So you want to know more about how the caregiver program works for Arizona medical marijuana card holders. You’ve come to the right place! Today, the demand for alternatives to opioids for pain is growing, and having the ability to offer assistance to medical marijuana patients who may have limitations when it comes to obtaining their medicine is crucial. A MMJ caregiver is someone who assists a medical marijuana patient with basic health services including obtaining and administering medical marijuana treatment for a qualifying condition. This allows MMJ patients to have an advocate in their licensed caregivers because they’re unable to manage their own treatment.
Why Would You Need a Designated Caregiver?
If you’re an MMJ patient who is in need of assistance with obtaining your medicine, you may be researching ways in which a friend or family member can help you. If you are in need of physical assistance getting around, including transportation to and from a state-licensed medical marijuana dispensary (such as Swell Farmacy), you are terminally ill, or you have a child who has a qualifying condition, these are reasons to designate a medical marijuana caregiver.
Arizona MMJ Caregiver Eligibility Requirements
- You must be at least 21 years old and must not have an excluded felony offense (i.e., crime involving a controlled substance within the past 10 years, or any violent crime).
- You must agree to assist the qualifying patient with the medical use of marijuana.
- To be a designated medical marijuana caregiver, you do not have to be a licensed home health aide or professional caregiver.
The qualifying patient you are assisting must be the one to designate you as their caregiver. The patient must complete the application and be approved by ADHS before the caregiver is eligible to assist.
Check out the Arizona Department of Health Services Medical Marijuana Designated Caregiver page. On this page you’ll find all of the forms you need along with helpful checklists and instructions for completing the process.
Becoming a Caregiver for an MMJ Patient Under 18
If you are the parent of a child under 18 years of age who has been approved as a medical marijuana patient with a qualifying condition, the process will be a little different. The under-18 patient and the parent/legal guardian will use the same application. In this case, check out the Arizona Department of Health Services Qualifying Patient Under 18 page for instructions so you have all the information you need before filling out the application.
We hope this post has been helpful in outlining how to become an MMJ caregiver. If you have additional questions regarding this process, you should reach out to a licensed medical marijuana clinic or reach out directly to the Arizona Medical Marijuana Card Registry Office by phone at (602) 364-1793 or toll-free at (844) 700-7300.
Once you’ve completed the process and you’re a designated caregiver (congratulations!) you’re ready to shop at Swell! Our budtenders are happy to educate you and the patient(s) you assist on the products that will best suit their needs. We offer discounts for Seniors (60+), Veterans, and we have plenty of weekly specials so our patients get the best value for their money.
We look forward to seeing you at one of our 4 Valley locations soon!