The Provider Registry is open and the MCA encourages qualified providers to register.
General Information for Providers
In order to be able to issue written certifications for medical cannabis to patients for treatment of a qualifying medical condition, you must register as a “Certifying Provider” with the Maryland Cannabis Administration.
Qualifying medical conditions include cachexia, anorexia, wasting syndrome, severe pain, severe nausea, seizures, severe or persistent muscle spasms, glaucoma, post-traumatic stress disorder, and chronic pain.
The requirements for issuing a written certification for medical cannabis are:
- A “bona fide provider-patient relationship” with the patient
- The patient’s condition must be severe
- Other medical treatments must have proven ineffective for the patient’s condition, and
- The symptoms must reasonably be expected to be relieved by the use of medical cannabis.
Maryland law defines a “bona fide relationship” as a treatment or counseling relationship between a Provider and patient in which the provider reviews the patient’s relevant medical records, completes an annual in-person or telehealth assessment of the patient’s medical history and current medical condition, creates and maintains medically standardized records, expects to monitor patient program and takes any medically indicated action to follow up.
Once issued, a Provider may amend or revoke a patient’s written certification on any medical grounds or if the patient no longer meets the Provider’s inclusion criteria or the patient now meets the Provider’s exclusion criteria. Examples of exclusion criteria include suspicion on the part of the provider that the patient is abusing cannabis or diverting cannabis to others.
Who is eligible to register as a Provider?
Any physician, physician assistant, podiatrist, dentist, nurse practitioner, or nurse-midwife, with an active, unrestricted license in good standing with the respective Maryland State Board, and actively registered to prescribe controlled substances in Maryland, are eligible to register with the Maryland Cannabis Administration.
Educational Resources for Providers
Certifying providers and other medical professionals interested in learning more about the clinical uses of cannabis may now enroll in an online medical education curriculum developed by TMCIGlobal. The course was designed based on the laws and regulations governing the Maryland medical cannabis program. The
two-hour online Maryland course presents the basics of the endocannabinoid system and the pharmacology of cannabis, qualifying conditions and administration methods approved in the state of Maryland, medical cannabis contraindications, and identified adverse effects of cannabis use. It is divided into five lessons, each with knowledge check questions that users can complete at their own pace. The course can be started and stopped as desired, and materials may be revisited as often as needed for the duration of the course access period.
About TMCIGlobal (TMCI):
TMCI provides science-based, online medical education for healthcare professionals who want to learn about medical cannabis and its potential clinical application to deliver quality care and address patient questions. TMCI works with organizations that are recognized as pillars of medical cannabis learning and brings their valuable medical expertise to the healthcare community via an ever-growing online course catalog.
To access the course, please visit:
Maryland State HealthCare Provider Education Course
Please note: This course is now accredited. Here are the details of the course:
- Duration: 2.5 hours
- .5 CME credit available
- Assessment Quiz
- Mobile-friendly
For questions please contact :
TMCI:
themedicalcannabisinstitute.org
Email: info@tmciglobal.org
Maryland Cannabis Administration:
Email: mca.providerinfo@maryland.gov
