Choosing a Cannabis Caregiver in Maine

If you are a qualified medical marijuana patient with a valid physician recommendation certificate you can choose a caregiver to grow your medicine by completing a Designation Form.

Caregivers can provide quality medicine at a fraction of the $400+ price per ounce you will find at marijuana dispensaries. Most caregivers charge between $150-$350 per ounce, but you should shop around to find the right cannabis caregiver for you.

Always ask these six questions when speaking to potential caregivers:

1. Do you use chemical, organic, or natural growing techniques?
If the grower uses chemicals, consider the risks. Most organic growers use prepackaged soil, nutrients, insecticides, and fungicides. Natural growers tend to use materials from nature including local forest humus and composts. All plants should be flushed two weeks before harvest to ensure the safety of the medicine you will be ingesting.

2. Where is the marijuana grown: indoor, greenhouse, or outdoor?
Indoor and greenhouse marijuana is usually more potent because the trichomes (crystals) are not washed away by rain, but many long-time marijuana users prefer the flavor of outdoor plants.

3. Which strains do you currently grow and can I request particular strains?
Depending upon your illness, you may benefit from differing amounts of THC, CBD, or other cannabinoids. Your caregiver should be able to provide a strain to meet your medical needs.

4. Do you deliver?
Some caregivers are willing to deliver marijuana to your home for free or for a reasonable fee.

5. How much marijuana can you provide on a weekly or monthly basis?
Your caregiver needs to provide enough medicine for you. Currently patients can possess up to 2.5 ounces. Your caregiver should be able to provide you a perpetual harvest so there will not be a 'dry spell'. You may also wish to ask if prepared tinctures or edibles are available.

6. May I see where the cannabis is grown?
Most caregivers grow from home so be mindful of their privacy. A caregiver may wish to meet in a public place to see your valid physician certification and discuss your needs before showing you the grow area. You have every right to view the grow room or outdoor space where your medicine will be grown to be sure conditions are clean and sanitary. If plants are crowded, pests and fungus may be a problem. If light is inadequate, plants may not be potent or may not yield enough for your needs. Each caregiver can grow for up to a maximum of 5 patients so if there are hundreds of plants, the caregiver is breaking state law.

How to Find a Marijuana Caregiver in Maine

1. Decide what is important to you.

• Do you prefer organic or natural methods? Most organic growers use prepackaged soil, nutrients, insecticides, and fungicides. Natural growers tend to use materials from nature including local forest humus and composts.
• Where do you want your medicine to be grown: indoor, greenhouse, outdoor? Indoor and greenhouse marijuana is usually more potent because the trichomes (a.k.a. crystals) are not washed away by rain, but many long-time marijuana users prefer the flavor of outdoor plants.
• Do you need your medicine to be delivered? Some caregivers are willing to deliver marijuana to your home for free or for a reasonable fee.
• How much marijuana do you use? You caregiver needs to provide enough medicine for your needs. Currently, patients can possess up to 2.5 ounces. Your caregiver should be able to provide you with a perpetual harvest, so there will not be a 'dry spell'.

2.  Gather a list of local caregivers.

• Medical Marijuana Caregivers of Maine (MMCM) is a non-profit trade association that connects patients and caregivers throughout the state. MMCM services are free for patients (caregivers pay $30 a month). MMCM can be contacted by calling 207-699-4217.
• Compassionate Caregivers of Maine (CCM) is another non-profit organization. Call 1-866-327-5449 to find a local caregiver.
• You can search online for a caregiver in your area or contact patient advocates. Also try calling marijuana dispensaries. Although dispensaries and caregivers are competitors in the pot business, some dispensaries will give you information about local caregivers.

3.  Call or email caregivers.

• Caregivers can only grow for 5 patients, so you may have difficulty finding a caregiver that is accepting new patients. Speak to as many caregivers as you can and be sure to ask lots of questions about things that are important to you.

4. Meet the caregiver.

• Most caregivers grow from home, so be mindful of their privacy. A caregiver may wish to meet in a public place to see your valid physician certification and discuss your needs. Caregivers are able to employee one assistant, so you may meet the assistant first.

5. Ask to see the grow area.

• You have every right to inspect the grow room or outdoor space where your medicine will be grown to be sure conditions are clean and sanitary. If plants are crowded, pests and fungus may be a problem. If light is inadequate, plants may not be potent or may not yield enough for your needs.

6. Officially designate your caregiver.

You will need to fill out the Designation Form. Both you and your new caregiver must sign the form. You must know how many plants your caregiver will grow and if you will be picking up your marijuana or having it delivered. This designation is valid for one year, but can be changed at any time.