Patient and Caregiver Registration Questions

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How can I get a NY medical marijuana card and make purchases?

If you live in New York and have a qualifying medical condition, you’re eligible to apply for a medical marijuana card. You’ll need to obtain a patient certification from a registered doctor, physician’s assistant or nurse, and submit a patient application to the New York Department of Health. Once you receive your NY medical marijuana card, you can begin making purchases at the dispensary.

Click here for step-by-step instructions: How to Get a NY Medical Marijuana Card

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What are the qualifying medical conditions in NY?

To participate in New York’s medical marijuana program, patients must have a qualifying medical condition and experience associated or complicating symptoms. The qualifying medical conditions are as follows:

  • ALS
  • Cancer
  • Chronic Pain
  • Epilepsy
  • HIV/AIDS
  • Huntington’s Disease
  • Inflammatory Bowel Disease
  • Multiple Sclerosis
  • Neuropathy
  • Parkinson’s Disease
  • Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
  • Spinal Cord Injury with Spasticity

The associated or complicating conditions include:

  • Cachexia/Wasting Syndrome
  • Severe or Chronic pain
  • Severe Nausea
  • Severe or Persistent Muscle Spasms
  • Seizures

Additional qualifying conditions are being considered and added to the program on an ongoing basis.

Click here for step-by-step instructions: How to Get a NY Medical Marijuana Card

How Do I Find a Certified Physician or Nurse Practitioner?

Contact your primary care physician to see if he or she is licensed to certify patients in New York State. If your PCP is not certified and not interested in becoming certified, he or she will still be able to find the names for other physicians or nurse practitioners who are certified and who have chosen to make their names public to other physicians and nurse practitioners through a physician-access portal. This portal is located on the Health Commerce System at the Department of Health webpage. Please note, the Department of Health does not currently allow dispensaries to provide the names of registered providers.

Do I need to have a New York address to qualify for a medical marijuana card?

Yes. Per State regulations, you must have documentation of your New York State residency in order to obtain a Medical Marijuana ID Card with New York State.

  • You can satisfy this requirement by providing the ID number from your New York State Driver’s License or New York State Non-Driver ID Card.
  • If you do not have, or cannot obtain, this information, you must provide a copy of one of the following:
    1. a copy of a government-issued identification card that contains your name and New York State address. If you are under the age of eighteen, your parent or legal guardian applying on your behalf (proxy applicant) must submit a copy of his or her state or government issued identification and a copy of the applicant’s birth certificate;
    2. a copy of a utility bill or other document showing your residency issued within the previous two months. The document must contain your name and address;
    3. a copy of a current lease or similar document showing your residency within New York State; or
    4. other documentation as approved by DOH containing sufficient information to show proof of residency in New York State.

If you are a non-New York State Resident temporarily residing in New York for the care and treatment of a serious condition, and you have been certified by a practitioner registered in New York State, you must provide documentation showing proof of temporary residence in New York State. Examples include, but are not limited to:

  1. a copy of a lease;
  2. a utility bill;
  3. a hospital bill; or
  4. other documentation as approved by DOH, which contains sufficient information to show proof of temporary residency in New York State.

Click here to visit the Medical Marijuana Program Certified Patient and Designated Caregiver Registration Requirements.

Are Physician Assistants able to certify patients for medical marijuana?

The Department of Health is considering allowing Physician Assistants to be able to register patients to the Medical Marijuana program as well. Under the proposed guideline, PAs would only be able to register patients if the physician under whom they work is also registered.

The online medical marijuana patient registration system doesn’t seem to be working, what do I do?

In the unlikely event the state’s Medical Marijuana Data Management System (MMDMS) is down, or if you need to register by paper, New York State has initiated an alternative paper process. This document is printed with the patient certification form and contains instructions for patients on how to register.  The Department processes the paper patient registrations as quickly as possible.

New and Existing Patient Questions

I’ve never been to a medical marijuana dispensary. How does it work?

A medical marijuana dispensary is a simple, secure facility designed to provide access for patients to receive their medicine in a safe, welcoming environment. Qualified patients or their caregivers must present their state-issued ID cards at the door. No one else is permitted to enter the establishment other than registered employees attending to the facility. Once inside, patients are greeted by a NY licensed pharmacist who is trained to answer questions about the medicine and will help the patient find the right product based on the patient’s individual health needs. The patient or caregiver then makes their selection, purchases the medicine, and exits. Security staff monitor events inside and outside the facility.

Why should I choose Columbia Care as my dispensary?

  • Quality: We’re proud to be a dispensary in New York that is licensed to manufacture state-approved medical marijuana products which will enables us to offer the best variety of products and carefully control the quality of our medicine.
  • Comfort: Our facilities are carefully designed to create a comfortable experience for our patients and caregivers. Our dispensaries will feature wide halls, cozy seating, beautiful plants and art, spacious restrooms, and wheelchair accessibility.
  • Customer Service: Our staff is friendly, attentive, and highly knowledgeable. We will work hard to maintain a welcoming and safe environment for all our visitors and we’ll do everything we can to make your patient experience a pleasant one.

What types of medical marijuana are permitted in New York State?

In New York, the approved forms of medical marijuana include oral and sublingual liquids; oil for vaporization or administration via inhaler; capsules to take orally,

topicals such as ointments, lotions and patches; solid and semi-solid products, including chewable and effervescent tablets and lozenges; and certain non-smokable forms of ground plant material. Under NY law, smoking is not permitted.

Click here to read the updated NYS DoH regulations.

Click here to learn more about the products we offer.

What do I need to bring to my appointment?

Patients need to bring the following to their appointment:

  • New York Medical Marijuana Program Registry Patient ID Card
  • Certification Form signed by a registered practitioner

Please note, at present we accept cash and debit cards as payment types.

Pre-registration paperwork can also be filled out prior to your appointment. Click here to access the form.

If you are a caregiver, please bring your New York Medical Marijuana Program Registry Caregiver ID Card. If possible, please also bring the patient’s medical marijuana ID card to the initial consultation as well. This allows us to scan both cards and link them as one file in our system.

Are walk-ins welcome?

Yes! We do now have limited walk-in availability at our Manhattan and Riverhead locations.

Manhattan: NEW Walk-in Hours: Monday 11am-3pm

Riverhead: NEW Walk-in Hours: Thursday 2pm-5pm

What forms of payment do you accept?

We currently accept cash and debit card payment.

How do I schedule an appointment?

Please click here to schedule an appointment, or call 1-800-764-8162.

What products do you have in stock at Columbia Care?

We currently have three formats of products available. Click here for details on our product offerings.

  1. Sublingual tincture is a liquid placed underneath the tongue with an oral syringe. We have sublingual tincture in three different THC:CBD formulations: 20T:1C, 1T:1C and 1T:20C ratios.
  2. Vaporization products, which enable patients to inhale the vaporized medication. We have vaporization products in three different THC:CBD formulations: 20T:1C, 1T:1C and 1T:20C ratios.
  3. Capsules, which are formulated as powder-filled capsules to be swallowed. We have capsules in three different THC:CBD formulations: 20T:1C, 1T:1C and 1T:20C ratios.

Please contact your dispensary to confirm availability of the product and quantity you wish to obtain.

I am an existing patient. How do I add a caregiver to my account?

Existing patients who would like to add a caregiver to their account should go back into their patient file with the NY State Department of Health and add a caregiver. Please know that the caregiver would also need to create an application online and accept that designation as a caregiver. Only then will the caregiver card arrive in the mail. Feel free to call the number on the back of the medical marijuana ID card if you have any questions.

I have a medical marijuana card from another state. Can I use it to purchase medical marijuana in New York?

No, unfortunately not. Only patients who are registered with the NY State Department of Health will be permitted to visit dispensaries to purchase medical marijuana.

Will my insurance cover medical marijuana?

No. Insurance will not cover medical marijuana at this time.

Is there a number I can call in the case of an adverse event?

Report adverse events 24/7 by calling 844-568-8133

 

In the case of a medical emergency, dial 9-1-1.

Delivery Questions

Who is eligible to receive deliveries?

In order to qualify for delivery, patients must meet the following criteria:

  • Have residence in one of six counties in New York: We now deliver to Monroe, Erie, Genesee, Livingston, Ontario, and Wayne Counties.
  • Have previously completed a consultation with our dispensary staff either in person or through our video consultation service. After an initial consultation has been completed with our pharmacy staff, it will be determined if the patient or designated caregiver qualifies for home delivery service.
  • Must suffer from a physical incapacity that bars access to transportation, or have mobility issues that make visiting our dispensary in person especially difficult. Columbia Care reserves the right to request verification such as NYS parking permit mv6441 NYS approved documentation or to obtain a physician’s note or an attestation confirming inability to visit a dispensary location or other forms of consent as determined by Columbia Care.
  • Be currently enrolled in the New York State medical marijuana program. All currently enrolled medical marijuana patients must have a valid up-to-date Patient Certification issued by a registered medical marijuana prescriber in New York; currently enrolled medical marijuana patients and Caregivers will also have a valid Medical Marijuana ID Card issued by the New York State Department of Health.

How do I place an order for delivery?

Patients who are eligible for delivery may place an order through the secure form located here.

Will Columbia Care expand the delivery program?

Yes. Columbia Care is proud to be the first provider in New York State to offer a medical marijuana delivery service to qualifying patients. We’re committed to the success of our new delivery program and we’ll work to expand access for patients throughout the state. We will listen to patient feedback and keep you posted as we continue to grow and expand the service.

Provider Questions

How do I become a registered medical marijuana practitioner in New York?

As set forth in 10 NYCRR §1004.1(a), practitioners seeking to issue certifications for their patients to receive medical marijuana products must meet the following criteria:

  • Be qualified to treat patients with one or more of the serious conditions set forth in subdivision seven of section thirty-three hundred sixty of the public health law or as added by the Commissioner. The law currently identifies the following severe, debilitating or life threatening conditions: cancer, HIV infection or AIDS, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury with spasticity, epilepsy, inflammatory bowel disease, neuropathy, and Huntington’s disease. Patients must also have one of the following associated or complicating conditions: cachexia or wasting syndrome, severe or chronic pain, severe nausea, seizures, or severe or persistent muscle spasms;
  • Be licensed, in good standing as a physician and practicing medicine, as defined in article one hundred thirty one of the Education Law, in New York State;
  • Have completed a four-hour course approved by the Commissioner; and
  • Have registered with the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH).

For more information, please go to https://www.health.ny.gov/regulations/medical_marijuana/practitioner/

Video Consultation Questions

How do I schedule a video consultation?

Video consultations can be scheduled through Columbia Care’s secure website. You can schedule your video consultation by visiting this link.

Can I cancel my video consultation?

If a video consultation needs to be cancelled on a scheduled date, please notify Columbia Care immediately at 800-764-8162 or write to info@col-care.com

Are Columbia Care video consultations HIPAA-compliant?

Yes. Columbia Care is proud to be the very first medical marijuana dispensary in New York State with a video consultation service that is fully HIPAA-compliant.

 

Our vendor’s platform contains transport encryption with appropriate ciphers, at-rest encryption, software and hardware firewalls, intrusion detection, anti-virus scanning, server segmentation, unique access controls and access auditing, breach reporting, proper media disposal, disaster-recovery plans, and other features. Furthermore, our vendor performs its own yearly internal HIPAA review and participates in a yearly external HIPAA review.

Can I have someone who is not a registered patient or a designated caregiver with the New York State medical marijuana program sit in on a video consultation with me?

No. For the purposes of privacy and with consideration to HIPAA-compliant practices, we do not permit anyone who does not have a Medical Marijuana ID Card or a Medical Marijuana Caregiver ID Card to participate in a video consultation.

Can I purchase medical marijuana products at the time of a video consultation?

No. We do not permit the purchase of medical marijuana products at the time of a video consultation. In compliance with New York State Department of Health regulations, we only permit the purchase of medical marijuana products at the time of dispensing.

What documentation do I need to have on me at the time of a video consultation?

At the time of a video consultation, we require the registered patient or designated caregiver to have in his or her possession the following items:

  • Medical Marijuana ID Card or Medical Marijuana Caregiver ID Card
  • Patient Certification
  • Another form of State-issued identification.

 

Please know, in addition to verifying identification, a registered patient or designated caregiver must personally sign the attestation at the start of the video consultation.

Do I have to conduct a video consultation from my residence?

No. Columbia Care is happy to have a video consultation with registered patients and designated caregivers at their office or at another establishment. Please know, although we do not require a patient or caregiver to be in any specific location during a video consultation, we do ask that the patient or caregiver schedules the consultation to take place in a private location with access to the internet.

What can I expect from a video consultation?

Columbia Care is happy to provide assistance on several kinds of questions through the use of a video consultation. Video consultations help registered patients and designated caregivers who want to learn about the medical marijuana products that we have available, who may want to speak with our pharmacy staff to adjust product formulation or dosing, or who may want additional instruction on how to use our medical marijuana products.

 

During a video consultation, our Columbia Care pharmacy staff will first ask each registered patient or designated caregiver to present his or her New York State Medical Marijuana ID Card or Medical Marijuana Caregiver ID Card in addition to another form of New York State identification.

 

Our pharmacy staff will begin each consultation by reviewing the most up-to-date Patient Certification and by asking each patient or caregiver about the reason for the consultation.

 

Our Columbia Care PharmDs will be able to answer questions on product formulation and dosing, drug interactions, contraindications, cautions, and a wide variety of other considerations.

 

At the end of each video consultation, our pharmacy staff will be able to place an express order on behalf of the registered patient or designated caregiver; we would also be available to schedule your next appointment.

When should I be ready for my video consultation?

We ask that all registered patients and designated caregivers who have scheduled a video consultation be ready 5-10 minutes before the time of the consultation. Although we have provided detailed instructions on navigating the virtual waiting room, please set aside a little time for computer technical details. This includes allowing time to download the relevant plug-in and allowing time to check that the computer sound system and microphone are working properly.

How long can I expect the video consultation to last?

We schedule video consultations to last 40 minutes for new and returning patient appointments but the length of each consultation may vary.

 

In order to help our Columbia Care pharmacy staff best prepare for your video consultation, please include accurate and detailed information with your questions and concerns and other considerations on our Columbia Care video consultation form when you schedule a video consultation.

 

If in the event that you are running out of time during your video consultation, our pharmacist will make special arrangement with you to finish the video consultation at a time that is convenient.

Who is eligible for Columbia Care’s video consultation service?

There are several criteria for eligibility in Columbia Care’s medical marijuana video consultation service. Patients of our video consultation service must:

  • Be currently enrolled in the New York State medical marijuana program. All currently enrolled medical marijuana patients must have a valid up-to-date Patient Certification issued by a registered medical marijuana prescriber in New York; currently enrolled medical marijuana patients and caregivers will also have a valid NY Medical Marijuana ID Card or NY Medical Marijuana Caregiver ID Card issued by the New York State Department of Health.
  • Have submitted his or her intake paperwork to our dispensary staff ahead of the video consultation. This intake paperwork is a required part of scheduling the video consultation.
  • Have provided us with a copy of his or her Patient Certification 24 hours ahead of the video consultation.

Columbia Care is offering video consultations to both new patients and returning patients in an effort to increase patient access to the medical marijuana program in New York State.

Are you planning to expand the days of video consultations?

Columbia Care will continue to monitor demand and listen to patient feedback as we evaluate any expansion of our video consultation program.

On what days do you offer video consultations?

We offer medical marijuana video consultations every Wednesday and Thursday from 10am – 3pm, excluding Columbia Care observed holidays. We ask that all registered patients and designated caregivers schedule video consultations 24 hours in advance.

Are there additional concerns about eligibility for video consultations?

Dispensary personnel can only provide video consultations for those registered patients or designated caregivers whose certification expiration date and dosing expiration expiration date has not yet passed. We cannot provide video consultations for individuals who are not currently enrolled in the New York Medical Marijuana Program.

 

Our pharmacy staff will take registered patients and designated caregivers for video consultations in the event that a Patient Certification has expired as long as the relevant registered patient or designated caregiver is an active patient or caregiver of Columbia Care with questions on current Columbia Care medical marijuana product use.

 

Please know, video consultations do not guarantee that we can provide products that

I have a caregiver attached to my patient file with the Department of Health. Am I still eligible for a Columbia Care video consultation?

Yes. Columbia Care does not qualify or disqualify patients for our video consultation based on medical marijuana caregiver status.

I am a new patient with Columbia Care. Do I qualify for video consultations?

Yes. Video consultations are available for those registered patients or designated caregivers who have never visited our Columbia Care dispensary in person. Columbia Care is offering video consultations to both new patients and returning patients in an effort to increase patient access to the medical marijuana program in New York State

What documents do I need to prove eligibility for video consultations?

Columbia Care reserves the right to verify qualification for our video consultation program. At the start of every video consultation, Columbia will ask the registered patient or designated caregiver to display his or her NY Medical Marijuana ID Card or NY Medical Marijuana Caregiver ID Card in addition to another form of New York State identification.

At the time of each video consultation, we also ask registered patients and designated caregiver to have on hand a copy of his or her:

o NY Medical Marijuana ID Card or Caregiver ID Card
o NY Medical Marijuana Patient Certification
o Another form of New York State ID

Prior to a video consultation, Columbia Care must also have on file an up-to-date copy of the relevant medical marijuana Patient Certification. All new patients must also have completed their new patient intake paperwork.

How do I schedule a video consultation?

Video consultations can be scheduled through Columbia Care’s secure website. You can schedule your video consultation by visiting this link.

What is the Cost of a Columbia Care’s Video Consultation?

Columbia Care does not charge a fee for video consultations. We want to make sure that this service is free of charge for both new or returning patients.

Other Questions

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Do you have any employment opportunities available?

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