Medical cannabis physician education program moves online

Continuing medical education primer now more easily available for Missouri healthcare professionals

A free educational program to help doctors and other healthcare professionals more effectively consult with patients considering the use of medical marijuana can now be found online for easy access, including by the general public.

The virtual MoCannTrade (Missouri Medical Cannabis Trade Association) program builds on previous, in-person training created in 2019 in response to growing physician demand for reliable information and virtual learning opportunities as well as increased patient interest in basic information about medical cannabis.

The Missouri Medical Cannabis Primer for Healthcare Professionals is an accredited continuing medical education (CME) course created by a MoCannTrade panel of physicians and pharmacists. The 12-member Healthcare Education and Training Committee includes specialists in emergency, family and internal medicine; geriatric care; rehabilitation; obstetrics and gynecology; nursing and pharmacology.

“More than two years after Missouri voter approval of medical cannabis, we continue to see a knowledge gap among medical professionals,” said Dr. Patricia Hurford, a St. Louis physical medicine and rehabilitation specialist, MoCannTrade board member and featured presenter in the video training.

“It’s vital that our doctors, nurses, physician’s assistants and all Missouri healthcare professionals have the proper tools for more informed conversations with patients who might benefit from this treatment method. The regulated use of cannabis as medicine isn’t a topic typically discussed in medical school.”

“Missouri Medical Cannabis: A Practical Primer” is approved for 1.0 hour of AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. This presentation has been planned and implemented in accordance  with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of Primary Care Network (PCN) and MoCannTrade. Primary Care Network is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Course topics include an overview of the human endocannabinoid system; drug safety and laboratory testing standards; delivery methods; dosing best practices; adverse effects; legal obligations, research resources and more.

Under Article IX of the state Constitution, Missouri residents with cancer, epilepsy, glaucoma and 20 other qualifying conditions can purchase or cultivate medical cannabis with a physician’s certification. The law also provides physicians with the discretion to certify patients who have other chronic and debilitating medical conditions that could benefit from medical marijuana, and legally protects their right to have such conversations.

In the 19 months since patient enrollment began, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) has approved more than 100,000 medical cannabis patient, caregiver and patient cultivation applications.

MoCannTrade is an association of business owners, health care providers, professionals, patients and residents responsible for helping to implement a successful, safe, compliant medical marijuana program in Missouri.

The membership-based association is directed by a board of diverse professionals experienced in medical marijuana, healthcare, law, pharmaceutical, science, agriculture, law enforcement, security, commercial real estate, finance, public affairs and regulatory sectors.

To learn more about MoCannTrade please visit www.mocanntrade.org.