A registered personal caregiver can pick up medical marijuana at a dispensary for a registered patient. The rules limit who the caregiver can be, how many patients they can serve, how much they can buy and what they do with it.
What a caregiver can do
The Commission says a caregiver's responsibilities may include transporting a patient to and from a Medical Marijuana Treatment Center(masscannabiscontrol.com).
The Commission says a caregiver may also obtain and transport marijuana from a treatment center on behalf of a patient(masscannabiscontrol.com).
The Commission says a caregiver may prepare marijuana for consumption by a patient and administer it to the patient(masscannabiscontrol.com).
What a caregiver cannot do
A Personal Caregiver may not consume marijuana that has been dispensed to or cultivated on behalf of a patient(masscannabiscontrol.com).
The Commission says a caregiver may not sell, provide or divert that marijuana(masscannabiscontrol.com).
A caregiver may not grow marijuana for their own use, unless the caregiver is also a patient who has obtained a Hardship Cultivation Registration(masscannabiscontrol.com).
A caregiver may not allow a patient under the age of 18 to possess marijuana at any time when not in the presence of the caregiver(masscannabiscontrol.com).
A person may not receive payment or other compensation for their service as a Personal Caregiver(masscannabiscontrol.com).
The Commission says a caregiver who is a healthcare facility employee, visiting nurse, personal care attendant or home health aide cannot receive compensation beyond their regular wages(masscannabiscontrol.com).
The limits on numbers
Sources: Commission Register as a New Caregiver page and 935 CMR 501.020, 501.140.| Limit | What the sources say |
|---|
| Caregiver age | 21 or older |
| Patients per caregiver | No more than five at one time, unless a waiver is granted |
| Caregivers per patient | Up to two |
| Amount per purchase | No more than the patient's 60-day supply |
The Commission says caregivers must be 21 years of age or older(masscannabiscontrol.com).
An individual may not serve as a Personal Caregiver for more than five patients at one time, the Commission says(masscannabiscontrol.com).
A caregiver who wants to serve more than five patients must seek a waiver(masscannabiscontrol.com).
The Commission lists exceptions for employees of healthcare facilities, visiting nurses, home health aides, personal care attendants and immediate family members(masscannabiscontrol.com).
A registered patient may designate up to two Personal Caregivers(state regulation).
The regulation describes a Personal Caregiver as someone who is not the patient's Certifying Healthcare Provider(state regulation).
At the counter
The regulation says a treatment center shall immediately inspect the caregiver's temporary or annual Registration Card and proof of government-issued identification(state regulation).
A treatment center may not sell a caregiver more than the patient's 60-day Supply(state regulation).
The Commission says a caregiver must carry their registration card at all times while in possession of marijuana(masscannabiscontrol.com).
The Commission says patients may authorize a person as a temporary caregiver during the Initial Access period(masscannabiscontrol.com).
Both the caregiver and the patient must maintain an active registration with the program, the Commission says(masscannabiscontrol.com).
Short answers
Can a caregiver buy for more than one patient?
A caregiver may serve up to five patients at one time, and more than that needs a waiver(masscannabiscontrol.com).
Can a caregiver be paid?
No. A person may not receive payment or other compensation for their service as a Personal Caregiver(masscannabiscontrol.com).
Can a caregiver buy more than the patient's limit?
No. The treatment center may not sell more than the patient's 60-day Supply(state regulation).
Does the caregiver need to carry a card?
Yes. The Commission says to carry the registration card at all times while in possession of marijuana(masscannabiscontrol.com).
Advanced Dispensary in Peabody
Advanced Dispensary in Peabody is being built and has no opening date.
Sources
- "Cannabis Control Commission, Register as a New Caregiver" (masscannabiscontrol.com, read November 5, 2026): "Transporting a Patient to and from a Medical Marijuana Treatment Center (MTC)."
- "Cannabis Control Commission, Register as a New Caregiver" (masscannabiscontrol.com, read November 5, 2026): "Obtaining and transporting marijuana from a MTC on behalf of a Patient."
- "Cannabis Control Commission, Register as a New Caregiver" (masscannabiscontrol.com, read November 5, 2026): "Preparing marijuana for consumption by a Patient. Administering marijuana to a Patient."
- "Cannabis Control Commission, Register as a New Caregiver" (masscannabiscontrol.com, read November 5, 2026): "Consume marijuana that has been dispensed to or cultivated on behalf of a Patient."
- "Cannabis Control Commission, Register as a New Caregiver" (masscannabiscontrol.com, read November 5, 2026): "Sell, provide, or divert marijuana that has been dispensed to or cultivated on behalf of a Patient."
- "Cannabis Control Commission, Register as a New Caregiver" (masscannabiscontrol.com, read November 5, 2026): "Grow marijuana for the caregiver's own use, unless the caregiver is also a Patient who has obtained a Hardship Cultivation Registration."
- "Cannabis Control Commission, Register as a New Caregiver" (masscannabiscontrol.com, read November 5, 2026): "Allow a Patient under the age of 18 to possess marijuana at any time when not in the presence of the caregiver."
- "Cannabis Control Commission, Register as a New Caregiver" (masscannabiscontrol.com, read November 5, 2026): "A person may not receive payment or other compensation for their service as a Personal Caregiver."
- "Cannabis Control Commission, Register as a New Caregiver" (masscannabiscontrol.com, read November 5, 2026): "If the caregiver is an employee of a healthcare facility, or is a visiting nurse, personal care attendant, or home health aide, the caregiver cannot receive compensation beyond their regular wages."
- "Cannabis Control Commission, Register as a New Caregiver" (masscannabiscontrol.com, read November 5, 2026): "Caregivers must be 21 years of age or older."
- "Cannabis Control Commission, Register as a New Caregiver" (masscannabiscontrol.com, read November 5, 2026): "An individual may not serve as a Personal Caregiver for more than five Patient at one time."
- "Cannabis Control Commission, Register as a New Caregiver" (masscannabiscontrol.com, read November 5, 2026): "If a Personal Caregiver wants to serve more than five patients, the Personal Caregiver must seek a waiver pursuant to 935 CMR 501.850."
- "Cannabis Control Commission, Register as a New Caregiver" (masscannabiscontrol.com, read November 5, 2026): "Exceptions include employees of healthcare facilities that provide care to Patients admitted to or residing at that facility. Also excluded: visiting nurses, home health aides, personal care attendants, and immediate family members."
- "935 CMR 501.020, Cornell Legal Information Institute" (law.cornell.edu, read November 5, 2026): "A Registered Qualifying Patient may designate up to two Personal Caregivers."
- "935 CMR 501.002, Cornell Legal Information Institute" (law.cornell.edu, read November 5, 2026): "who shall be 21 years of age or older, who has agreed to assist with a Registered Qualifying Patient's medical use of Marijuana, and is not the Registered Qualifying Patient's Certifying Healthcare Provider."
- "935 CMR 501.140, Cornell Legal Information Institute" (law.cornell.edu, read November 5, 2026): "an MTC or Marijuana Courier Agent shall immediately inspect the Patient's or caregiver's temporary or annual Registration Card and proof of government-issued identification."
- "935 CMR 501.140, Cornell Legal Information Institute" (law.cornell.edu, read November 5, 2026): "An MTC may not sell to a Patient or caregiver an amount of Marijuana or Marijuana Products that would exceed the Patient's 60-day Supply."
- "Cannabis Control Commission, Register as a New Caregiver" (masscannabiscontrol.com, read November 5, 2026): "A Personal Caregiver must carry their Massachusetts Medical Use of Marijuana registration card at all times while in possession of marijuana."
- "Cannabis Control Commission, Register as a New Caregiver" (masscannabiscontrol.com, read November 5, 2026): "Patients may authorize a person as a temporary caregiver during the Initial Access period."
- "Cannabis Control Commission, Register as a New Caregiver" (masscannabiscontrol.com, read November 5, 2026): "You and your Patient must maintain an active registration with the Massachusetts Medical Use of Marijuana Program."
