As you may know, when you get your medical marijuana card in Virginia, you get to purchase products at regional dispensaries and enjoy the many benefits of cannabis in the Commonwealth. In some cases, however, you may need to get medical marijuana for someone else. You may be a caregiver, a child of an elderly patient, or even a parent of a younger person who needs medical marijuana. How does dispensing medical marijuana in Virginia work when it comes to caregivers? Let’s take a look at this issue in detail!
Becoming a ‘Registered Agent’
If you are a parent or caregiver, you’ll encounter an odd term when you begin the process of becoming a medical marijuana caregiver in Virginia. The term is ‘registered agent’, and it doesn’t mean you’re a superspy, but ie means you are a person registered with the state to act on behalf of a patient.
Qualifying Patients
To become a registered agent, your patient needs to qualify. A minor or patient who is incapacitated, who can be an adult of any age, qualify for a registered agent. Incapacitated patients are often seniors who need relief through medical marijuana and are in the care of professional caregivers or adult children. As defined by Virginia code 18.2-369, an incapacitated adult means:
“…any person 18 years of age or older who is impaired by reason of mental illness, intellectual disability, physical illness or disability, advanced age or other causes to the extent the adult lacks sufficient understanding or capacity to make, communicate or carry out reasonable decisions concerning his well-being.”
What Can I Do as a Registered Agent?
What can you do after becoming a registered agent? You can enter the dispensaries and make purchases on behalf of the patient based on recommendations from their doctor, nurse practitioner or physician assistant. If your patient is a child with a qualifying condition for medical marijuana, they are not allowed to go into the dispensary with you.
You will need a written certification for the minor or incapacitated adult created within the last 12 months, as it’s required that your patient is also registered as a patient with Virginia authorities.
Once you have the product in hand, you are then responsible for maintaining secure possession of the medical marijuana and administering it in recommended doses to the patient.
How Do I Register as a Registered Agent in Virginia?
In order to become a registered agent, you need to register with the Virginia Board of Pharmacy. The Virginia Board of Pharmacy is responsible for many of the protocols related to medical marijuana in the state, including giving applicants their medical marijuana cards.
To register, you need to submit a series of online applications in a specific order:
1. First, the adult parent, guardian, or caregiver residing at the same address as the patient should fill out and submit a patient registration application
2. Next, the adult parent, guardian, or caregiver who lives at the same address as the patient should submit their ‘registered agent’ application
3. Finally, any other adult residing in the same location as the patient who has also been issued a written certification should submit their own ‘registered agent’ application
That final point is important! If two parents live in the same home as the patient and each want the responsibility of dispensing the medical marijuana, they each must be issued a written certification and be registered as a caregiver authorized with the state.
Get a Written Certification
Getting a written certification for a patient is easy, but only registered physicians can initiate the process. If you are ready to start the process, schedule an appointment with a registered medical marijuana doctor today! They can walk you through all the information you need to know to register your patient.
Start the Process With a Medical Marijuana Card Today!
Schedule an appointment with an online VA medical marijuana doctor today to start gaining access to safe and legal cannabis products, including tinctures, flower, concentrates and more for your loved one or patient!
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