Becoming MMJ Doctors & Caregivers
New York Doctors That Recommend Medical Marijuana to Patients
- Only physicians are allowed to recommend medical marijuana, although the Commissioner has the option of including nurse practitioners based on patient need and access.
- Recommending physicians must:
- Be licensed and practicing in New York.
- Be qualified to treat the serious condition.
- Have completed a 2-4 hour training course.
- Have registered with the DOH.
- Must be caring for the patients for whom they are making recommendation, meaning that they have done a full assessment of patient’s medical history and current medical condition, and believe that the patient will benefit from the use of medical marijuana.
- Must consult the prescription drug monitoring program and review the patient’s control substances history before issuing a recommendation.
- Physicians cannot issue a certification to themselves.
MMJ Dosing Guidelines
- Practitioners must consider the form and dosage and include any such recommendations in the certification.
- If the practitioner has determined a specific dose or any limitations, these must be included on the patient’s certification.
- For ingestible forms, a single dose cannot exceed 10 mg of THC.
What Caregivers Need to Do to be Able to Help a Certified Patients
- NY Medical Marijuana Patients can designate up to two caregivers
- If the patient is under 21, not allowed caregivers other than a legal guardian or parent unless a case if made to DOH that no legal guardian or parent is available.
- No one can be a caregiver to more than 5 certified patients at one time.
- Caregivers must register with DOH to obtain a registry identification card.
- Caregivers can legal possess up to 30 day supply if registered with DOH. This has to be right form and dose for the specified patient.
- Any changes or terminations of caregivers must be conveyed to DOH immediately; card will be suspended.
