Connecticut Medical Cannabis Caregiver Registration

Last verified: March 2026

What Is a Caregiver?

A designated caregiver in Connecticut is a person authorized to purchase, possess, and transport medical cannabis on behalf of a registered patient. Caregivers are essential for patients who are homebound, have mobility limitations, are minors, or otherwise cannot visit a dispensary independently. Caregivers receive their own registration and can make purchases at any licensed dispensary on behalf of their patient.

Important: caregivers cannot cultivate cannabis and cannot use the patient's medical cannabis themselves.

The One-Patient Rule

Connecticut limits each caregiver to one patient — one of the most restrictive caregiver ratios in the nation. However, there are exceptions:

The exceptions recognize that family members — particularly parents with multiple children who are patients — should not be forced to register separate caregivers for each child. If you are a parent or guardian of multiple minor patients, you can serve as caregiver for all of them.

Eligibility Requirements

• Age: Must be at least 18 years old
• Registration: Must register with the DCP as a designated caregiver
• Patient designation: A registered patient must designate you as their caregiver through the DCP system
• Cost: Caregiver registration is free (the state fee was eliminated alongside the patient fee on July 1, 2023)

Registration Steps

1. Patient designates you: The registered patient must designate you as their caregiver through the DCP patient portal at biznet.ct.gov/dcp-mmrp.
2. Complete your caregiver application: Register as a caregiver through the DCP system. You will need a valid ID and personal information.
3. Receive your caregiver registration: Once approved, you can begin purchasing medical cannabis on behalf of your designated patient.

Caregiver Responsibilities

• Carry your registration: Always have your caregiver registration when purchasing or transporting cannabis for a patient.
• Purchase only for your designated patient: You may only purchase cannabis for the patient(s) who formally designated you through the DCP system.
• Cannot cultivate: Caregivers are not authorized to grow cannabis on behalf of patients.
• Cannot use the patient's cannabis: Using a patient's medical cannabis for your own purposes is prohibited and may result in criminal charges and loss of caregiver status.
• Transport rules: Cannabis must be transported in sealed containers. Keep it in the trunk or a locked compartment when driving.

Caregivers for Minor Patients

Minor patients (under 18) must have a parent or legal guardian serve as their caregiver. This is not optional — minors cannot access medical cannabis without a registered caregiver. Key rules for minor patients:

• A parent or legal guardian must register as caregiver
• The minor cannot smoke, inhale, or vaporize cannabis in any form
• Only non-inhalable products are permitted: edibles, tinctures, capsules, tablets, topicals
• The caregiver is responsible for dosing and administration

Caregiver vs. Recreational Purchase

Some might wonder: with recreational cannabis available to anyone 21+, why bother with caregiver registration? The answer is the same as for patients — medical purchases are tax-free, the possession limit is higher (5 ounces vs. 1.5), and certain product forms are only available to medical patients. Additionally, patients aged 18–20 cannot buy recreational cannabis but can access medical cannabis through a caregiver.