When a certified patient applies for their ID card from the Office of Cannabis Management, they may designate up to five caregivers who will assist them in obtaining and administering medical marijuana. To become a caregiver, the individual:
- Must be at least 21 years old, unless special permission is obtained from the NYSDOH;
- Must be a resident of New York State and have a valid New York State issued driver’s license or a New York State identification card;
- Must be someone other than the patent’s certifying physician.
- After the patient’s application is approved, each caregiver must register with the DOH to receive a registry ID card that the caregiver can then use to obtain medical marijuana on the patient’s behalf.
- Caregivers can follow the same registration instructions that are available for patients, which may be found at health.ny.gov
Regulations permit a designated caregiver to obtain payment from the patient for the following two expenses only:
- The actual amount charged by the dispensary for the approved medical marijuana product purchased for the patient; and
- Reasonable costs incurred in the transportation and delivery of medical marijuana products to the patient.
Each designated caregiver must also comply with the following requirements:
- Must obtain a registry ID card for each certified patient;
- Must provide care to no more than five certified patients;
- Must not possess at any one time a cumulative quantity of medical cannabis that exceeds the amount allowed for each certified patient;
- Must not possess any form of medical marijuana other than those forms recommended specifically for the use of certified patients;
- Must not knowingly share, sell, trade or otherwise deliver medical cannabis to anyone who is not a registered patient;
- Must abide by the same reporting requirements as described above for patients, including the obligation to return registry ID cards issued in connection with those patients who no longer have an eligible condition.
