Section 5 of Public Act 25-101 allows licensed dispensaries to issue temporary medical marijuana certifications to qualifying patients in Connecticut.
Two Types of Temporary Certification
1. Temporary Extension (90 Days)
Who can get this: Current medical marijuana patients whose doctor's certification has expired
What it does: Extends an existing certification for up to 90 consecutive days
Where to get it: At a licensed dispensary facility or hybrid retailer
Who provides it: A licensed dispensary working at that location
2. New Temporary Certification (90 Days)
Who can get this: New patients who need to start using medical marijuana quickly
How long it lasts: Up to 90 consecutive days
Requirements:
The patient must:
- Be at least 18 years old
- Have a qualifying debilitating medical condition
- Have an in-person assessment by the licensed dispensary working at the dispensary facility
- Add a caregiver, if needed
To begin certifying your patients you must:
- Obtain a state-issued DEA registration number by e-mailing the Medical Marijuana Program at dcp.mmp@ct.gov. This is a required unique number assigned to each individual licensed dispensary pharmacist.
- Create a DAS Business Network Account so you can access the online registration system.
- Login to the registration system using your local CT DEA Number and BizNET account email address.
Be prepared to obtain contact information from the patient, including a valid e-mail address, correct date of birth, and primary phone number. This information must be included in the patient profile page of your certification before it can be submitted.
Process for New Temporary Certifications
What the Licensed Dispensary Must Do
- Review medical history to confirm:
- Patient is at least 18 years old, and
- Patient has a debilitating medical condition
- Conduct an in-person assessment at the dispensary location.
- Check the state prescription monitoring system to verify no other dispensary has prescribed or dispensed marijuana to this patient in the past year.
- Provide the certification on the official form by logging into BizNET. (New Patient)
- Explain risks and benefits of medical marijuana use to the patient (or their legal guardian, if applicable).
- Registration can only be issued once.
The Certification Form Must Include:
A signed and dated statement from the licensed dispensary confirming:
- The patient has provided sufficient proof of a debilitating medical condition
- The potential benefits likely outweigh the health risks for this patient
These elements are part of the attestation statement on the BizNET registration page. By indicating “yes” and clicking submit at the bottom of the page you are confirming this statement and its elements to be true and accurate.
Process for Extending Existing Certifications
What the Licensed Dispensary Must Do
- Check the state prescription monitoring system to verify no other dispensary has prescribed or dispensed marijuana to this patient in the past year.
- Provide the certification on the official form by logging into BizNET. (New Patient)
- Explain risks and benefits of medical marijuana use to the patient (or their legal guardian, if applicable).
- Registration can only be issued once per year.
Fees
- Maximum fee a licensed dispensary may charge a patient for this service: $25
- No other fees may be charged for the temporary certification
Important Exceptions
- Glaucoma patients cannot receive temporary certifications from licensed dispensaries. Only physicians can certify patients with glaucoma for medical marijuana use.
- Individuals under the age of 18 cannot receive a temporary certification from a licensed dispensary.
Record Keeping Requirements
Licensed dispensaries must:
- Keep all patient records for at least 3 years from the certification date
- Store records either:
- In hard copy at the dispensary location, OR
- Electronically in an easily accessible system
- Make records available to the Department of Consumer Protection within 48 hours if requested
Legal Protections for Dispensaries
Licensed dispensaries who follow these rules are protected from:
- Arrest or prosecution
- Civil penalties
- Professional disciplinary action
- Loss of professional licenses
As long as they:
- Reasonably determined the patient is 18+ and has a qualifying condition
- Explained the risks and benefits to the patient or legal guardian
Questions?
For more information, contact the Medical Marijuana Program at dcp.mmp@ct.gov, or 860-713-6066.
This guidance document simplifies legal language for easier understanding. While the Department may offer guidance this should not be misconstrued as an agreement not to take enforcement action for any registration that does not meet regulatory requirements. The official regulations govern in cases of any discrepancies and can be found at Public Act 25-101.