Overview
The Medical Cannabis Program authorizes patients for the consumption and home cultivation of medical cannabis if deemed appropriate by a New York State certified health care provider. Please talk to your provider about whether medical cannabis may help you.
New York State medical cannabis patients must meet and comply with all laws, regulations, and guidance related to the adult-use cultivator license. Failure to comply with any current or future laws, rules, or regulations issued by the Cannabis Control Board may result in disciplinary action, including, but not limited to revocation of the registration. Medical cannabis products and plants for home cultivation may not be transported outside of New York State.
Some common conditions patients use medical cannabis to find relief from include but are not limited to:
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Get Certified as a Patient
After consulting with a New York State certifying health care provider via in-person or telehealth, interested patients can be certified as a patient under the medical program for any condition deemed suitable by the provider.
NOTE: The patient’s certification will contain a registry ID and can be used immediately in conjunction with a government issued photo ID to buy medical cannabis from a licensed medical dispensary in New York State.
A patient may also designate up to five (5) caregivers to assist in purchasing and/or administering their medical cannabis products for them. Caregivers may be added any time after the patient is auto-registered.
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Update or Replace a Registry ID
Guide for updating or replacing a registry ID for those in the medical cannabis program.
Download
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Patient and Caregiver Certification Guidelines
An overview on the certification and recertification guidelines for NYS Medical Cannabis patients and designated caregivers.
Download
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Patient Rights and Protections
An overview of the patient rights and protections within the NYS Medical Cannabis Program.
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Insurance Coverage
Will My Insurance Cover Medical Cannabis?
There is no fee to become a patient in the program and practitioner office visits related to patient evaluation and certification for medical cannabis may be covered under insurance. Department of Financial Services has clarified that insurers cannot deny coverage for an office visit that results in a medical cannabis certification as long as the medical cannabis certification was not the sole purpose for the visit. Additionally, office visits related to patient evaluation and certification for medical cannabis are Medicaid reimbursable services.
Medical cannabis products are not a covered benefit under New York State Medicaid, but Registered Organizations (ROs) may provide discounted products or reduced prices for certified patients. Check with the registered organization to find out more information regarding any financial assistance programs they may offer.
Buy Medical Cannabis
Find Cannabis Products That are Right for You
It can be overwhelming to figure out which product might work best for you. In addition to consulting with your practitioner, each medical cannabis dispensary in NYS has pharmacists on-site to help patients find the right product for their condition and desired effect.
NOTE: Utilizing cannabis does not require you to smoke or get “high.”
Purchase Limits
Patients or their designated caregivers, can purchase up to a 60-day supply of medical cannabis. The healthcare provider can limit dosing recommendations, and/or issue the certification for a specified date that is less than a year. The healthcare provider should use professional judgment to determine the appropriate length of treatment. When dispensing to patients, Registered Organizations (ROs) must follow the recommendations or limitations provided by the certifying healthcare provider.
Find a Medical Dispensary
A listing of all legal medical cannabis dispensaries in New York State officially licensed by the Office of Cannabis Management can be found using the button below.
What to Bring to the Dispensary
Patients, when visiting the dispensary, be sure to bring these items with you:
- Your signed patient certification (paper copy or displayed on a smart phone or device) and
- A government-issued ID
How can a patient or caregiver tell if they are buying regulated, lab tested products from a licensed medical cannabis dispensary?
To make sure you are purchasing cannabis from a licensed dispensary, here are the steps to take:
1. After locating a dispensary, look for the Dispensary Verification Tool.
All licensed dispensaries are issued a Dispensary Verification Tool which is posted in the storefront. Scan the QR code to be directed to OCM’s website with a list of all licensed medical cannabis dispensaries.
2. When buying cannabis products, locate the Universal Symbol.
Every regulated medical cannabis product sold will also include the below New York State "universal symbol" designating it as a tested, regulated product. Consumers should check both the storefront for the Dispensary Verification Tool and the product label to ensure they're purchasing a regulated product. More examples of the "universal symbol" can be found here.
3. Check for a QR code or link to your product’s “Certificate of Analysis” or CoA.
All regulated products will have a QR code or link to that product’s lab testing results called a Certificate of Analysis (CoA). All cannabis products must pass lab testing before being sold at licensed adult-use or medical dispensaries. Lab testing ensures cannabis products available are safer to consume and are accurately labeled with potency.
Medical Home Cultivation
Effective October 5, 2022, certified patients and designated caregivers 21+ who are registered with the Medical Cannabis Program may cultivate cannabis at home for a certified patients’ personal use. For more information on home cultivation of medical cannabis, 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.
Download
Get Involved
Incident Reporting
You may report the following using the Incident Reporting Form:
- an adverse health event which includes any troublesome or undesired medical occurrence or symptom associated with the use of a cannabis product.
- a concern about a cannabis business which includes businesses that sell cannabis products including unlicensed business locations, sales to a minor or consumption in unauthorized areas.
- or a concern regarding a cannabis product, such as product safety, product mislabeling, product formulation or product expiration date.
Resources