Becoming a caregiver in Maine?

hey guys, I have been growing for a little while now and am getting better at it. I am about at the point where i feel i can produce some quality medicine for medical patients. I have a relative that holds a card and i want to get my operation legit so i can both help out people in need of fair priced quality meds and do something i am passionate about legally.

My problem is i dont really know where to start to become a caregiver and what is involved.

if someone could help me out with understanding the process i need to go through i would greatly appreciate it.

thanks
RMTB

A good place to start is here:

http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/dlrs/mmm/index.shtml

Read the materials available on that page: the mmj law, caregiver application and instructions, and rules and guidelines. Note that the latter, rules and guidelines, are possibly obsolete as they have not been updated since the last amendments to the law.

If you still have questions after you read this stuff I'd be glad to help if I can. You'll get the info you need a lot quicker this way.

ok so i fill out the form for caregiver and i have to pay $300.00 per patient?

what forms do i need my patients to file?

can i expand if i come into contact with new patients?

do i need to be a medical user myself? and what kind of criminal charges are they looking for with the backround check. i dont want to ship them 331 bucks to be denied because of a small posession charge when i was 15 lol

the website is a great link as far as forms and stuff goes but im kinda looking for someone to explain to me in lay mans terms what i need to do to get up and running, i would like to be able to do my max number of patients but i dont know that many right now, im sure once i become legal and networking becomes more of an option i will be able to pick up all 5 easily.

thanks
RMTB

Yes, $300 per patient. I have never done more than one in a single application, but I suppose you could. The background check fee is paid once per calendar year in any case.

Patients do not file anything with the state, unless they wish to. You and your patient fill out and sign an agreement form, which you both keep a copy of. Patient needs to have certification from a doctor. If you are ever challenged by law enforcement, you show them your caregiver card and patient agreement(s). Up to them to pursue further if they are so inclined.

Yes, you can expand up to five patients. Just fill out a new app. To make it easier in Augusta, I put "New Patient - 3rd slot" (example) at the top of the app, and "Already paid for 20xx" for the background check.

You do not need to be a patient in order to be a caregiver. I don't know exactly what they are looking for in the background check. Personally I think it's just a money grab lol. I do know that any offenses in your past which would have been legal had this law existed or if you were licensed, they won't count.

Not sure what you are asking in the last paragraph. You want me to fill out the forms for ya or what? lol j/k
If I understand correctly you want to get caregiver cards for five patients before you have five patients. You can do that; in fact I had an "extra" one for a little while when I had a patient that didn't pan out and had already sent in paperwork. I found a replacement though. Just be aware that if you grow for that many and don't have signed agreements for that many you are no more legal by having the caregiver card(s) if anyone decides to check.

only thing with a background check they will hold against you is a felony drug charge is what the lady on the phone said.. I dont imagine they would like any gun charges or anything like that either.

tet1953 said:

Yes, $300 per patient. I have never done more than one in a single application, but I suppose you could. The background check fee is paid once per calendar year in any case.

Patients do not file anything with the state, unless they wish to. You and your patient fill out and sign an agreement form, which you both keep a copy of. Patient needs to have certification from a doctor. If you are ever challenged by law enforcement, you show them your caregiver card and patient agreement(s). Up to them to pursue further if they are so inclined.

Yes, you can expand up to five patients. Just fill out a new app. To make it easier in Augusta, I put "New Patient - 3rd slot" (example) at the top of the app, and "Already paid for 20xx" for the background check.

You do not need to be a patient in order to be a caregiver. I don't know exactly what they are looking for in the background check. Personally I think it's just a money grab lol. I do know that any offenses in your past which would have been legal had this law existed or if you were licensed, they won't count.

Not sure what you are asking in the last paragraph. You want me to fill out the forms for ya or what? lol j/k
If I understand correctly you want to get caregiver cards for five patients before you have five patients. You can do that; in fact I had an "extra" one for a little while when I had a patient that didn't pan out and had already sent in paperwork. I found a replacement though. Just be aware that if you grow for that many and don't have signed agreements for that many you are no more legal by having the caregiver card(s) if anyone decides to check.

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thanks that actually helped out alot, i just want to put my talents as a grower to use to help people and be able to make some money legally. i have seen people charging upwards of 45-50 bucks and eith for meds (caregivers) and the product is not at all worth that much. i would like to be able to charge around 30 an 1/8th (which i feel is reasonable)

im not really in this for the money BUT if i can make a honest living doing something i enjoy and knowing i am helping people who need MMJ and have budget issues i think my quality of life will be better as well as my patients.

i dont think you fully understand the whole cargiver designation.....its not a money maker or a career, bro. thats not what it was intended for. just my opinion tho.. to each thier own. Its actally worded that a caregiver cant make financial gain, only the cost to grow. It costs me on average about 60-70$ per ounce to grow .. so how honest a "living" can that be.

HERBAL ASSASIN said:

i dont think you fully understand the whole cargiver designation.....its not a money maker or a career, bro. thats not what it was intended for. just my opinion tho.. to each thier own.

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well it has to have some form of profit margin or people wouldnt do it.

like i said above the money is not the main reason i would like to persue this its helping people get quality fair priced meds and persuing my own passion (which is growing) i intend on making enough money to get by and keep my operation in full steam not getting rich off it.

sorry if you took my post the wrong way, i feel that theres a best of both worlds here. i wouldnt be able to do this if it didnt have some form of profit as i invest alot into my grows and i also have bills and a family to support. but take it as you want.

I look at is as more as a hobby. Would you still charge your $30 an 1/8th to a stage 3 cancer patient? I know I do not, I just chalk it up to karma. God Bless and Best of Luck

maineyankee said:

I look at is as more as a hobby. Would you still charge your $30 an 1/8th to a stage 3 cancer patient? I know I do not, I just chalk it up to karma. God Bless and Best of Luck

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no man if they need it and cant afford it i would be more than happy to help them out in any way i can. Not really sure why im getting flamed here.....

well good luck with that.. im not tryin to be a dick. just saying theres some of us been at this since day one in this state. jOBS are for paying bills. Growing is to to provide meds for those that need them. I dont know of anyone that caretakes that does it for a living, because in this state a garden run like you prpose isnt legal. wikki profit, then check out cargiver laws and youll see what im getting at. a cargiver card does not give you the authority to sell weed, just grow a certain number of plants for a certain number of registered patients. it dont give you the right to charge em what you want.. those plants are thiers. the only Money that , by law, is supposed to change hands are reasonable amount to cover grow costs. Delievery is another thing.. but unless im mistaken you cant take a patients plant count and divy it up to them for a decent black market price. its illegal and unethical.

Sorry if it sounded that way Bro .... A CareGiver is just that .... one that Cares and Gives, never to expect anything in return. Sure we all have expensive lights, nutes, etc, but when it really comes down to it, we just give the shirt off our backs when need be. I guess I don't have a ledger where there is a line in there saying anything about a profit margin on it.... It just comes out in the wash is all

am i off base here?

HERBAL ASSASIN said:

am i off base here?

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Hell No HA

I'll throw my two cents in I guess. We've been over this several times in this forum actually. It's one of those perennial topics that comes up over and over. I personally see nothing wrong with charging $200-$250 a zip for those patients who can afford it. I also have patients who get meds for much less, or free. As to the calculation regarding financial gain for the caregiver, I suggest that in addition to lights, nutes, equipment, soil and the myriad other expenses (if done right) one must also consider the time and effort of the caregiver.
If somebody is able to provide quality meds at a reasonable, affordable price to the people who need it while at the same time be compensated reasonably for the effort, what's wrong with that? In my view that is what the state gave tacit approval to when it said dispensaries had to be non-profit yet allows them to charge $400 for an ounce of meds. Dispensaries have operational and labor expenses, and so does a caregiver.

im not trying to attack you, but more protect you becuase what your thinking about doing could have bad implications to you. run the way you see fit you wouldnt have any leag protection cause you were operating outside the law. hopfully you understand that this isnt personal. if you really wanna do this then you should know how to do it with in the guidelines is all. If no one told you you wouldnt know right?

oops add a t to the wikki link....

HERBAL ASSASIN said:

i dont think you fully understand the whole cargiver designation.....its not a money maker or a career, bro. thats not what it was intended for. just my opinion tho.. to each thier own. Its actally worded that a caregiver cant make financial gain, only the cost to grow. It costs me on average about 60-70$ per ounce to grow .. so how honest a "living" can that be.

Click to expand...

I understand your point of view on how the intentions aren't to make tons of money off of it & help those in need, but your saying it cost you 60$ to grow an ounce, so you provide your patients with ounces of top grade medical for that price? ( which you might, which is fabulous if you do) since your saying theres no financial gain, but
I do agree theres nothing wrong with covering your cost of all your electric, nutes..etc, and lets face it... I make an honest living working 48 hours a week and im pretty sure a % of my check goes to those who cannot afford health care and are non-terminally I'll patients capable of working. and to the op, if its your relative, why are you worried about prices? family shouldn't be a concern money wise.

my relative is the one who got me thinking about it since his caregiver right now is whacking him 45$ an eighth for shit meds. Im not trying to get rich here, im not trying to screw anyone and im not trying to go outside the law.

all im trying to do is something i enjoy, while helping others get the meds they need at an affordable cost (every patient will be different im sure) and be able to compensate myself for my time and money spent....

and im trying to do this legally, obviously why i am thinking about becoming a cargiver and not just growing blackmarket for blackmarket prices (which is more profitable than being a cargiver)

anyways like i said sorry to make the original post because i apparently shit in someones cherios....