For Practitioners
Complete the four-hour NYSDOH-approved online course
Register with the NYSDOS Medical Marijuana Program
Determine whether your patient meets the requirements for certification, and have the patient under your continued care for their serious condition(s)
Consult PMP for narcotic and medical marijuana history
Certify patients, enter patient’s demographic information, one of the eligible participants, recommendations for the patient
Print out the certification, sign it, and provide it to the patient
How to become a registered medical marijuana practitioner in NY
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 Public Health Law §3360(7) 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 objective neurological indication of intractable spasticity, epilepsy, inflammatory bowel disease, neuropathy, chronic pain as defined by 10 NYCRR §1004.2(a)(8)(xi), Huntington’s disease, or any condition for which an opioid could be prescribed. Patients must also have one of the following associated or complicating conditions: cachexia or wasting syndrome, opioid use disorder, 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, or be certified, in good standing as a nurse practitioner and practicing, as defined in Article 139 of the Education Law, in New York State, or be licensed, in good standing as a physician assistant and practicing in New York State, as defined in article 131-B of the Education Law, under the supervision of a physician registered with the New York State medical marijuana program;
- Have completed one of two four-hour courses approved by the Commissioner; and
- Have registered with the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH).
- For more information, please visit the NY Medical Marijuana Program’s Practitioner Information Page.
Our Facilities
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Medical marijuana patients in New York State have a unique opportunity to obtain product from a licensed pharmacist available to answer all patient questions and coordinate treatment plans with each patient’s licensed practitioner. On entering our brand-new world-class facility, patients are invited to wait in a comfortable patient waiting area before obtaining access to a private consultation room wherein each patient can meet privately with our pharmacy staff. At Columbia Care, we recognize that patients who have chosen to come to our facility have done so only after careful consideration and consultation with licensed practitioners. We do everything we can to make patients feel comfortable in our facilities by respecting patient privacy and by holding ourselves to the absolute highest level of professionalism and respect. All facilities are ground-floor and wheel-chair accessible.
Practices
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Patients at Columbia Care will have access to our on-site pharmacy team. Our pharmacy team will coordinate treatment options with each patient’s licensed practitioner. Furthermore, our pharmacy staff will train each new patient on using our products. We offer assistance with scheduling as well as reduced fees for senior citizens, veterans, individuals on medicaid, SSI and SSDI assistance.
Dispensary Experience
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Each patient must present his or her medical marijuana ID card at the door of our dispensary in order to obtain access to our building. A receptionist and a security guard will be present to assist the patient at each location. For convenience, all of our dispensaries in New York State are on the ground-level; there are no stairs or elevators.
In addition to his or her medical marijuana ID card, we ask each patient to bring along his or her doctor certification as well. The certification contains product and dosing information that is a necessary part of having our pharmacist dispense medical marijuana.
For each new patient, our receptionist will scan the certification and the medical marijuana ID card together as one file in our system. On arrival, new patients will be asked to complete a new-patient intake form as well.
Columbia Care has no cost associated with a patient consultation. Columbia Care only charges for the products themselves. At this time, Columbia Care accepts cash and debit card payment. Insurance does not cover the cost of medical marijuana. We do, however, offer a 15% discount to veterans, senior citizens, individuals on Medicaid, Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
New patients will meet with our pharmacy staff at the time of the appointment. At this time, our pharmacy staff will instruct new patients on the use of our products. New patients are invited to ask questions. Our pharmacist and dispensary staff may also want to make contact with a patient’s prescribing doctor at the time of the appointment if there are lingering dosing questions or other concerns.
Before leaving our dispensary, patients are invited to schedule returning patient appointments with our receptionist. Returning patient appointments are useful as many new patients develop further questions after using our products. These questions are often best answered by our pharmacy staff. After becoming familiar with the use of our products and becoming responsible for prescription refill dates, returning patients are invited to schedule prescription refill appointments.
Additional Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Columbia Care Locations
Our Products
If you are a healthcare practitioner that is interested in recommending Medical Marijuana please contact us at jwaples@col-care.com.
More detailed information here (password protected). For access to this portal, please contact jwaples@col-care.com.