Overview
Certified patients registered with the Medical Cannabis Program may designate up to five caregivers. Designated caregivers with a valid registry ID may assist the patient with the possession, acquisition, delivery, transfer, transportation and/or administration of approved medical cannabis.
Individual Caregivers
There are three steps to becoming a registered caregiver for a medical cannabis patient.
- Get designated. A certified patient or other appropriate person (for patients who are minors or incapable of consent) must designate you as a caregiver on the patient registration.
- Register online. After you complete your registration online, your registry ID can be printed or displayed on a smart device and used immediately in conjunction with a government-issued photo ID.
- Purchase medical cannabis. Visit a registered organization's medical cannabis dispensing facility to purchase product for your patient. Bring your registry ID, your patient’s certification, and your government-issued ID with you.
An individual may act as a designated caregiver for up to four patients.
How to Register
Please use the designated caregiver registration instructions below.
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Caregiver Registration Instructions
Instructions for caregivers registering for the Medical Cannabis Program. Note: You must be listed on a patient's registration as a designated caregiver and that patient registration must first be approved.
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Registry ID
A designated caregiver who has been issued a registry ID must notify the Medical Cannabis Program of any change in their name or address within ten (10) business days of such change. In some instances (but not all) this may require a new registry ID request.
If you need to update your registration or request a replacement registry ID card click the Update a Registry ID directions below.
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Patient and Caregiver Registry ID guide
Guide for persons interested in becoming patients or caregivers in the medical cannabis program
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Purchase Product
Certified patients or their designated caregivers who are registered with the Medical Cannabis Program can purchase medical cannabis products, as well as cannabis plants or seeds for home cultivation, subject to availability, from a registered organization's dispensing facility in New York State. Patients must bring their registry ID or their new certifications to a registered organization's dispensing facility in order to purchase approved medical cannabis products, plants or seeds. Designated caregivers obtaining medical cannabis on behalf of their patients must bring their caregiver registry ID and their patients' certifications to the dispensing facility.
Certified patients and designated caregivers must always carry their certification and registry ID card whenever they possess medical Cannabis products, or cannabis plants or seeds for home cultivation.
Not all dispensing facilities sell the same types of medical cannabis products. Please contact the registered organization directly to learn more about the products they have available.
Medical cannabis products, cannabis plants, or seeds may not be transported outside of New York State.
Medical Home Cultivation
Effective October 5, 2022, designated caregivers twenty-one 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 is either younger than twenty-one years of age or whose physical or cognitive impairments prevent them from cultivating cannabis for themselves. For more information on home cultivation of medical cannabis and how to stay compliant with the law, click on the links below.
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Medical Home Grow Fact Sheet
A fact sheet for certified patients and designated caregivers about growing medical cannabis at home.
Download
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Medical Cannabis Home Cultivation Guide
A guide for certified patients and designated caregivers on medical cannabis cultivation at home.
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Facility Caregivers
To allow facilities to possess and administer approved cannabis products and provide continuity of care to certified patients, a facility may apply to become an Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) approved designated caregiver facility prior to being designated as a caregiver by a certified patient.
A “Designated Caregiver Facility” as defined by the MRTA is a facility that registers with the office to assist one or more certified patients with the acquisition, possession, delivery, transportation or administration of medical cannabis and is:
• A general hospital or residential health care facility operating pursuant to Article 28 of the Public Health Law
an adult care facility operating pursuant to Title 2 of Article 7 of the Social Services Law
• a community mental health residence established pursuant to section 41.44 of the Mental Hygiene Law
•a hospital operating pursuant to section 7.17 of the Mental Hygiene Law
•a mental hygiene facility operating pursuant to Article 31 of the Mental Hygiene Law
•an inpatient or residential treatment program certified pursuant to Article 32 of the Mental Hygiene Law
•a residential facility for the care and treatment of persons with developmental disabilities operating pursuant to Article 16 of the Mental Hygiene Law
•a residential treatment facility for children and youth operating pursuant to Article 31 of the Mental Hygiene Law
•or a private or public school
•a research institution with an internal review board
•any other facility as determined by the board in regulation
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Designated Caregiver Facility Registration
Registration form for designated caregiver facilities under the NYS Medical Cannabis Program.
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