How to Become a Medicinal Marijuana Caregiver in Maine
Maine has an operating medical and adult-use cannabis program. Anyone over 21 may visit any of the state’s recreational dispensaries, while medical patients have access to those as well as exclusively medical shops and caregivers (and a host of additional benefits). The state offers reciprocity, so out-of-state patients may also access Maine’s medical stores and caregivers for their services.
The state’s qualifying medical patients may designate a medical cannabis caregiver to grow, transport, and administer their cannabis. Patients are exempt from the state excise tax and can be under 18 if they have a guardian or household member registered as a caregiver.
Continue reading to learn more about the medical cannabis caregiver program in Maine. Or visit NuggMD Maine to get or renew your med card.
How to Become a Medical Marijuana Caregiver in Maine
There are two options an applicant can choose when applying to be a caregiver in Maine. One is that they can opt to be a caregiver for one or a few members of their family or household, cultivating, transporting, and/or administering cannabis. The other is that they can apply and operate a business, supplying cannabis for as many patients as they’d like, even making a profit.
Whichever one an applicant decides to choose will determine what information they will need and which form they will fill out on the state’s cannabis website. Then. they will
- Gather the appropriate documents, like a state-issued ID, previous caregiver paperwork, background check, and others listed on the Caregiver Online Application Instructions.
- Follow the detailed instructions, providing necessary information like name, date of birth, and social security number.
- Review and sign all the provided documents.
- Pay the appropriate fees – $31 for a background check (if it’s been over 12 months since the applicant’s last one.
- The application will be reviewed by the Office Specialist at OCP (Office of Cannabis Policy), and if approved, the applicant will be sent a notice with a fee notice for a license attached.
- The applicant will submit the fees and a Licensing Analyst will review the application again.
- If approved, a license will be printed and mailed.
Maine’s medical cannabis caregiver license is valid for one year. Caregivers are expected to renew their application 30 days before the expiration date.
Maine Caregivers: What Do They Do (and Who Qualifies)?
Caregivers in Maine must be over 21, a resident of Maine, and must not have been convicted of a disqualifying offense. If these requirements are met, the caregiver has two options for their service. In general, caregivers in Maine can assist their patients by cultivating, administering, and transporting medical cannabis.
Maine has a unique caregiver system. As a caregiver, there are two routes a person may choose.
- Serve as a caregiver to one or two family or household members.
- Act as a business with multiple employees, products, and services to provide to as many patients as they’d like.
Maine Laws for MMJ Caregivers and Their Patients
Designating a Medicinal Marijuana Caregiver in Maine
Maine has an extensive medical cannabis program that allows caregivers to perform various medical cannabis services for their patients. It’s important to understand them before deciding if you’d like to register as one.
When registering, patients can appoint a family member or member of their household as a caregiver. As a caregiver, they may
- Transfer up to 2.5 ounces of cannabis to their patient
- Cultivate cannabis for up to 2 patients
- Cultivate up to 6 mature and 12 immature plants for each patient
- Possess up to 8 pounds of harvested cannabis
The other option for caregivers in Maine is that they can operate as a business. As such, they can provide cannabis and care for as many patients as they’d like, regardless of whether or not they live with them. These types of caregivers must register their business with the state and pay a fee (which is based on the number of plants they cultivate). They can then hire employees, sell their products to wholesalers, and charge patients.
Fees for business caregiver registration are up to $240 for each set of 6 plants cultivated, $1,200 for 30 plants, and $1,500 for a 500 sq ft plant canopy.
Cultivating Cannabis as a Maine Caregiver
Maine allows caregivers to cultivate cannabis for their patients or as a business.
Caregivers of family or household members can
- cultivate for up to 2 patients.
- For each patient, they can grow up to 6 mature plants and 12 immature plants.
Business operating caregivers can
- grow up to 30 mature plants or
- have 500 square feet of mature plant canopy and 60 immature plants.
- Employee people to help grow their plants
- Sell their product to customers and wholesalers
Learn more about Maine's cannabis laws and regulations, review our extensive patient FAQs, or visit one of our other helpful resources for current and prospective Maine medical cannabis patients.
