WHO ARE CAREGIVERS?
Annette Folgueras MD » Care Givers and Pediatrics
Cannabis Caregivers with the medical marijuana program is an individual who can pick up medical marijuana at a dispensary on behalf of their patient(s). Caregivers are not the practitioner who certifies the patient.
Caregivers in Maryland
A registered patient is permitted to have a maximum of two caregivers at one time. Minor patients (under the age of 18) are required to have at least one caregiver at all times. Only parents and legal guardians of minor patients are eligible to serve as their caregivers.
Requirements for caregivers serving adult patients (18 + years of age)
To be eligible for designation as a caregiver for a registered patient, you must:
- Be at least 21 years of age at the time of registration
- Register with the Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission
- Receive approval from the Commission
- Purchase an ID card from the Commission for a fee of $50
During the registration process, the caregiver will need to submit a valid, US government-issued photo ID and a clear, recent color photo. Once approved by the Commission and designated a caregiver for a patient with a valid written certification from a physician registered with MMCC, the caregiver will also be required to purchase an ID card from MMCC for a fee of $50.
REQUIREMENTS FOR CAREGIVERS SERVING MINOR PATIENTS (UNDER 18 YEARS OF AGE)
To be eligible for designation as a caregiver for a registered minor patient, you must:
- Be a parent or legal guardian of the minor patient
- Be at least 21 years of age at the time of registration
- Register with the Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission
- Receive approval from the Commission
- Purchase an ID card from the Commission for a fee of $50.
In the case of a minor patient (under 18 years of age), only the minor patient’s parents or legal guardians, themselves aged 21 years or older, are eligible to serve as caregivers. Minor patients’ caregivers will also be required to submit valid US government-issued photo IDs and clear, recent color photographs as part of the registration process. Caregivers for minor patients must purchase ID cards from the Commission for a $50 fee.
CAREGIVERS IN PENNSYLVANIA
A caregiver must be 21 years of age or older unless authorized by the department. The Department of Health requires the caregiver to register with it and complete a criminal history background check with an authorized vendor of the commonwealth. To register as a patient’s caregiver, you must have a valid Pennsylvania driver’s license or PA state-issued ID card. If the patient is already registered, you will need the patient’s name, date of birth, and patient ID number. Adult patients can designate any individual as their caregiver. All caregivers must complete a background check.
HOW DO I SIGN UP OR REGISTER A MINOR IN THE PROGRAM?
If you are a caregiver for a minor but not the patient’s parent, legal guardian, or spouse, you should be designated as a third-party caregiver by the patient or patient’s legal guardian or spouse. It is recommended that you get an ‘authorization to designate a third-party caregiver’ form completed. A form can be downloaded from the caregiver’s profile. Once completed, you can upload the form to your caregiver profile.
CAREGIVERS IN OHIO
Following the recommendation for medical marijuana, the prescribing physician must enter the patient’s or caregiver’s details into the Ohio Board of Pharmacy’s online Patient & Caregiver Registry.
HOW TO QUALIFY AS A PATIENT CAREGIVER IN OHIO
To qualify for a designated caregiver registry identification card, a designated caregiver must:
- Be a resident of the state of Ohio at the time of application and remain a resident during participation in the program
- You can only be a caregiver to two qualifying patients
- Be at least 21 years of age
- Minor patients (under the age of 18) are required to have a parent or legal representative serve as their caregiver.,
- The registration fee for caregivers is $25
