Cannabis in Annapolis? First Medical Clinic Opens

The first clinic for medical cannabis in Maryland opened in Annapolis last month — nearly a year before the Maryland Medical Cannabis Program becomes fully operational. The clinic is open and meeting with prospective patients, but medical cannabis is not yet available. As reported in The Capital Gazette:

Greenway Consultation, located in the Conte Lubrano Office Building, has three consultants and three physicians, who are not yet registered to recommend the drug through the Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission. The commission develops and oversees all licensing, registration, inspection and testing.

The clinic’s spokesman Nick Petrucci said opening in advance of the program has advantages, such as beginning to build the patient-doctor relationship to expedite a recommendation for marijuana when the program begins.

The commission requires physicians to examine the patient, review and maintain medical records, assess his or her medical history and provide follow-up care, as needed.

Cannabis program regulations are under public comment until July 27 and the commission expects to adopt them in September. It also anticipates doctor and patient registries through the state to begin in December or January.

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Hannah Byron, executive director of the commission, said it supports the dissemination of accurate information about medical cannabis in Maryland, which is a goal of Greenway Consultation. The business plans to host monthly meetings at which dispensaries, grow sites, botanical grow stores, hydroponic shops and head shops will be invited to speak and hold education demonstrations.

“It is important for potential patients to recognize the program’s regulations are not yet finalized and that only licensed physicians in good standing with the state will be authorized to certify patients for medical cannabis use once the program becomes operational,” Byron said.

For more information read the full article in The Capital Gazette.

The Maryland Medical Cannabis Program will be discussed during the session, “Medical Cannabis Comes to Maryland” at the MACo Summer Conference. The session will be held from 1:00 pm – 1:45 pm on Thursday, August 13, 2015. The MACo Summer Conference will be held August 12-15 at the Roland Powell Convention Center in Ocean City, Maryland.

Learn more about MACo’s Summer Conference:

For a schedule of educational sessions at MACo’s Summer Conference, please view the Registration Brochure.

Questions? Contact Meetings & Events Director Virginia White.