The caregiver cultivator; a step by step

This article is designed to provide the details one needs to become a caregiver for a medical cannabis patient in Missouri and cultivate on their behalf. A previous article detailed how to become and caregiver and provided information about caregiving in general. Here, we’ll dig a little deeper and discuss the process in more detail. This article will be longer than most found on this site and for good reason.

1: I recommend becoming a patient cultivator and starting your own personal garden before growing for someone else. What you learn during this process will be helpful in understanding what kind of patient you can help, and how many. For example, if the limitations in your grow don’t allow for much production then you will want to find a patient who doesn’t need much medicinal cannabis. I know a number of patients who use an ounce or less per month. Naturally, experienced growers can skip this step.

2: Develop a full understanding of your costs to cultivate. A previous article describes this process, provides a spreadsheet for your use, and gives a real-life example. At the end of the day, if you can’t produce an ounce of medicine for less than $200 then you should reconsider being a caregiver. With the limitation of 3 patients, you can’t make a living doing it, even at the prices found in the criminal market. Further, you should also consider whether or not you will give a price break to ‘low income’ patients (a designation found on their patient card). For example, I waive my time (labor costs) for those patients. Many patients are on fixed incomes and if your prices are too high, you’re just taking food off their table.

3: Understand that a patient should not be responsible for your startup costs. Those will be your lights, after all. If you think about it, it works this way in other markets such as trucking. You can make more money if you own your own semi-truck. However, you’ll never find someone to haul for if you insist on charging them for the cost of your rig before taking the first load. That makes no sense. Likewise, a cabinet maker doesn’t charge his first customer for the cost of equipment in his wood shop. Yes, you should charge enough to reimburse yourself for the equipment needed – but this should be done over the useful life of that equipment.

4. Develop an understanding of how to use cannabis medicinally. No, it isn’t always about getting high – nor should it be. Some patients can be very sensitive to THCTHC is the most famous cannabinoid and is psychoactive.  TH... so the caregiver needs to be prepared to help with this. Therapeutic use is about treating symptoms with the minimal number of side effects. That said, ‘euphoria’ is a side effect. If that is desirable, that’s just fine too.

5: Find a patient who needs someone to cultivate for them. Patients are clamoring for trusted caregivers, so this shouldn’t be an issue. It will be important to interview the patient to:

• Ensure that the patient has a valid MMMP Patient Card
• Understand what their monthly consumption looks like (new patients won’t know)
• Determine income status (e.g. ‘low income’)
• Which are their preferred varieties or types (e.g. high THCTHC is the most famous cannabinoid and is psychoactive.  TH..., 1:1 CBDCBD is a cannabinoid with high medical value.  It lessens t... More:THCTHC is the most famous cannabinoid and is psychoactive.  TH..., high CBDCBD is a cannabinoid with high medical value.  It lessens t... More, etc)
• Ensure that the patient is also a licensed patient cultivator
  • If they aren’t, they should be. Someone will need to pay the $100 and if the patient registers then they can keep the ability to cultivate should the patient/caregiver relationship end. They could even transfer that to another caregiver if needed.
  • If they apply to cultivate they should describe how they would do this at their current location (and change it later)

6: At this point you are ready to apply to be their caregiver. It is assumed that you have already discussed price in addition to the questions above.

• Acquire the Patient’s PAT# for the purposes of the application
• Download, print, and fill out a Patient Authorization Form
• Visit the Department of Health and Senior Services website and follow instructions for applying to be a caregiver (do not check the cultivation box)
• Pay $25 fee
• Wait for approval

7: Once approved, the patient will need to update their cultivation address and description. The patient should:

• Log in to MyComplia
• Start a New Application
• Select Patient Update
• Update with caregiver name and caregiver number (CAR#) if needed
• Update Cultivation address to: <caregiver’s cultivation address>
• Update Cultivation process description – (sample description only): “<caregiver name> will cultivate on my behalf at <caregiver’s cultivation address> in a locked room accessible only to <caregiver name>. No cultivation activities will be visible to the public.”

8: Finally, when the patient’s update has been approved you should both receive a new cultivation document listing the correct location and caregiver information. At this point, cultivation activities on behalf of the patient may begin.

I’d really love to see all patient cultivators be a caregiver for at least one other person. Chances are, you’re already producing an extra ounce or two each month – so why not share the love?!

Happy Harvests!
— The Lit Farmer —