to monitor your inbox for updates as your application is reviewed.
FEES:
$25 – Initial non-refundable fee
$37 – Criminal Background Check nonrefundable fee
In Missouri, a medical cannabis caregiver must be:
For minor patients, only their parents/legal guardians are eligible to act as their licensed caregiver. The parent or legal guardian must sign the Parental/Legal Consent Form when applying for the minor patient’s application.
Before applying to be the caregiver for a qualified patient, the applicant must obtain a Patient Authorization Form filled out by the patient. By signing this form, the patient authorizes the individual to be their primary caregiver.
After the caregiver has completed the Patient Authorization Form, the caregiver needs to complete an online application through the registry portal.
A caregiver must submit their own application, including all required information, which includes:
The department has 30 days to process all submitted applications, and processes them in the order they were received. Licenses for caregivers are good for a year.
Before their license expires, license holders must submit a renewal application with associated fees that must be filed no earlier than 60 days before the license ID card’s indicated expiration date.
As of October 1, 2021, caregiver digital cards will include the patient license number and the patient barcode, in place of the patient name.
These changes promote accuracy in verification of the associated patient during caregiver sales at dispensaries and protect personal identifiable information of patients. Current licensed caregivers are encouraged to print an updated version of their digital card from the registration portal.
The patient can choose up to two caregivers, and each caregiver may have a maximum of three caregiver licenses for a total of three separate patients.
FEES:
$27.76 – Caregiver New and Renewal Application Fee
The Montana Medical Marijuana Program does not include a section for caregivers. Instead, qualified patients may have a maximum of two “Designated Purchasers”.
Designated Purchasers are individuals that a patient assigns to make medical marijuana purchases on their behalf.
Designated purchasers must be at least 21 years old and may be added to either new or renewal applications for each patient — both adults and minors.
They also cannot have a criminal drug conviction on their record. Patients may also be designated purchasers in Montana.
When applying as a qualified patient, the patient must include the designated purchaser’s name and date of birth.
The designated purchaser must have the patient’s medical card in their possession in order to make purchases on the cardholder’s behalf together with ANY of the following documentation:
A cardholder can assign up to two people to be their designated purchaser and make marijuana purchases on their behalf.
FEES:
No separate fees for the designated purchaser
There is no medical marijuana caregiver program in Nebraska as of early 2023
Anyone may act as a caregiver to a medical marijuana patient as long as they are at least 18 years old and have their doctor’s permission to do so. A minor who is responsible for making medical decisions must receive authorization from their guardian or custodial parent. Their parent or guardian must serve as the minor’s main caregiver.
Once the patient registers, they can add their designated caregiver to their account. Patients must indicate in their application that they will have a caregiver, followed by uploading the caregiver’s driver’s license or ID card as part of their application.
Patients may register and apply using the program’s online portal, requesting an application packet, or applying in person.
When completing the patient’s application form, the patient must include the information of their designated caregiver, along with copies of the front and back of the caregiver’s license or state ID.
Once the application is completed by the patient, the patient mails it back to the Nevada Medical Marijuana Registry.
In order to determine a person’s criminal history, the Division will ask the Central Repository for Nevada Records of Criminal History for a name-based check on the patient and the designated caregiver or the parent of a minor patient.
If this check is insufficient, the Division may also ask for a full set of fingerprints from the patient and, if applicable, the designated primary caregiver.
A medical cannabis patient may have only one caregiver and a caregiver can only serve one patient. A medical cannabis patient cannot be a caregiver to another patient.
A patient’s medical card is good for one year only. It must be renewed annually, one year from the date your application was stamped.
FEES:
No additional fee for caregiver application
Designated caregivers in New Hampshire must meet the following requirements:
In order for your caregiver’s application to be complete, the patient must designate you as their caregiver on their Patient Application Form and, separately send your Caregiver Application Form to the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (NHDHHS).
Suppose an existing qualified patient wants to add or designate a caregiver after they have already been issued a Registry ID Card. In that case, both the patient and the caregiver must complete a Caregiver Designation Form.
If your patient is a minor, use the Minor Patient Application, which is a combined patient/caregiver application.
If your patient is an adult, and you are the legal guardian who will sign on behalf of the patient, AND you are applying to be the patient’s Designated Caregiver, use the Guardianship Patient Application, which is a combined patient/caregiver application.
You may be the designated caregiver for up to five qualifying patients. A qualifying patient can also be a caregiver for another patient and will be issued a separate Caregiver ID card.
An exception to this limit is if both you and any Qualifying Patient above the five live more than a 50-mile drive from the nearest Alternative Treatment Center (ATC), in which case you may be the Designated Caregiver for up to nine Qualifying Patients.
Your qualifying patient may reimburse you for actual expenses like fuel, tolls, and the price of any cannabis products you buy, but not for any time or labor spent helping your qualifying patient use cannabis for therapeutic purposes.
An ID card from the Designated Caregiver’s Registry is valid for a year.
You and your Qualifying Patient are both prohibited from cultivating cannabis in any location.
The Program will provide you with a current list of Qualifying Patients for whom you serve as Designated Caregiver. The Program strongly advises that you carry this document with you when transporting or possessing cannabis.
The information contained in the document is confidential; however, it may be shared with law enforcement officers in order to verify the number of Qualifying Patients you have, and the total amount of cannabis you can possess.
FEES:
$0 – There is no application fee for caregivers to apply or renew.
To set up a user account, patients and caregivers must use the information from the authorization statement provided by their medical cannabis health care practitioner. After receiving the statement, the patient can visit the online registration portal to create an account.
The patient must start the registration process and enter the caregiver’s information on their application, if they intend to register a caregiver. This will enable the caregiver to create a user account.
A minor patient does not need to create a user account; however, the parent/legal guardian who automatically becomes the minor patient’s designated caregiver will create a user account and register to receive an identification card.
Caregiver applicants must:
Caregivers can be added at any time during registration or after by the authorized patient. Caregivers are generally a friend or family member. Non-immediate family members of caregivers need to submit fingerprints for a criminal background check.
As soon as the online registration procedure begins, fingerprint forms will be available.
Patients registered in the New Jersey Medicinal Cannabis Program may elect to have up to two caregivers.
FEES:
$50 – Standard
$20 – Reduced
Free to parents and guardians of minor patients
The patient must submit a Patient Application every year — completed by both the patient and the patient’s medical provider — to keep the Medical Cannabis Program card active. However, the caregiver application only needs to be submitted every three years with the patient application.
A primary caregiver applicant must:
Caregivers in New Mexico are reimbursed only for the cost of travel, supplies, or utilities associated with the possession of medical cannabis, or cannabis-derived products for the qualified patient, and not for their time.
The caregiver application requires the following:
Once complete, mail or drop off your application to the New Mexico Medical Cannabis Program Office.
You can also complete and submit applications electronically to the New Mexico Department of Health Medical Cannabis Program Online Portal.
FEES:
There is no charge to apply for a Primary Caregiver ID Card
A patient who is registered with the New York medical cannabis program must first designate you as a caregiver during the patient registration process.
After the patient’s registration has been approved by the New York Office of Cannabis Management (OCM), the caregiver(s) must register as well. The patient will have access to instructions for caregiver registration.
Applicants who want to register as caregivers need to create a personal account on the official New York State portal. If you have an existing account, log in.
Start a new registration by clicking on “Health Applications” and proceed to the Medical Cannabis Data Management System.
As part of your application, you will also need to provide the following documents:
A registry ID card will be mailed to you after your application is approved. A temporary registry ID card can be printed and used immediately in conjunction with a government-issued photo ID.
When purchasing medical cannabis, you must bring your registry ID card, patient’s certification, and your government-issued ID.
Certified patients registering with the Medical Cannabis Program may designate up to five caregivers. An individual may act as a designated caregiver for up to four patients.
Designated caregivers with a valid registry identification card may assist their patient with the possession, acquisition, delivery, transfer, transportation and/or administration of approved medical cannabis.
Effective October 5, 2022, designated caregivers 21 years of age or older who are registered with the Medical Cannabis Program may cultivate cannabis at home on behalf of their patient(s) who are either younger than 21 years of age or whose physical or cognitive impairments prevent them from cultivating cannabis for themselves.
FEES:
The state has permanently waived the original $50 application fee to apply for a medical cannabis patient and caregiver cards.
There is no medical marijuana caregiver program in North Carolina as of early 2023
Designated Caregiver applications can be completed and submitted online via the North Dakota BioTrackTHC system. General information data fields must be completed, including applicant name, date of birth, address, phone number and email address.
Applicants can log into their BioTrackTHC account at any time to:
A barcode number is generated and assigned during the qualified patient’s application after they complete and submit the application.
A caregiver applicant must enter the patient’s 10-digit alphanumeric barcode number and click the “verify” button to match the appropriate patient to the designated caregiver. Once there is a match, the patient’s name, date of birth and email address will populate in the fields.
The following documents must also be provided as part of the caregiver application:
Please anticipate two to four weeks for processing after the chosen caregiver has submitted all required application materials and finished the patient application.
FEES:
There is no application fee for designated caregivers. All fees associated with the criminal history record check must be paid by the applicant.
Upon recommending medical marijuana to a patient, the recommending doctor or a physician delegate must register the patient and their caregivers with the Ohio Medical Marijuana Patient & Caregiver Registry.
The patient and the caregiver can confirm and complete their registration for the program through the same registry. Patients under the age of 18 are required to have a parent or legal representative serve as their caregiver.
As of July 2022, the Ohio Medical Marijuana Control Program Board staff needs to verify the eligibility of the applicants before they become accepted as a registered caregiver in the program and be eligible to buy medical marijuana on behalf of a patient.
This happens after the caregiver activates their registration and the required fee is paid. It may take up to seven working days to conduct the caregiver status check and caregivers will be notified by email when their status has been granted.
Individuals registering with the Ohio Medical Marijuana Control Program as a patient or a caregiver will complete their registration by activating their Registry card within the online Patient & Caregiver Registry.
Once their card is activated, the registrant will bring it and the government-issued photo ID associated with their account to a dispensary to purchase medical marijuana.
FEES:
$25 – Caregiver Registration Fee
Caregiver licenses are available to family members or assistants who regularly look after a medical marijuana patient. The caregiver license allows the caregiver to buy, transport, possess and administer medical marijuana or medical marijuana products for licensed patients.
Patients who need a designated licensed caregiver must ensure their physician signs the Physician Recommendation Form (Adult Patient or Minor Patient), including the section where the qualified physician certifies the need for a caregiver.
Caregivers and patients must each sign a completed Caregiver Designation Form to establish the patient-caregiver relationship.
Only patients whose physician certifies a medical need for a caregiver may have a licensed caregiver. The status of the applicant as a minor, on its own, does not qualify the applicant for a caregiver.
Caregiver applicants must also provide the following:
Log into the portal to apply for or manage any license with Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority (OMMA). Once approved, you will be sent a Caregiver’s medical marijuana identification card.
Each licensed caregiver may be the designated caregiver for up to five licensed patients. Licensed adult patients may have only one designated licensed caregiver. Licensed minor patients may have up to two designated licensed caregivers.
Caregiver licenses are valid until the expiration date for associated licensed patient(s), not exceeding two years.
FEES:
$0 – There is no application fee for designated caregivers.
In Oregon, patients who use medical marijuana can choose their primary caregivers. The Oregon Medical Marijuana Act stipulates that main caregivers must be at least 18 years old and cannot be the patients’ regular medical practitioners.
They are in charge of overseeing the health of the individuals they are caring for who use medical marijuana.
The primary caregiver for a minor using medical marijuana must be a custodial parent or legal guardian.
A medical marijuana patient may only have one caregiver. Caregivers do not need to apply for their own Oregon Medical Marijuana Program (OMMP) cards, but can still receive them at the request of their patients. Caregivers just need to complete the caregiver section of the Patient’s Application Form.
Caregiver applicants are required to submit the following documentation:
Patients’ and their caregivers’ medical marijuana ID cards expire at the same time.
FEES:
$200 – Patient Basic Application Fee
A caregiver is someone who can pick up medical marijuana at a dispensary on a patient’s behalf. Having a caregiver is recommended if you are a medical marijuana patient and are a minor, require in-home support, or a have a disability.
Caregivers must:
To register for an online profile, go to the state’s online portal, fill out all information, and submit the application to register and create an online profile. Each account in the Patient and Caregiver Registry requires a different email address. A patient and caregiver cannot share the same email address.
If you are a caregiver for a minor but not the patient’s parent, legal guardian or their spouse, you should be designated as a third-party caregiver by the patient, the patient’s legal guardian, or the patient’s spouse.
You will need to complete an “authorization to designate a third-party caregiver’ form, which can be downloaded from the caregiver’s profile in the Patient and Caregiver Registry. Once completed, you can upload the form to your caregiver profile.
Watch for an email with instructions for completing your background check. Once notified via email of your acceptance by the Department of Health, return to the Patient and Caregiver Registry to pay the fee and get your medical marijuana caregiver card.
Each patient can designate up to two caregivers. Minor patients are required to have a caregiver. Caregivers can provide care for up to five medical marijuana patients.
FEES:
$50 – Cost of a medical marijuana ID card. Patients who participate in assistance programs including Medicaid, PACE/PACENET, CHIP, SNAP, and WIC may be eligible for fee reductions.
In Rhode Island, qualified patients may designate a caregiver. Parents are usually designated on behalf of children younger than 18 years old. Note that caregiver information is always provided by the patient upon application.
The Patient Application Form also includes information on required background checks and application fees for caregivers. Additionally, a Minor Form must be completed, signed, and submitted along with the Patient Form for applicants who are minors.
Aside from assigning a designated caregiver, a patient may also assign an Authorized Purchaser to assist in purchasing and delivering marijuana from a compassion center. An authorized purchaser may live out of state.
Both designated caregiver and authorized purchaser must meet the following requirements:
Registered patients may designate one caregiver and one authorized purchaser. Individual caregivers may be responsible for up to five patients. Authorized purchasers can only be associated with one patient. There is no limit to the number of patients a compassion center may serve.
FEES:
As of December 1, 2022, an application fee is no longer required. However, there is a
$10 fee for change of information and a $10 fee for a replacement lost or stolen card.
SOUTH CAROLINA
There is no medical marijuana caregiver program in South Carolina as of early 2023
SOUTH DAKOTA
Caregivers can NOT start the medical cannabis application process until the patient completes their application process and all minor patient applications require caregivers to be registered. Once the patient completes the application and designates their caregiver(s), the system will automatically create a caregiver account.
The designated caregiver will also receive an automatic email with a link that will direct the applicant to start the caregiver application process. Log in using your email address and the temporary password provided.
Once you successfully log in, fill out all the required fields.
You can continue by uploading the required documents and answering the following questions:
Once the caregiver application is completed, you can access its status on your dashboard. Once the patient or caregiver gets South Dakota Department of Health (DOH) approval, a medical cannabis card will be mailed to the patient or caregiver. The cardholder may then purchase cannabis from a certified dispensary.
A caregiver may assist no more than five qualifying patients with the medical use of cannabis, unless the designated caregiver’s qualifying patients each reside in or are admitted to a healthcare facility or residential care facility where the designated caregiver is employed.
FEES: For the issuance of any caregiver registration identity card, eligible patients must pay an additional $20 cost; however, there is no fee for the designation of a caregiver at the time of the initial or renewal application.
There is no medical marijuana caregiver program in Tennessee as of early 2023
There is no medical marijuana caregiver program in Texas as of early 2023
Before one can apply for a medical cannabis caregiver card, a patient must first add their caregiver’s information to the Utah electronic verification system (EVS) during the patient application. When a patient lists you as a caregiver in EVS, you will receive an email informing you that you have been listed as a caregiver.
Once you are added as a caregiver under the patient’s name, you must also register and create a Utah ID account in the EVS. After the registration is complete, access EVS again and continue with your application.
The system will only allow you to enter one application for the same patient.
You are also required to provide the following information:
The system will only allow you to enter and save the patient’s information if the patient has designated you as a caregiver and holds a Medical Cannabis Card. If the patient designates a caregiver and makes a typo in the caregiver information, the system will display an error message saying that there is no matching patient.
After you apply and add your first patient, you will be able to add multiple patients who have designated you as their caregiver.
When you have reviewed and edited the application and are ready to submit the application,
you can click the Save & Submit Registration button. You can edit the Application page until
payment has been made. All applications will enter ‘Awaiting State Review” status after you have made the payment.
After payment, the Utah Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) will contact you using the email submitted in the EVS to begin the background check process. If all requirements have been met, the DHHS will issue the medical cannabis caregiver card. You will receive your card via email and can save the card on your smartphone or print it out.
To purchase medical cannabis, you must bring your medical cannabis card and a valid form of photo identification, such as a driver’s license, with you to the pharmacy.
Before the first purchase, a patient will need to consult with a medical cannabis pharmacist. Some pharmacies require an appointment made in advance for this consultation.
FEES:
$68.25 – Caregiver Card (primary patient initial)
$15 – Caregiver Card (secondary patient initial)
$0 – No charge – Caregiver Card (first renewal)
$14 Caregiver Card (primary patient subsequent renewals)
A registered caregiver is a Vermont resident over the age of 21 who has agreed to undertake responsibility for managing the well-being of a registered patient with respect to the use of medical cannabis.
A caregiver can go to the dispensary and receive deliveries for his or her patient and/or assist with cannabis cultivation. You are not required to have a caregiver under the medical marijuana program in Vermont.
A registered patient may register as a caregiver for another registered patient, but may not register as their own caregiver. Patients under 18 years of age may have two registered caregivers.
Patients and Caregivers can submit initial or renewal applications electronically by creating an account in the Vermont Cannabis Control Board (CCB) portal. A printable application form is also available. Patients and caregivers applying online do not need to submit a printed application.
To apply, caregivers must complete all sections of the application, unless labeled as optional. All caregiver registration applications must specify a registered patient.
The application will also require the following documentation:
Effective March 1, 2022, caregiver applicants are required to obtain a fingerprint-based criminal history record check.
This means that Vermont CCB is allowed to temporarily register a caregiver pending the completion of a criminal history check, provided the applicant is a spouse, domestic partner, child, legal guardian, parent, sibling, grandparent, or grandchild of the Patient.
To meet this requirement, the caregiver must make an appointment with one of the 15 identification centers in Vermont.
The Medical Cannabis Program staff will provide you with an authorization form to be taken to the fingerprint identification center. There is a processing fee to be paid at the identification center upon service.
Once your fingerprints are recorded with the identification center, those records are sent to the Vermont Crime Information Center (VCIC) directly for processing.
Medical marijuana program staff will receive notification from VCIC when the results are ready.
A registered caregiver may assist one registered patient with purchasing seeds, cultivating cannabis, and obtaining cannabis from the patient’s designated dispensary.
Registered caregivers may accompany their patient to a medical dispensary and be present in the dispensing room.
Both caregiver and patient may possess not more than two mature marijuana plants, seven immature plants, and two ounces of usable cannabis at any given time.
FEES:
$50 – Registration Fee
$30 – Fee for processing the criminal background check request.
A patient, or the patient’s parent or legal guardian, may choose a “Registered Agent” to receive medical cannabis on behalf of the patient.
A registered agent should apply for registration with the Board of Pharmacy before obtaining medical cannabis oil on the patient’s behalf.
A patient — or, if such patient is a minor or an incapacitated adult, their parent or legal guardian — may designate an individual to act as their registered agent for the purposes of receiving medical cannabis products pursuant to a valid written certification.
As of July 1, 2022, medical cannabis patients, parents or legal guardians are no longer required to register with the Board of Pharmacy.
A Written Certification for the Use of Medical Cannabis from a Registered Practitioner for Medical Cannabis will still be required and must be presented at the dispensary, along with a government-issued ID, to obtain medical cannabis products.
However, a registered agent will still be required to register with the Board of Pharmacy after July 1, 2022.
Online applications to register with the Board are accessible on the Initial Applications website and must be renewed annually.
Complete the registration process and pay the fee. Scan and email, fax, or mail the following documentation to the Board for the application’s completion:
Please allow 30 days for application processing. You will receive an email if additional information is needed or when the application is approved.
Once approved, the registration card will be mailed to the address listed on the application.
While the law no longer requires a patient, parent, or legal guardian to obtain registration from the Board as of July 1, 2022, an optional registration card for medical cannabis may be acquired.
To obtain the optional card, submit the online application, application fee, copy of the Written Certification for the Use of Medical Cannabis and proof of age, identity and residency to the Board. Once the registration is issued, a physical medical cannabis registration card will be mailed to the patient, parent, or legal guardian’s address of record on the application.
An individual may serve as a registered agent for no more than two registered patients. Registered agents are not allowed to purchase cannabis oil products from a pharmaceutical processor or receive such products by delivery, until they have completed this registration process.
FEES:
$25 – Initial registration fee for a registered agent
$25 – Annual renewal fee for a registered agent
$50 – Optional registration card for parent or legal guardian
Caregivers in the State of Washington are more commonly called “Designated Providers”. A Designated Provider is a person who is 21 years of age or older and is the parent or guardian of a qualifying patient who is under the age of 18.
It also refers to a person who has been designated by the patient to purchase, provide, or grow cannabis on the patient’s behalf.
Each patient and designated provider must have their own medical cannabis authorization form produced by the patient’s health care practitioner.
During the appointment with the practitioner, the patient should mention that they have a designated provider, because the practitioner will need to sign and issue two authorization forms — one for the patient and one for the designated provider.
The parent or legal guardian of a minor patient, when serving as the designated provider, will sign both authorizations on behalf of the minor patient.
Registration or “joining the medical cannabis authorization database” is voluntary for adult patients, but required for minor patients and their designated provider (parent/legal guardian).
If an adult patient chooses to be entered into the medical cannabis database, the patient’s designated provider must also register and have a recognition card.
Among the benefits of joining the database are the abilities to purchase cannabis products and possess up to three times the current limit and being exempt from paying sales taxes.
To join the database, take your authorization form to any licensed and medically-endorsed retail cannabis store and ask to see a certified medical cannabis consultant who is trained in working with authorized medical cannabis patients.
They will take your picture and create your new medical cannabis recognition card.
Depending on the patient’s treatment plan, a medical cannabis authorization may be good for up to a year after issuance for an adult patient and up to six months after issuance for a minor qualifying patient.
Designated providers can only serve one patient at a time and cannot consume cannabis obtained for a qualifying patient’s personal, medical use.
FEES:
$1 – Recognition Card Fee
A caregiver in Washington D.C. must be 18 years of age or older and designated by a qualifying medical cannabis patient as the person authorized to possess, obtain from a dispensary, distribute, and assist in administering medical cannabis.
Patients that are younger than 21 years of age are required to have a caregiver affiliated with their registration. DC residents and non-residents are both eligible to register in the District’s medical cannabis program as a caregiver.
To apply, you must submit a Medical Cannabis Caregiver Application Form and provide your:
Applications may be submitted by mail or in person through the DC Alcoholic Beverage Regulation Administration (ABRA) Medical Cannabis Program Office or through email. Currently, an online application is not available for this caregiver applications.
As a caregiver, you may only serve one qualifying patient at a time. You may only transport medical cannabis in a container or sealed package bearing the label received from the dispensary.
You may also purchase up to eight (8) ounces of cannabis in any 30-day period and possess up to two (2) ounces at any time. Allowed cannabis formats include flower, concentrates, edibles, transdermal products, seeds, and seedlings.
Caregiver cards are valid for one (1) year from date of issuance and an annual renewal fee applies.
FEES:
Fees for initial and renewal patient and caregiver registrations were waived through January 3, 2023.
$100 – Standard Fee for new card and card renewal
$90 – Replacement Card
$25 – Reduced fee or new card and card renewal
$20 – Replacement card fee if applicants are eligible reduced fee
West Virginia’s Bureau for Public Health’s Office of Medical Cannabis approves caregivers who are 21 years or older and who are designated by a qualifying medical marijuana patient to obtain cannabis from approved dispensaries.
Minor patients can designate an individual as their caregiver only if:
Caregivers must register and submit an application online and undergo a criminal history background check.
Requirements for the application are:
A patient can have two caregivers; an approved caregiver may serve up to five patients simultaneously.
FEES:
$50 – Application fee. The bureau may waive or reduce the fee in cases of demonstrated financial hardship.
There is no medical marijuana caregiver program in Wisconsin as of early 2023
There is no medical marijuana caregiver program in Wyoming as of early 2023
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