How Can I Become A Caregiver Or Assign One To My Care?

Often times, people suffering from chronic and debilitating illnesses require the assistance of another individual for their healthcare needs.

With medical cannabis in Florida, patients have the ability to assign a Legal Representative or Caregiver for themselves.

Under the new law, Caregivers must be at least 21 years of age and (with a few exceptions) can only care for one patient at a time.

If a Caregiver is the parent or legal guardian of a minor patient or the parent or legal guardian of an adult with an intellectual or developmental disability, or if a patient is a registered Hospice patient, more than one Caregiver may be assigned to a patient.

Caregivers must also not be a qualified physician or be employed by (or have economic interest in) a medical marijuana treatment center. Caregivers must agree in writing to assist with the qualified patient’s medical use of marijuana, be registered within the Medical Marijuana Use Registry as a caregiver, successfully complete a biannual caregiver certification course, and pass a background check if they’re not a close relative (spouse, parent, sibling, grandparent, child, or grandchild) of the patient.

Currently, the state allows up to two caregivers (Legal Representatives) to be assigned to patients within the Registry. Caregivers must apply and be approved for a Medical Marijuana Patient ID Card and must supply proof of Legal Representation status (certified birth certificate for minor children, or power of attorney or health care surrogate documentation.)

Because of the implementation of Florida’s new medical cannabis law, we are unsure when the old requirements will be replaced with the new.