Minnesota Marijuana Information & FAQ

Cancer associated with severe/chronic pain, nausea or severe vomiting, or cachexia or severe wasting; Glaucoma; HIV/AIDS; Tourette’s Syndrome; Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS); Seizures, including those characteristic of epilepsy; Severe and persistent muscle spasms, including those characteristic of multiple sclerosis; Crohn’s Disease; and Terminal illness, with a life expectancy of less than one year, if the illness or treatment produces severe/chronic pain, nausea or severe vomiting, cachexia or severe wasting.

A certification of the patient's qualifying condition from a licensed doctor, physician assistant or advanced practice nurse dated within 90 days prior to submitting the application must be submitted with the application.

A Minnesota licensed doctor of medicine, a Minnesota licensed physician assistant acting within the scope of authorized practice, or a Minnesota licensed advanced practice registered nurse who has the primary responsibility for the care and treatment of the qualifying medical condition of a person diagnosed with a qualifying medical condition.

Most registered patients will pay an annual fee of $200 to participate in the program, there is a reduced annual fee of $50 for some qualifying Minnesotans.

Yes and the minors parent or legal guardian may act as the caregiver to the patient without having to register as a designated caregiver.

Smoking or the use of dried leaves or plant form is not allowed. The commissioner shall review and publicly report the range of recommended dosages for each qualifying condition. The commissioner shall make this information available to patients with qualifying medical conditions beginning December 1, 2014.

There is a presumption that a patient enrolled in the registry program is engaged in the authorized use of medical cannabis. The patient application process will start at some point after February 1, 2015.

No.

The proposed rules for the distribution of medical cannabis will be published prior to January 1, 2015.

A patient's enrollment in the registry program may only be revoked if a patient violates a requirement under section 152.30 or 152.33.

An annual fee is due on the anniversary date of the patient's enrollment. However, the rules regarding the registry program will not be proposed until early 2015.

These rules have not been written.

It is important to recognize that these state marijuana laws do not change the fact that using marijuana continues to be an offense under Federal law.

The name, address and date of birth of the patient's designated caregiver must be included on the patient application. The caregiver shall be registered for a patient if the caregiver has agreed in writing, passes a criminal background check and meets the following conditions: (1) be at least 21 years of age; (2) agree to only possess any medical cannabis for purposes of assisting the patient; and (3) agree that if the application is approved, the person will not be a registered designated caregiver for more than one patient, unless the patients reside in the same residence.

No. Neither patients or caregivers are allowed to grow marijuana, medical marijuana may be obtained from registered manufacturers.

Possibly, however a caregiver is a person who: (1) is at least 21 years old; (2) does not have a conviction for a disqualifying felony offense; (3) has been approved by the commissioner to assist a patient who has been identified by a health care practitioner as developmentally or physically disabled and therefore unable to self-administer medication or acquire medical cannabis from a distribution facility due to the disability; and (4) is authorized by the commissioner to assist the patient with the use of medical cannabis.

The state will register two manufacturers that will operate four distribution centers around the state for a total of eight distribution centers. Cooperatives and collectives are not allowed.

There will be 8 total distribution facilities located based on geographical need.

Only manufacturers registered by the state.

The Minnesota Department of Health released a first draft of the rules on August 1, 2014. The rule is just a draft and not final so changes to the rules will be made before a final version is in place.