A designated caregiver is an individual specified and chosen by the qualifying patient to assist the patient in the administration of medical cannabis.
A designated caregiver may assist no more than five (5) qualifying patients but can serve up to nine, if both the designated caregiver and the additional qualifying patients each live greater than fifty miles from the nearest alternative treatment center.
A caregiver may receive compensation for the costs of services associated with assisting a qualifying patient in the therapeutic use of cannabis. Such compensation shall not constitute the sale of controlled substances.
Requirements
- At least 21 years old
- Has agreed to assist with a patient’s use of medical cannabis
- Has never been convicted of a felony or any felony drug-related offense
- Notarized criminal history record release form
- Pay an applicable nonrefundable fee
Becoming a Caregiver
A designated caregiver applicant who meets all the qualifications and requirements shall submit to the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) a completed application form with the basic information and data about the applicant.
The application shall also contained the following signed certifications and/or documents:
- The applicant agrees to serve as the designated caregiver for the qualifying patient named in the application;
- The information contained in the application is accurate to the best of the applicant’s knowledge and belief;
- The applicant understands that any false declaration made on the application is punishable as falsification;
- A signed pledge that cannabis shall not be diverted to anyone who is not allowed to possess cannabis and acknowledgement of the penalties, including revocation of his registry identification card;
- A notarized criminal history release form;
- A recent passport-style photograph of the applicant.
An application shall not be considered complete without the results of a state and federal criminal history records check.
The application shall be approved or denied by the Department within fifteen days upon receipt of the application, and a registry identification shall be issued within five days of approving the application.