Caregivers
Qualified patients are authorized to designate a caregiver to assist them with the purchase and/or administration of medical marijuana products.
Requirements of Caregivers
Certification Course
Background Screening
Patients are authorized to designate a caregiver to assist them with the purchase and/or administration of medical marijuana products.
If a qualified patient is younger than 18 years of age, only a caregiver may purchase or administer medical marijuana for the qualified patient. Patients who are minors may not purchase marijuana.
The patient’s qualified physician is the only person able to add a caregiver to a patient’s profile in the Medical Marijuana Use Registry.
Forms & Applications
Forms & Applications
Requirements of Caregivers
A Caregiver must:
- Be a Florida resident
- Be 21 years of age or older
- Not be a qualified physician
- Not be employed by or have economic interest in a Medical Marijuana Treatment Center (MMTC) or a certified marijuana testing laboratory (CMTL)
- Successfully complete the caregiver certification course within the Medical Marijuana Use Registry every 2 years
- Pass a background screening, unless the patient is a close relative of the caregiver
- Obtain and be in immediate possession of a Medical Marijuana Use Registry Caregiver identification card at all times when in possession of marijuana or a marijuana delivery device
- Not receive compensation, other than actual expenses incurred, for any services provided to the qualified patient
A caregiver may be registered to no more than one qualified patient, unless:
- The caregiver is a parent or legal guardian of more than one minor who is a qualified patient
- The caregiver is a parent or legal guardian of more than one adult who is a qualified patient and who has an intellectual or developmental disability that prevents the patient from being able to protect or care for himself or herself without assistance or supervision
- All qualified patients the caregiver has agreed to assist are admitted to a hospice program and have requested the assistance of that caregiver with the medical use of marijuana; the caregiver is an employee of the hospice; and the caregiver provides personal care or other services directly to clients of the hospice in the scope of that employment
- All qualified patients the caregiver has agreed to assist are participating in a research program in a teaching nursing home pursuant to section 1004.4351, Florida Statutes.
Caregiver Certification Course
Caregiver Certification Course
Florida law requires caregivers to successfully complete a Caregiver Certification Course every two years. The course is built into the Medical Marijuana Use Registry and is free of charge. Caregivers are not required to take any other course or examination to be registered as a caregiver.
The OMMU Caregiver Study Guide is available. This Study Guide is a study tool for the Caregiver Certification Course. Click the link below to view the guide.
Please note: The Study Guide is a study tool to help individuals prepare for the Caregiver Certification Course. Completion of the Study Guide does not count towards the completion of the Caregiver Certification Course training.
Background Screening
Background Screening
Section 381.986(6)(b)6., Florida Statutes, requires caregivers to provide proof that they successfully passed the level 2 background screening pursuant to section 381.986(9), Florida Statutes, unless the patient is a close relative of the caregiver. Therefore, caregivers that do not qualify as close relatives must successfully complete a level 2 background screening. Caregivers that currently have a Medical Marijuana Use Registry Caregiver Identification (ID) Card must comply with the new caregiver background screening requirement when they renew their ID card.
Fingerprints of all caregivers required to undergo the level 2 background screening will be retained in the Applicant Fingerprint Retention and Notification Program (AFRNP). The annual fee for participation in the AFRNP is $6.00 and will be the responsibility of the caregiver to pay. There is no retention fee for the first year of participation.
Caregivers will be notified via email 180, 90 and 45 days before their yearly background screening retention fee is due. If a caregiver does not pay the $6 retention fee by the due date, they will be required to submit new fingerprints and complete a new background screening to qualify as a caregiver.
Caregiver close relative documentation examples can be found here, and caregiver background screening instructions and forms can be found here.
Please note that non-close relative caregiver applications may take longer to be reviewed/approved than close relative caregiver applications.
Patient & Caregiver Helpline
If you have questions or need assistance, please call: