935 CMR, § 501.015

Current through Register 1536, December 6, 2024

Section 501.015 - Temporary and Annual Registration of Qualifying Patients

(1) A Qualifying Patient shall apply for a temporary or annual registration according to the procedures set out in 935 CMR 501.015, unless otherwise provided by the Commission.

(2) To obtain a temporary or an annual Registration Card, a Qualifying Patient shall first obtain electronic or Written Certification(s) from the Qualifying Patient's Certifying Healthcare Provider(s).

(3)Temporary Registration Card. A patient's Certifying Healthcare Provider(s) shall provide a Qualifying Patient who has not been issued a temporary Patient Registration Card in the 365-day period preceding the date of certification, a temporary registration in a form and a manner determined by the Commission, which will include, but not be limited to, the following:

(a) To generate a temporary Registration Card, a Certifying Healthcare Provider shall obtain from a Qualifying Patient, and electronically submit the information required by the Commission as part of the temporary electronic certification process;

(b) At a minimum, a Certifying Healthcare Provider shall submit the information required in 935 CMR 501.015(5)(a) through (d) and (f);

(c) On submission of the requisite information, the provider shall provide a packet of information for the patient, which includes:

1. A temporary Patient Registration Card;

2. A caregiver authorization form and instructions;

3. Guidance on patient confidentiality;

4. Written instructions in a form and manner determined by the Commission that the patient needs to complete the registration process with the Commission in order to obtain an annual Registration card; and

5. If requested, a paper copy of the Commission registration form for an annual Registration Card.

(d) The temporary Registration Card shall constitute a Registration Card for patients for the purposes of accessing MTCs and purchasing medical-use Marijuana and MIPs;

(e) A temporary Registration Card shall expire either 14 days after the issuance of the temporary Registration Card or on the issuance and receipt of an annual Registration Card, whichever occurs first;

(f) A patient is limited to one 14-day temporary registration during any 365-day period, unless otherwise approved by the Commission;

(g) No more than 2.5 ounces of Marijuana may be dispensed by an MTC to a Qualifying Patient with a 14-day temporary registration except a Certifying Healthcare Provider may determine and certify that a Qualifying Patient requires an amount of Marijuana other than 2.5 ounces as a 14-day Supply and shall document the amount and the rationale in the medical record and in the Written Certification;

(h) It is the obligation of the MTC to track and dispense only the amount allowed for a 14-day Supply; and

(i) To obtain an annual Registration Card after receiving a temporary Registration Card, a Qualifying Patient shall comply with 935 CMR 501.015(5): Annual Patient Registration Card and complete the registration process for review by the Commission.

(4) To access MTCs and obtain medical-use Marijuana and MIPs, the patient shall present their temporary Registration Card in addition to a government-issued identification card. MTCs are responsible for ensuring that patients present proper documentation and verifying that the temporary Registration Card is valid, before the patient accesses the MTC and purchases Marijuana, Marijuana Products, or MIPs.

(5)Annual Patient Registration Card. To obtain an annual Registration Card, a Qualifying Patient shall submit or verify, in a form and manner determined by the Commission, the following information:

(a) The Qualifying Patient's full name, date of birth, address, telephone number, and email address if any, and a statement indicating his or her age:

1. If the Qualifying Patient is younger than 18 years old, an attestation from a parent or legal guardian granting permission for the child to register with the Commission; and

2. If the Qualifying Patient is younger than 18 years old, that Qualifying Patient shall have a designated Personal Caregiver, who shall be his or her parent or legal guardian.

(b) Electronic or Written Certification(s) for the Qualifying Patient from the Qualifying Patient's Certifying Healthcare Provider(s);

(c) name, address, and telephone number of the Qualifying Patient's Certifying Healthcare Provider(s);

(d) Full name, date of birth, and address of the Qualifying Patient's Personal Caregiver(s), if any;

(e) A copy of the Qualifying Patient's government-issued identification card or other verifiable identity document acceptable to the Commission, except in the case of a Qualifying Patient younger than 18 years old who does not have to comply with such requirement;

(f) Written acknowledgement of the limitations on his or her authorization to cultivate, possess, and use Marijuana for medical purposes in the Commonwealth;

(g) An attestation that the Registered Qualifying Patient shall not engage in the diversion of Marijuana and that the patient understands that protections conferred by M.G.L. c. 941, for possession of Marijuana for medical use are applicable only within Massachusetts; and

(h) Any other information required by the Commission.

(6) After obtaining a Registration Card, a Qualifying Patient is responsible for notifying the Commission, in a form and manner determined by the Commission, within five business days after any change to the information that he or she was previously required to submit to the Commission, or after he or she discovers that his or her Registration Card has been lost or stolen.

(7) A Registered Qualifying Patient shall carry his or her Registration Card at all times while in possession of medical-use Marijuana or MIPs.