Everything You Need to Know About Becoming a Medical Marijuana Caregiver

How do patients and caregivers obtain medical marijuana?

The first step is to become educated on what your state permits. 

Some states have decriminalized possession of small amounts of marijuana.  Basically, this means that personal-consumption amounts are not a crime (or are a misdemeanor with no sentencing of jail time), but a civil or local infraction. At this time, more than half of Americans live in a place where cannabis is legal.    

Medical marijuana laws are determined by each state’s statutes and regulations. By 2024, 38 states, the District of Columbia and several territories have legalized medical marijuana, with varying rules about who can buy or grow it, when and where a person can use it, and how much they can have. Also, there are states with more restrictive policies that only authorize low-THC/high CBD plant-derived products. Only three states have a total ban on cannabis.

The person who wishes to have a medical marijuana prescription will have to qualify as a patient. Generally, that means having diagnoses of certain conditions and a specially licensed doctor’s involvement in the decision to seek medical marijuana certification. Which illnesses qualify for treatment with medical marijuana differs from state to state.

From there, the caregiver who wishes to be designated as the patient’s medical marijuana caregiver must apply for the role. In some states, a registered medical marijuana caregiver is not permitted, although a designated person may pick up marijuana on their behalf. If more than one person cares for the patient and the state allows multiple medical marijuana caregivers, more than one person may be designated. 

Who makes a good marijuana caregiver?

Selecting a designated caregiver means choosing someone who is reliable. They should be willing to educate themselves on the laws and the benefits and drawbacks of medical marijuana. They need to be able to procure it for the patient whether through an ordering process, transporting it themselves or cultivating it at home (if allowed by law).

It’s important for the patient and caregiver to feel comfortable with the use of the medicine and its possible effects on the patient. The caregiver also has to qualify under the state law’s eligibility requirements.

How do you qualify to become a marijuana caregiver?

There are a few factors that make a caregiver eligible, and this also depends on your state’s laws.  Typically, a qualifying physician is the only person who may add a caregiver (sometimes also called an authorized companion, designated provider or registered agent) to the patient’s medical marijuana use profile. Caregivers must be over a certain age, and may have to pass a background check, take a certification course and submit the proper application to the agency that oversees medical marijuana. Search for requirements in your state to learn what you will need to do.

There may be disqualifying factors that prevent a person from being accepted as a designated caregiver. A criminal background with felony convictions might disqualify a caregiver.  Not residing in the same state as the patient may as well.  A marijuana caregiver may not be allowed to be employed in the medical cannabis industry or serve as the patient’s doctor.

Once accepted, the caregiver may have to renew their registration occasionally, including retaking the certification course, and cannot assist a patient if the registration has lapsed.

What is a marijuana caregiver allowed to do?

Depending on the state, there are varying degrees of assistance a caregiver can provide to a patient to help them use medical marijuana.

The caregiver may purchase the medicine from a licensed dispensary. Marijuana purchased from other sources may not be considered medical marijuana — and could be illegal to possess.

In some states, caregivers are allowed to cultivate, produce and store the plant themselves. There may be limits on how many plants a caregiver may grow, and they will need to comply with the legal amount.

The caregiver may administer the medicine, which means they can help the patient use it. The caregiver should be willing to become knowledgeable about the different types of marijuana products available and how they manage different symptoms and conditions.

Physically using the medicine may be difficult for patients with disabilities or weakness, so the caregiver should discuss the different forms of delivery with the dispensary. Patches or oils applied to the skin may be easier for the patient to use versus edible medicines or vaporized or smokable cannabis.

Depending on the area of the country, the caregiver will have the authority to transport the medicine. They will be allowed to possess it on behalf of their care partner. Just like in states that allow cultivation of plants, there may be limits on the amounts of usable marijuana that a caregiver can possess legally.

When is the right time for a patient to use medical marijuana?

The answer to this question depends solely on the patient and their readiness. If there are any questions about whether it is appropriate for the patient’s current condition, the patient and their caregivers should talk to the patient’s doctors. Learn what is available and legal for the patient and caregiver, what the risks and benefits are to the patient, and whether marijuana is a valuable tool to add to their treatment toolkit.

Above all, I encourage caregivers and patients to not wait to explore medical marijuana until it is the medicine of last resort. There was no gift greater to me as a caregiver than to see my mom able to laugh, to eat, to rest after months of suffering. Medical marijuana freed her from her pain, and for that, I’m forever grateful.

Editor's note: This story, originally published in 2020, has been updated with new information.