Certification Process

In 2015, the then-Division of Licensing and Regulatory Services (DLRS) within the Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) launched an online service to allow licensed medical providers to certify patients for the use of medical cannabis. At the time, DHHS was the home of the Maine Medical Use of Cannabis Program (MMCP). 

The online service is available to licensed Maine medical physicians, nurse practitioners, and physicians assistants in good standing and will produce a standard printed certification for all patients in the MMCP. Its use is mandatory. Please note: Patients must consult with a licensed medical provider to obtain a certification to access medical cannabis; they cannot utilize this system to apply for a patient certification.

The system includes several precautions that ensure information privacy and data integrity and conforms to standard health care information security standards. It also offers a variety of benefits to patients, physicians and the MMCP. Enhanced security, direct relationship-building between the patient and provider and the immediate issuance of a patient designation card are just a few of these benefits.

Patient information is not captured or stored in this new system. A basic transaction history will be retained for statistical purposes, which include the date, name of the certifying medical provider, the zip code of the patient and whether the patient is over age 18. Medical provider login information and passwords are encrypted.

Below is the link to the system. All providers must visit the Medical Cannabis Certifications Online Portal to set up an account* and order paper before they can certify a patient to use medical cannabis.

* In order to set up an account, each provider must obtain their license number and access code from their appropriate board of licensure.

  • Board of Osteopathic Licensure: 287-2480
  • Board of Nursing: 287-1133
  • Board of of Licensure in Medicine: 287-3601