Individuals Involved in Maryland Medical Marijuana Programs
In Maryland, in order to be involved in Maryland medical marijuana programs, an individual who has been given a written certification by a certifying physician, must be in accordance with Maryland’s laws and regulations and written by a physician who has a bona fide relationship with that patient.
The certification must show that the physician has determined that the patient meets the criteria for medical marijuana because they suffer from a condition for which the benefit from the use of medical marijuana or medical cannabis would likely outweigh the health risks. After doing so, a person can become involved in Maryland medical marijuana programs. If you want to know more about Maryland medical marijuana programs, get in touch with a knowledgeable attorney.
Qualified Caregivers
A qualified caregiver in Maryland is defined as a person who has agreed to assist the qualifying patient’s medical use of cannabis and who has received the necessary certification to be a caregiver pursuant to Maryland’s laws and regulations.
Under Maryland law and regulations, a caregiver may serve no more than five qualifying patients at any time. Also, an individual patient may only have up to two qualified caregivers at any given time.
Role of a Certifying Physician
Under Maryland’s medical marijuana laws and regulations, a certifying physician is an individual who has an active, unrestricted license, practices medicine. The physician must be someone whose certification was issued by the State Board of Physicians. Their license should be in good standing and they should be registered with the Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission to make marijuana or cannabis available to patients for medical use. Certifying physicians essentially allow individuals involved in Maryland medical marijuana programs to gain access to and participate in these programs.
Requirements to Become Certified
In order to register as a certifying physician in Maryland’s medical marijuana or medical cannabis program, a physician must submit a proposal to the commission with a fair amount of information and documentation, including:
- The physician’s reasons for recommending medical marijuana or medical cannabis
- An attestation that a standard patient evaluation will be completed on the patient, including a history, physical examination, review of symptoms and any other pertinent medical information
- The physician’s plan for the ongoing assessment, treatment, and follow-up with the patients including analyzing of data
Certifying physicians must also register bi-annually with the commission.
Medical Conditions That Qualify Patients for Medical Marijuana
Qualifying physicians in Maryland may recommend medical marijuana or medical cannabis for any condition that is severe and for which other medical treatments have been ineffective. This holds true as long as the symptoms reasonably can be expected to be relieved by the medical use of cannabis or marijuana.
The commission allows qualifying physicians to recommend medical marijuana or medical cannabis for a variety of chronic or debilitating diseases or medical conditions that result in a medical marijuana or medical cannabis patient being admitted to hospice or receiving palliative care in addition to any chronic or debilitating disease or medical condition or the treatment of a chronic or debilitating disease or medical condition that results in anorexia, wasting syndrome, severe or chronic pain, nausea, seizure or muscle spasms.
Value of an Attorney
Retaining the services of a qualified drug lawyer is vital if you are involved in Maryland medical marijuana programs. Despite the decriminalization of marijuana in Maryland and the comparatively lax marijuana legislation in DC, there are still consequences to possession. By working with a capable drug lawyer, you can ensure that your rights are protected.