FOR DOCTORS
Who is eligible to use medicinal cannabis?
Pennsylvania's compassionate medical cannabis legislation, the Medical Marijuana Act (SB3) was signed into law by Gov. Tom Wolf on April 17, 2016.
Patients can qualify for medical cannabis if they have a terminal illness or if they suffer from:
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cancer
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HIV/AIDS
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amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
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Parkinson’s disease
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multiple sclerosis
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epilepsy
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inflammatory bowel disease
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neuropathies
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Huntington’s disease
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Crohn’s disease
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post-traumatic stress disorder
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intractable seizures
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glaucoma
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autism
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sickle cell anemia
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Tourette syndrome
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Anxiety Disorders
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damage to the nervous tissue of the spinal cord with objective neurological indication of intractable spasticity
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severe chronic or intractable pain of neuropathic origin if conventional therapeutic intervention and opiate therapy is contraindicated or ineffective.
What do patients need from a doctor?
In order to qualify for the program, a patient must be under the ongoing care of a physician who issues a certification during an in-person visit. The certification must state that the patient has a qualifying medical condition and that the physician believes he or she could benefit from medical cannabis. Physicians must register, complete a four-hour course, and report to the department if a patient no longer needs access to medical cannabis as a result of improved health or death.
Registered doctors are shown during the 4-hour course that the certification form for patients includes the option to check "Defer to the pharmacist on staff" for dosing and strain recommendations.
HOW TO PARTICIPATE IN PA’S MEDICAL MARIJUANA PROGRAM
In order to participate in the Medical Marijuana Program, a physician must:
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Apply to the department to be registered with the program.
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Demonstrate to the department by training or expertise that he or she is qualified in treating serious medical conditions.
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Successfully complete the required four-hour course established by the department.
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Hold a valid, unexpired, unrevoked, unsuspended Pennsylvania license to practice medicine.
The department is developing the process for a physician to register with the Medical Marijuana Program. The department will make it as easy as possible for physicians to participate in the program and will make applications available to physicians on its website.
TO FIND THE LATEST FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, PLEASE VISIT:
Application for Approval to Provide a 4-hour Training Course in the Medical Marijuana Program
SAFE HARBOR PROCESS
The Department of Health has defined a safe harbor process for children under the age of 18 who require medical marijuana due to a serious medical condition. Physicians hoping to help their pediatric patients who may benefit can learn more about the process from this letter to doctors by the Department of Health.
LETTER TO DOCTORS
Read a letter to Pennsylvania doctors from the Department of Health about the recent enactment of the Medical Marijuana Act and the Safe Harbor Provision contained within the law.