A designated caregiver is a person other than the patient’s physician who assumes significant responsibility in managing the well-being of a patient who has been diagnosed with debilitating medical condition.
The caregiver must be identified by the patient as either primary caregiver or alternate caregiver, and he can perform as such for only one patient at a time. Caregivers may simultaneously serve two or more patients, provided that they are related to the caregiver by at least the fourth degree of kinship either by marriage or blood relation.
If the patient is a minor or has no legal capacity, the patient’s parent or guardian shall serve as the primary caregiver and he shall control the acquisition, possession, dosage, and frequency of use of marijuana by the patient.
Requirements
An individual person may be designated as primary caregiver or alternate caregiver for a qualifying patient if the person submits a sworn statement on a form provided by the department declaring that the person:
- Is at least 21 years of age;
- Has never been convicted of a drug-related felony offense or a law/ordinance of another jurisdiction with elements similar to such an offense; and
- Is not currently on probation or parole from this or another jurisdiction.
- The name, address, date of birth, and copy of the Alaska driver’s license or identification card number of the designated caregiver of the patient if identified at the time of application
Becoming a Caregiver
If the patient designates or specifies primary and alternate caregivers, the caregivers shall also fill-out the corresponding application form provided by the Department and include a copy or their Alaska driver’s licenses or identification card numbers. This will be forwarded to the department along with the qualifying patient’s application for registration and other requirements.
The applications together with a check or money order for the refundable fee of $25 ($20 for renewal) shall be mailed to the Department for processing.
Within thirty days upon receipt of the application for registration, the Department shall verify all information contained on the application. If the application is not denied due to misinformation and/or falsification, a serially numbered registry identification card shall be issued to the applicants not more than five days after verifying such information.
If the Department fails to issue a registry identification card within thirty-five days upon receipt of the application, the patient’s application will be deemed to have been approved.