A personal caregiver helps a registered patient with their medical use of marijuana. This page covers the four steps to register, what a caregiver may and may not do, and how the card works.
Four steps to register
- Ask the patient for your PIN You get the four-digit PIN from the patient. You need it to register online.
- Get your ID ready A valid driver license or other government ID. Details are below.
- Get a passport-style photo If you use a Massachusetts driver license or ID, the system may find your photo. Details are below.
- Apply online. It is free. Log in to the state patient portal and apply as a caregiver.
Your PIN, ID and photo
You get the four-digit PIN from the patient, and you need it to register online as a Personal Caregiver(masscannabiscontrol.com).
You must upload a copy of a valid ID(masscannabiscontrol.com).
If you use a passport, U.S. military ID or Permanent Resident Card, you must also submit a document that validates your primary residence(masscannabiscontrol.com).
If the Online System cannot retrieve your photo, you must upload a passport-style photo(masscannabiscontrol.com).
The photo must have been taken within the last six months(masscannabiscontrol.com).
The Commission says there is no fee to register as a caregiver for a Medical Marijuana Program registration card(masscannabiscontrol.com).
What a caregiver can do
A caregiver's responsibilities may include transporting a patient to and from a Medical Marijuana Treatment Center and obtaining and transporting marijuana from the center on behalf of a patient(masscannabiscontrol.com).
Responsibilities may also include preparing marijuana for consumption by a Patient and administering marijuana to a Patient(masscannabiscontrol.com).
What a caregiver cannot do
A caregiver must not consume marijuana that has been dispensed to or cultivated on behalf of a patient(masscannabiscontrol.com).
A caregiver must not sell, provide or divert marijuana that has been dispensed to or cultivated on behalf of a patient(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).
A caregiver who works for a healthcare facility, or is a visiting nurse, personal care attendant or home health aide, can receive only regular wages(masscannabiscontrol.com).
Who can be a caregiver
Caregivers must be 21 years of age or older(masscannabiscontrol.com).
The Personal Caregiver cannot be the patient's Certifying Healthcare Provider(law.cornell.edu).
The caregiver and the patient must both maintain an active registration with the Massachusetts Medical Use of Marijuana Program(masscannabiscontrol.com).
The patient must also maintain an active certification from their healthcare provider(masscannabiscontrol.com).
A Registered Qualifying Patient may designate up to two Personal Caregivers(law.cornell.edu).
If a patient designates a second caregiver, one must be an immediate family member of the patient(masscannabiscontrol.com).
Except for a visiting nurse, home health aide, personal care attendant, or Immediate Family Member of more than one Registered Qualifying Patient, an individual may not serve as a Personal Caregiver for more than five Registered Qualifying Patients at one time(law.cornell.edu).
A caregiver who wants to serve more than five patients must seek a waiver(law.cornell.edu).
After you apply
If approved, you will receive your registration card in the mail within 10 to 15 business days(masscannabiscontrol.com).
Meanwhile you can print a temporary registration card, which expires four weeks from the date your registration is approved(masscannabiscontrol.com).
You are required to renew your registration every year to remain active as a caregiver(masscannabiscontrol.com).
A Personal Caregiver shall carry the temporary or annual Registration Card at all times while in possession of Marijuana(law.cornell.edu).
The fee to replace a registration card is $10(masscannabiscontrol.com).
If you are the patient
A Caregiver is strongly recommended if you have a disability that makes medical marijuana difficult to acquire or consume(masscannabiscontrol.com).
A Registered Qualifying Patient may add a second caregiver or change Personal Caregivers by giving the Commission notice in the way it determines(law.cornell.edu).
Short answers
How old do I have to be to be a caregiver?
State law describes a personal caregiver as a person who is at least 21 years old who has registered with the commission(malegislature.gov).
Can the doctor who certified the patient be the caregiver?
No. A Personal Caregiver cannot be the patient's Certifying Healthcare Provider(law.cornell.edu).
Can someone help while the patient waits for a card?
Yes. During the time a patient has a temporary card, the patient may authorize a Personal Caregiver who is 21 years of age or older as their temporary caregiver(law.cornell.edu).
Who is the caregiver of a patient under 18?
A Qualifying Patient younger than 18 shall have a designated Personal Caregiver, who shall be a parent or legal guardian(law.cornell.edu).
What if the caregiver card is lost?
The caregiver must notify the Commission within five business days after discovering the Registration Card has been lost or stolen(law.cornell.edu).
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): "You'll get the four-digit PIN from the Patient. You'll need this number to register online as a Personal Caregiver."
- "Cannabis Control Commission, Register as a New Caregiver" (masscannabiscontrol.com, read November 5, 2026): "You must upload a copy of a valid form of identification."
- "Cannabis Control Commission, Register as a New Caregiver" (masscannabiscontrol.com, read November 5, 2026): "When submitting a passport, U.S. military ID, or Permanent Resident Card as your valid form of identification, you must also submit a document that validates your primary residence."
- "Cannabis Control Commission, Register as a New Caregiver" (masscannabiscontrol.com, read November 5, 2026): "If our system is unable to retrieve your photo, you must upload a passport-style photo that meets the following criteria"
- "Cannabis Control Commission, Register as a New Caregiver" (masscannabiscontrol.com, read November 5, 2026): "It must have been taken within the last six months."
- "Cannabis Control Commission, Register as a New Caregiver" (masscannabiscontrol.com, read November 5, 2026): "There is no fee to register as a caregiver for a Medical Marijuana Program registration card through the Cannabis Control Commission."
- "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). 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): "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."
- "935 CMR 501.002 (definition of Personal Caregiver), Cornell Legal Information Institute" (law.cornell.edu, read November 5, 2026): "and is not the Registered Qualifying Patient's Certifying Healthcare Provider"
- "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."
- "Cannabis Control Commission, Register as a New Caregiver" (masscannabiscontrol.com, read November 5, 2026): "The Patient must also maintain an active certification from their healthcare provider"
- "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."
- "Cannabis Control Commission, Register as a New Patient" (masscannabiscontrol.com, read November 5, 2026): "If you designate a second Caregiver, one must be an immediate family member of yours."
- "935 CMR 501.020, Cornell Legal Information Institute" (law.cornell.edu, read November 5, 2026): "Except in the case of a visiting nurse, home health aide, personal care attendant, or Immediate Family Member of more than one Registered Qualifying Patient, an individual may not serve as a Personal Caregiver for more than five Registered Qualifying Patient at one time"
- "935 CMR 501.020, Cornell Legal Information Institute" (law.cornell.edu, read November 5, 2026): "If a Personal Caregiver wants to serve more than five patients, the Personal Caregiver must seek a waiver"
- "Cannabis Control Commission, Register as a New Caregiver" (masscannabiscontrol.com, read November 5, 2026): "If approved, you will receive your registration card in the mail within 10-15 business days."
- "Cannabis Control Commission, Register as a New Caregiver" (masscannabiscontrol.com, read November 5, 2026): "you'll be able to print your temporary registration card, which expires four weeks from the date that your registration is approved"
- "Cannabis Control Commission, Register as a New Caregiver" (masscannabiscontrol.com, read November 5, 2026): "You are required to renew your registration every year to remain active as a caregiver."
- "935 CMR 501.020, Cornell Legal Information Institute" (law.cornell.edu, read November 5, 2026): "A Personal Caregiver shall carry his or her temporary or annual Registration Card at all times while in possession of Marijuana."
- "Cannabis Control Commission, Register as a New Caregiver" (masscannabiscontrol.com, read November 5, 2026): "The fee is $10 to replace a registration card."
- "Cannabis Control Commission, Register as a New Patient" (masscannabiscontrol.com, read November 5, 2026): "A Caregiver is strongly recommended if you have a disability that makes medical marijuana difficult to acquire or consume."
- "935 CMR 501.020, Cornell Legal Information Institute" (law.cornell.edu, read November 5, 2026): "A Registered Qualifying Patient may add a second caregiver or change Personal Caregiver(s) by providing notification in a form and manner determined by the Commission"
- "M.G.L. c. 94I, section 1 (definition of Personal caregiver), malegislature.gov" (malegislature.gov, read November 5, 2026): "a person who is at least 21 years old who has registered with the commission"
- "935 CMR 501.020, Cornell Legal Information Institute" (law.cornell.edu, read November 5, 2026): "the patient may authorize a Personal Caregiver, who is 21 years of age or older, as their temporary caregiver"
- "935 CMR 501.015, Cornell Legal Information Institute" (law.cornell.edu, read November 5, 2026): "that Qualifying Patient shall have a designated Personal Caregiver, who shall be his or her parent or legal guardian"
- "935 CMR 501.020, Cornell Legal Information Institute" (law.cornell.edu, read November 5, 2026): "within five business days after any change to the information ... or after the Personal Caregiver discovers that their Registration Card has been lost or stolen"
