Information For Patients

The steps below provide an overview of the Medical Marijuana Program for patients.

Find a Registered Practitioner

Talk to your practitioner about whether medical marijuana may help you. Need help finding a practitioner registered with the program? Click here to find a practitioner registered with the Medical Marijuana Program who has consented to be listed publicly.

You may be eligible for medical marijuana if you have been diagnosed with one or more of the following severe debilitating or life threatening conditions: cancer, HIV infection or AIDS, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury with spasticity, epilepsy, inflammatory bowel disease, neuropathy, Huntington's disease, post-traumatic stress disorder, chronic pain (as defined by 10 NYCRR §1004.2(a)(8)(xi)), pain that degrades health and functional capability as an alternative to opioid use or substance use disorder. The severe debilitating or life-threatening condition must also be accompanied by one or more of the following associated or complicating conditions: cachexia or wasting syndrome, severe or chronic pain, severe nausea, seizures, or severe or persistent muscle spasms, PTSD or opioid use disorder.

Please talk to your practitioner about whether medical marijuana may help you.

How to Register

1. Patients must first be certified by a registered practitioner 2. Once certified, patients must login to https://my.ny.gov/. Patients who do not have an NY.gov account will need to click the "Don't have an Account?" button to create a personal NY.gov ID first. For step-by-steps instructions on how to create a My.NY.gov account, click here for instructions. 3. Click the "Health Applications" icon, and then click the "Medical Marijuana Data Management System" link to register For step-by-step instructions on how to register as a patient or caregiver, select the "HELP" link within the Medical Marijuana Data Management System or click here for instructions. Pursuant to the Compassionate Care Act there is a $50 application fee; the Department is currently waiving the $50 fee for all patients and their designated caregivers.

4. Patients may designate up to two caregivers during the registration process. After the patient's registration is processed, the designated caregiver(s) must then register with the Department using the same online system described in number 2 above. 5. Once a patient or caregiver’s registration is approved, the Department will issue a temporary registry identification card through the My.NY.gov account which may be used in conjunction with a government-issued photo identification to purchase approved medical marijuana products while the patient/caregiver awaits his/her registry identification card (ID card) in the mail. Registrations expire when the certification that was issued by the practitioner expires. Patient and caregivers must re-register each time a new certification number is issued. 6. Patients must bring their registry ID cards and their certifications to a registered organization's dispensing facility in order to purchase approved medical marijuana products. Designated caregivers obtaining medical marijuana on behalf of their patients must bring their caregiver registry identification cards and their patients' certifications to the dispensing facility.

Information about registered organizations in New York State can be found by clicking here.

Other Important Registration Information:

- Certified patients and designated caregivers must always carry their registry ID card whenever they possess approved medical marijuana products. - Medical marijuana products may not be transported outside of New York State. - New York State does not accept certifications or registry ID cards from other states. - A certified patient or designated caregiver who has been issued a registry ID card must notify the Medical Marijuana Program of any change in his or her name, address, or if he or she no longer has the serious condition noted on the card within ten (10) business days of such change.

How to Access My Temporary ID Card

To access your temporary registry ID card, log into your https://my.ny.gov account, select "Health Applications," and then the "Medical Marijuana Data Management System." Click on the three white lines on the top-left side of the screen. Select the "My Temporary Card" option from the drop-down menu. Select the blue link to open. Print your temporary ID card.

If you do not see the link for your temporary registry ID card please follow the instructions on the screen to check the status of the current registration.

How to Request a Replacement/Updated Registry Identification Card

A certified patient or designated caregiver who has been issued a registry ID card must notify the Medical Marijuana Program of any change in his or her name, or address, within ten (10) business days of such change.

1. Login to https://my.ny.gov using the existing username and password. Patients & caregivers must first be registered through a My.NY.gov account. 2. Click the “Health Applications” icon, and then click the “Medical Marijuana Data Management System” link to access the account. 3. Select the “Update Information/Request New Card” icon. 4. Select the green “Request New Card” button 5. Select the appropriate reason for requesting a new card. Patients or caregivers looking to update his/her photograph or change the name printed in the registry ID card must upload appropriate documentation during the new card request. If a new address is being reported, also update the address information provided on the screen prior to submitting the new card request.

6. The Department will review the new card request. Once approved, a temporary registry identification card may be accessed from your account to purchase medical marijuana while the physical registry identification card is mailed to the patient or caregiver.

How to Add (Designate) an Individual as a Caregiver on a Patient Registration

Caregivers may be added during the patient registration process or after the patient registration has been submitted. If the patient registration is still in process, return to the registration complete the “Add Caregivers” section from within the registration form.

1. Login to the https://my.ny.gov account used to register as patient 2. Click the “Health Applications” icon, and then click the “Medical Marijuana Data Management System” link to access the account. 1. Patients who self-registered may select the “View My Caregivers” 1. Select the green “Add Caregiver” button. 2. Enter the caregiver’s information requested 3. Select the green “Add” button. 4. The caregiver must complete their own caregiver registration. Registration instructions may be found here: https://www.health.ny.gov/regulations/medical_marijuana/patients/docs/patient_caregiver_registration_instructions.pdf

1. Select the blue patient registration number. 2. Scroll down to “Add Caregivers” section 3. Select the green “Add Caregiver” button. 4. Enter the caregiver’s information requested 5. Select the green “Add” button. 6. The caregiver must complete their own caregiver registration. Registration instructions may be found here: https://www.health.ny.gov/regulations/medical_marijuana/patients/docs/patient_caregiver_registration_instructions.pdf

Where to Purchase Product

Certified patients or their designated caregivers who are registered with the Medical Marijuana Program can purchase medical marijuana products from a registered organization's dispensing facility in New York State. Patients must bring their registry ID cards and their certifications to a registered organization's dispensing facility in order to purchase approved medical marijuana products. Designated caregivers obtaining medical marijuana on behalf of their patients must bring their caregiver registry identification cards and their patients' certifications to the dispensing facility. For home delivery options, contact the registered organizations directly. Click here for a listing of registered organization locations. Which ones offer home delivery in New York State.