New Hampshire announced April 10 that it will extend the deadline for patients to renew medical cannabis cards due to the COVID-19 outbreak, according to a New Hampshire Public Radio (NHPR) report.

Patients with cards expiring in April, May and June now have until July 31 to renew them amid concerns that patients will have a difficult time visiting their doctors for recertification, the news outlet reported.

“Hopefully that will ease patients’ anxiety about continuing their access to therapeutic cannabis during this crisis,” Michael Holt, an administrator of New Hampshire’s therapeutic cannabis program, told NHPR.

As of March 31, there were 9,800 patients enrolled in the program, according to the news outlet, and New Hampshire has deemed medical cannabis dispensaries as essential businesses in its COVID-19 response.

Regulators are encouraging patients to designate a caregiver who can pick up their medical cannabis products if they become ill, NHPR reported. The caregiver application fee has been waived, and regulators have implemented a streamlined process for caregivers’ background checks, according to the news outlet.

In addition, patients must pre-order products from the state’s licensed medical cannabis dispensaries either by phone or online, NHPR reported.