Cost is a real reason people put off a medical card. The Massachusetts regulation defines Verified Financial Hardship and attaches duties to certifying providers and medical dispensaries. This page gives the definition, the current federal poverty figures behind the income line, and where the regulation uses the term.
Cost is a real reason people put off a medical card. The Massachusetts regulation defines Verified Financial Hardship and attaches duties to certifying providers and medical dispensaries. This page gives the definition, the current federal poverty figures behind the income line, and where the regulation uses the term.
"Verified Financial Hardship means that an individual is a recipient of MassHealth, or Supplemental Security Income, or the individual's income does not exceed 300% of the federal poverty level, adjusted for family size."
Under the regulation, Verified Financial Hardship means that an individual is a recipient of MassHealth, or Supplemental Security Income, or the individual's income does not exceed 300% of the federal poverty level, adjusted for family size(state regulation).
Federal law requires the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services to update the poverty guidelines at least annually(govinfo.gov).
The 2026 poverty guidelines for the 48 contiguous states and the District of Columbia are listed as annual income(govinfo.gov).
For one person in the 48 contiguous states and the District of Columbia, the guideline is $15,960 a year(govinfo.gov)(govinfo.gov).
For one person, 300% of $15,960 is $47,880. The other 300% figures in the table are the federal figure multiplied by three, our own arithmetic, since the Commission does not publish its own table.
| People in household | Federal poverty guideline (yearly) | 300% of it (yearly) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $15,960 | $47,880 |
| 2 | $21,640 | $64,920 |
| 3 | $27,320 | $81,960 |
| 4 | $33,000 | $99,000 |
| 5 | $38,680 | $116,040 |
| 6 | $44,360 | $133,080 |
| 7 | $50,040 | $150,120 |
| 8 | $55,720 | $167,160 |
For the 48 contiguous states and the District of Columbia, the federal notice says that for families or households with more than 8 persons, add $5,680 for each additional person(govinfo.gov)(govinfo.gov).
| Who | What the regulation says |
|---|---|
| A patient | May ask the Commission to waive the replacement card fee if it poses a Verified Financial Hardship |
| A certifying provider | Must have a program to provide a discount to patients with documented hardship, unless the Commission grants a waiver |
| A medical dispensary | Must have a program to provide reduced cost or free marijuana to patients with documented hardship |
| A patient seeking home cultivation | Hardship is one of the grounds for a Hardship Cultivation Registration |
If the fee poses a Verified Financial Hardship, the Qualifying Patient may request a waiver of the fee in a form and manner determined by the Commission(state regulation).
The fee is $10 to replace a registration card(masscannabiscontrol.com).
A Certifying Healthcare Provider shall have a program to provide a discount to patients with documented Verified Financial Hardship(state regulation).
A provider may apply for a waiver of that requirement by demonstrating that it does not have control over the costs to its patients(state regulation).
A treatment center shall have a program to provide reduced cost or free marijuana to patients with documented Verified Financial Hardship(state regulation).
A Qualifying Patient may apply for a Hardship Cultivation Registration if the patient can demonstrate that access to a treatment center is limited by Verified financial hardship(state regulation).
The Commission says it has not yet implemented the Hardship Cultivation Registration program(masscannabiscontrol.com).
There is no longer a fee to renew your Program registration card through the Commission(masscannabiscontrol.com).
A recipient of MassHealth or Supplemental Security Income, or an individual whose income does not exceed 300% of the federal poverty level, adjusted for family size(state regulation).
A Certifying Healthcare Provider shall have a program to provide a discount to patients with documented Verified Financial Hardship, unless the Commission grants a waiver(state regulation).
Yes. If the fee poses a Verified Financial Hardship, the Qualifying Patient may request a waiver of the fee(state regulation).
The guideline depends on family size, and for the 48 contiguous states and the District of Columbia the federal notice adds $5,680 for each person beyond 8(govinfo.gov)(govinfo.gov).
Advanced Dispensary in Peabody is being built and has no opening date.
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