Caregivers for Adult Patients
What is a caregiver?
A caregiver is someone registered with the Maryland Cannabis Administration (MCA) who holds a valid MCA Caregiver ID card. With this card, they can purchase medical cannabis from a licensed Maryland dispensary on behalf of a medical cannabis patient and transport it to them.
The caregiver’s valid MCA Caregiver ID card must be presented at a dispensary in order to purchase medical cannabis.
Eligibility
To be eligible for designation as a caregiver for a registered adult patient, you must:
- Be at least 21 years of age at the time of registration
- Register with the Maryland Cannabis Administration
- Receive approval from the MCA
- Purchase an ID card from the MCA
How to register as a caregiver
Caregiver registration is completed entirely online. The online application form must be completed and submitted in one session; you will not be able to save and complete the application at a later time.
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Create a Maryland OneStop account
- Go to https://onestop.md.gov/ to access the Maryland OneStop Portal.
- Click on the "Register" button in the upper right.
- Provide the requested information and click "Register."
- You will receive an email from OneStop Support titled "Verify Your Email Address." Click on the "Verify Your Email" button to do so.
- You’re now registered on OneStop. Go to https://onestop.md.gov/ and click on the "Login" button in the upper right to access your account.
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Submit your caregiver registration
Log in to your OneStop account and complete the Caregiver Registration form.
You will need
- Full nine digit Social Security Number.
- A valid US government-issued photo ID. Accepted forms if identification include:
- Driver’s license
- State issued photo identification card
- Military ID (both front and back)
- US Passport
- Proof that the applicant lives in Maryland
- Photograph that meets the following requirements:
- Clear, color photo taken in front of a plain white or off-white background.
- The applicant is clothed, directly facing the camera with both eyes open, and has a neutral facial expression or a natural smile. The applicant must not be wearing a hat, head covering, sunglasses, or dark glasses.
- Photo was taken in the last six (6) months.
- Photo is an image file (.pdf, .jpg, .png or .gif) no larger than 3 MB in size.
- Photo is not altered or digitally enhanced in any way (no photo filters).
Additional documents you may need
If the identification provided is not a Maryland driver’s license or MVA ID card, or it does not identify the applicant's current address, you must also provide two of the following documents as proof of your current Maryland address:
- MVA registration card or title
- Utility, telephone or cable/satellite TV bill
- Bank account statement
- Property tax bill
- Mortgage statement or proof of home ownership
- Major credit card bill
- Residential rental contract/lease
- Selective Service Card
Note: Documents must include the applicant's name and address. Documents may not be from the same two agencies. (i.e. Two documents issued by MVA). All documents must be dated within the past 90 days.
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Verify your email address
As soon as you have completed and submitted an online application form, a verification email will be sent to the email address you provided on your application. You must click the verification link in the email message to verify your email account. Without performing this step, your application is not complete and will not be reviewed by the Commission.
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Receive approval and Caregiver ID Number
Completed applications will be reviewed by MCA and you will receive a follow up email advising whether or not your application has been approved.
Please retain the approval email for your records. It contains your Username, which you will need to log in to the Caregiver registry (OneStop Portal), as well as your MCA Caregiver ID Number.
Tips for uploading your government ID
If your government-issued photo ID is a Maryland driver's license or MVA ID card, you must submit images of both the front and back of the card. A few options for getting those images into a single file to upload with your application are listed below.
- Take pictures of both the front and back of your ID (and proof of Maryland address, if needed).
- Insert all images into a Word document, and then save the file as a PDF.
- Scan or copy the front of your ID, and print the result.
- Place the actual ID card face-down (back side up) on the lower half of that printed page.
- Take a photo or scan or copy the page again — this captures both the printed front and the physical back of the card on a single sheet.
If your scanner supports it, scan both sides of your ID into a single multi-page PDF.
How be designated as a caregiver
- After your application has been approved, notify the patient.
- The patient must log into their account and designate you as a caregiver. Learn how to add or remove a caregiver for an adult patient.
A registered caregiver may serve a maximum of five registered patients at one time.
Caregiver ID cards
ID cards are required to purchase or transport medical cannabis for registered patient.
You may purchase an ID card after all the following have been completed:
- You have registered and received MCA approval
- You have been designated a caregiver by a registered patient
- At least one of your designated patients has received a valid certification from a physician registered with MCA
How to purchase a Caregiver ID card
- Navigate to onestop.md.gov and select "Login".
- Once you're logged in, select "My Dashboard".
- Under "My Licenses, Permits, and Registrations" click on your MCA registration ID number
- From the License Information page, click on the green "Order an ID card" button (top right)
- Select the box - “Order an ID card for the first time” then Click Submit
- Click on Submit & Pay and complete payment.
Patient & caregiver ID card fees
Maryland Cannabis Administration medical patient ID cards can be ordered for a fee of $25.
Patients also have the option to print a paper copy of their medical cannabis ID cards at no charge.
$25 fee is waived for patients under 18 years old.
If you are a qualifying patient who is enrolled in the Maryland Medical Assistance Program or the Veterans Affairs Maryland Health Care System, you are eligible for a waiver of the $25 fee for the patient ID card.
Please note: If you are a current patient, you are not eligible to have the fee waived retroactively. Upon renewal, you will have to complete a new adult patient registration. There will be an option to select Medicaid or Veteran enrollment and provide the required documents.
Required documentation
In order to receive the ID card fee waiver, you must fill out the online patient registration form and provide the following documentation:
VA enrollee
- Your U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs ID Card - PDF - 255.74 KB. The expiration date must be valid and listed on the front of the VA ID card. If you need a replacement card for Veterans Affairs, contact the U.S Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Information line at 1-877-222-VETS (8387) to request a new one.
- One of the following:
- A Certificate of Creditable Coverage, which can be obtained by contacting Maryland Medicaid Beneficiary Services at 1-800-284-4510, or
- An Eligibility Determination Letter from the Maryland Health Connection, which can be obtained through your Maryland Health Connection account or by contacting 1-855-642-8572.
Maryland Medical Assistance Program enrollee
- A copy of your red and white medical assistance card from the state of Maryland is required, which can be obtained by calling the Maryland Health Connection Call Center at 1-855-642-8572
- One of the following:
- A Certificate of Creditable Coverage, which can be obtained by contacting Maryland Medicaid Beneficiary Services at 1-800-284-4510, or
- An Eligibility Determination Letter from the Maryland Health Connection, which can be obtained through your Maryland Health Connection account or by contacting 1-855-642-8572.
The $25 fee waived for patients who provide a letter from the attending hospice physician indicating the hospice care.
Caregiver ID card fee is $25.
Replacement cards for both patients and caregivers are $50.
Questions?
Send us your questions to [email protected] or call us at 410-487-8100.
Log in to OneStop
Maryland OneStop is where you register with the MCA — whether you're a patient, caregiver, business, or license applicant. Create an account to get started.