Last verified: March 2026

What Is a Personal Caregiver?

A personal caregiver is a person registered with the CCC to assist a medical cannabis patient by purchasing, transporting, and administering cannabis on their behalf. Caregivers are essential for patients who are homebound, have mobility limitations, are minors (under 18), or otherwise cannot visit a dispensary independently.

Caregivers receive their own CCC registration and can purchase medical cannabis at any licensed Medical Treatment Center on behalf of their designated patients.

Eligibility Requirements

• Age: Must be at least 21 years old
• Residency: Must be a Massachusetts resident
• Background: No drug-related criminal convictions
• Registration fee: $0 (free registration)

The 2-Caregiver Rule and Family Requirement

Massachusetts allows each patient to designate up to 2 personal caregivers, but with an important restriction:

• If a patient designates 1 caregiver, that person can be anyone who meets the eligibility requirements
• If a patient designates 2 caregivers, at least one must be an immediate family member

This family requirement ensures that patients with two caregivers maintain a close personal connection with at least one of them. "Immediate family" includes spouses, parents, children, and siblings.

Patient Limit: 5 Patients Per Caregiver

Each caregiver may serve up to 5 patients simultaneously. Each patient must independently designate the caregiver through the CCC registration system. When purchasing at a dispensary, the caregiver specifies which patient the purchase is for, and the dispensary tracks it against that patient's allotment.

How to Register as a Caregiver

1. Patient designates you: The registered patient must add you as their caregiver through the CCC patient portal at masscannabiscontrol.com/patients-caregivers
2. Complete the caregiver registration: You will register through the same CCC portal with your Massachusetts ID and proof of residency
3. Background verification: The CCC verifies that you have no drug-related criminal convictions
4. Receive your registration: Once approved, you can accompany patients or purchase on their behalf at any MTC

Caregiver Responsibilities

• Carry your registration: Always have your caregiver registration when purchasing or transporting cannabis for a patient
• Purchase only for designated patients: You may only obtain cannabis for patients who have formally designated you through the CCC system
• Respect possession limits: Medical patients may possess up to 10 ounces. Cannabis you carry on a patient's behalf counts toward that patient's limit
• No diversion: Using or selling a patient's medical cannabis for personal use or to third parties is a criminal offense
• Maintain current registration: If a patient's card expires, your authorization to purchase on their behalf also lapses

Caregiver Cultivation

Caregivers may also cultivate cannabis on behalf of their patients. Medical patients are permitted to grow 12 plants, with an additional 12 plants under a hardship cultivation registration for qualifying patients. Caregivers who grow for their patients must do so at the patient's primary residence or an approved location and must track plants under the patient's allotment.