New Caregiver / Registration
Register as a New Caregiver
A Personal Caregiver assists with a Registered Qualifying Patient’s (Patient’s) medical use of marijuana. Learn more about becoming a new caregiver of the Massachusetts Medical Use of Marijuana Program.
Four Steps to Registering as a New Caregiver
- Get your PIN
Ask your Patient for your PIN. - Get your ID ready
A valid driver’s license or government-issued ID will do. - Get a passport-style photo
Using your Massachusetts driver’s license? We may be able to source your photo from your RMV record. - Apply online
Log into the Medical Use of Marijuana Program Online System (Online System).
Responsibilities and Restrictions
A Personal Caregiver is a person who assists with a Patient’s medical use of marijuana. A caregiver’s responsibilities may include:
- Transporting a Patient to and from a Medical Marijuana Treatment Center (MTC).
- Obtaining and transporting marijuana from a MTC on behalf of a Patient.
- Cultivating marijuana on behalf of a Patient who has obtained a Hardship Cultivation Registration.
- Preparing marijuana for consumption by a Patient.
- Administering marijuana to a Patient.
A Personal Caregiver may not do any of the following:
- Consume marijuana that has been dispensed to or cultivated on behalf of a Patient.
- Sell, provide, or divert marijuana that has been dispensed to or cultivated on behalf of a Patient.
- Grow marijuana for the caregiver’s own use, unless the caregiver is also a Patient who has obtained a Hardship Cultivation Registration.
- Cultivate marijuana for purposes of selling or providing marijuana to anyone other than the Patient.
- Allow a Patient under the age of 18 to possess marijuana at any time when not in the presence of the caregiver.
Please note: The Commission has not yet implemented the Hardship Cultivation Registration program. The Commission is committed to working with all stakeholders to ensure this program upholds patients’ rights and maintains public health and safety. Please continue to check our website and public meetings for updates.
Requirements
Caregivers must be 21 years of age or older.
You’ll need a government-issued ID to register as a caregiver.
An individual may not serve as a Personal Caregiver for more than five Patient at one time.
If a Personal Caregiver wants to serve more than five patients, the Personal Caregiver must seek a waiver pursuant to 935 CMR 501.850. Exceptions include employees of healthcare facilities that provide care to Patients admitted to or residing at that facility. Also excluded: visiting nurses, home health aides, personal care attendants, and immediate family members.
You and your Patient must maintain an active registration with the Massachusetts Medical Use of Marijuana Program.
The Patient must also maintain an active certification from their healthcare provider in order for you to be protected for medical use of marijuana under Massachusetts Law.
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.
If the caregiver is an employee of a healthcare facility, or is a visiting nurse, personal care attendant, or home health aide, the caregiver cannot receive compensation beyond their regular wages.
A Personal Caregiver must carry their Massachusetts Medical Use of Marijuana registration card at all times while in possession of marijuana.
How to Register
The fastest and easiest way to register as a Personal Caregiver is via the Online System.
Not able to apply online? You may register by mail, yet the processing times for paper applications are considerably longer. Follow the instructions on the registration form (PDF).
Here’s what you’ll need to register:
A personal identification number (PIN).
You’ll get the four-digit PIN from the Patient. You’ll need this number to register online as a Personal Caregiver.
A valid form of ID.
You must upload a copy of a valid form of identification. Accepted forms of ID include:
- State-issued driver’s license.
- ID card issued by your state’s Department of Motor Vehicles.
- A current U.S. passport, U.S. military ID, or Permanent Resident Card. When submitting a passport, U.S. military ID, or Permanent Resident Card as your valid form of identification, you must also submit a document that validates your primary residence. The name and address on the document must match the information submitted during registration. Valid documents include:
- Utility bill (gas, electric, telephone, cable, or heating oil) less than 60 days old
- Current motor vehicle registration card
- Tuition bill with a due date of less than six months old
- Car insurance policy or bill that is less than 60 days old
- Home mortgage, lease, or loan contracts less than six months old
- Certified U.S. marriage certificate dated within the past six months
- Property tax or excise tax bill for current year
- First-class mail from a federal or state agency less than 60 days old
- Current state-issued professional license with your address
A passport-style photograph of yourself.
If you submit a Massachusetts driver’s license or a Massachusetts photo ID card as your form of identification, the Online System may be able to retrieve your RMV photo.
If our system is unable to retrieve your photo, you must upload a passport-style photo that meets the following criteria
- The photo must be in color.
- It must be a square photo in portrait/upright format.
- The photo must be taken in front of a plain white or off-white background.
- It must have been taken within the last six months.
- The photo must show only your head and top of your shoulders.
- It must be taken looking directly at the camera held at eye level.
- It must be taken without smiling, with both eyes open, and without eyewear.
- It must be taken without any item that covers your face or head, except for religious purposes.
Need a photo? You can visit any establishment that issues passport photos, such as a pharmacy, camera store, or select United States Postal Service locations.
Fees
There is no fee to register as a caregiver for a Medical Marijuana Program registration card through the Cannabis Control Commission. Certifying Healthcare Providers may charge Patients a fee for annual certification visits.
Registration Card
If approved, you will receive your registration card in the mail within 10-15 business days. In the meantime, you’ll be able to print your temporary registration card, which expires four weeks from the date that your registration is approved. If you do not receive your registration card within three weeks, contact us at (833) 869-6820.
You must carry your registration card whenever you are in possession of marijuana for medical use. The maximum amount medical marijuana Patients may possess at one time is a 60-day supply, or up to 10 ounces.
Registration cards are issued annually on the anniversary of your registration. You are required to renew your registration every year to remain active as a caregiver. (You’ll receive an email reminder before your card expires.)
If your card is lost, stolen, or destroyed, please notify us within five business days by calling (833) 869-6820. The fee is $10 to replace a registration card. If the fee poses a Verified Financial Hardship, the Qualifying Patient may request a waiver of the fee in a form and manner determined by the Commission.
Initial Access
Initial Access allows new Patients to purchase a 14-day supply (up to 2.5 ounces) of medical-use cannabis and cannabis-infused products from an MTC. A Certifying Healthcare Provider may certify a different amount for the Patient’s 14-day supply. Patients are limited to one Initial Access certification during any 365-day period, unless otherwise approved by the Cannabis Control Commission.
Patients may authorize a person as a temporary caregiver during the Initial Access period.
View more information about Initial Access.
Have questions about Initial Access? Contact us at (833) 869-6820 or Commission@CCCMass.com.
Questions
Contact us at (833) 869-6820 or Commission@CCCMass.com.
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Cannabis Control Commission.
Attend a Public
Meeting
The Cannabis Control Commission conducts meetings and other events to keep you informed.
Subscribe to Our
Notice List
Sign up for updates from the Cannabis Control Commission.
