Minnesota Medical Marijuana Caregiver Information

What Is a Medical Marijuana Caregiver in Minnesota?

A medical marijuana caregiver in Minnesota is someone designated to help administer medical cannabis to a qualified medical marijuana patient who requires assistance. They also help obtain medical cannabis from licensed cannabis dispensaries in the state for their patient's use. The Minnesota Medical Cannabis Act stipulates that a medical marijuana caregiver may only be registered with one medical marijuana patient unless they are attached to patients living in the same residence.

Medical marijuana patients certified as physically or developmentally disabled by their doctors need medical marijuana caregivers in Minnesota. Such patients may not be able to obtain medical marijuana from dispensaries or self-administer their medications. Parents or legal guardians of medical cannabis patients who are minors can act as their caregivers. Similarly, spouses may serve as designated medical marijuana caregivers to their partners.

How to Become a Medical Marijuana Caregiver in Minnesota

The Minnesota Division of Medical Cannabis stipulates that any person who wishes to become a medical marijuana caregiver in the state to:

• Agree to only possess medical marijuana for purposes of helping the medical marijuana patient under their care
• Be 18 years of age or older
• Agree not to serve as a medical marijuana caregiver for more than one patient unless for patients living in the same house

For a person to register as a medical marijuana caregiver in Minnesota, a patient must add them to their (patient's) registry account with the state's Divison of Medical Cannabis (DMC). While adding them, the patient must provide the prospective caregiver's name, date of birth, government-issued ID, address, email, and phone number. After a patient's registration, the prospective caregiver will receive an email containing a link instructing them to set up their registry account online. The DMC provides a guide on registering in the state's Medical Cannabis Program.

While previously required, the DMC removed the requirement for caregivers to complete background checks before they can register in the Minnesota medical cannabis program. The change came into effect on July 1, 2024.

How to Find a Medical Marijuana Caregiver in Minnesota

Minnesota does not have a central registry or database of medical marijuana caregivers where prospective medical cannabis patients can choose their caregivers. Medical marijuana patients can either use independent caregivers residing in the state or have their parents or legal guardians act as caregivers. Note that parents and legal guardians serving as medical marijuana caregivers are exempted from completing criminal background checks while registering with Minnesota's medical marijuana program.

How Much Marijuana Can a Caregiver Have in Minnesota?

In Minnesota, medical marijuana caregivers can purchase medical cannabis for their medical marijuana patients from state-licensed medical cannabis dispensaries. They cannot possess more than 30-day supplies of marijuana at the dosages specified by attending physicians.

How Many Marijuana Plants Can a Caregiver Have in Minnesota?

Marijuana cultivation at home is only legal for recreational users in Minnesota. While medical marijuana patients, and their caregivers, are currently not allowed to grow cannabis at home for personal use, a recent bill introduced in the Minnesota legislature aims to change this. If passed, this bill will allow caregivers to grow up to 16 cannabis plants at home for the patients they serve.