Keynote Presentation: Why We Need a More Medical Medical-Cannabis System with Live Q&A

Imagine if your doctor told you, or your mother, or your child, that you have a serious infection.  Imagine that they told you that you needed an antibiotic, but didn’t tell you which one, how much to take, how to use it, or what side effects it might have.  You’d be confused and feel abandoned.  Frankly, that lack of guidance, and informed consent, would be considered malpractice. Our current medical cannabis system does just that:  It tells patients who are sick and vulnerable to "just go figure it out.” Nearly daily patients call me wondering why their medicine doesn’t work, or even worse, why it’s making them feel ill.  Nearly every call reveals that the patients didn’t get the medicine that I had recommended. Not only does this harm patients as they desperately seek the relief they need, but the current system undermines the very trust on which a medical system must be built. Of course, the solution to this problem already exists!  And it’s functioning in nearly every community right now. The pharmacy system was developed to ensure the safety of patients and the reliability of medicines.  Prescriptions ensure that the correct medication at the proper dosage, and with proper information is given to patients.  This, in turn, boosts the credibility of the whole medical industry. Two key ingredients form the backbone of this system: the prescription, and the prohibition of unsubstantiated medical claims. We will discuss lessons both the federal government and our industry can take away from existing systems.  We will also address the lessons learned from the "incubators of the states" and review what a "greatest hits" of the states' programs might look like if implemented as national policy. 

Learning Objectives:

1. Summarize the key differences between patients and recreational users.

2. Discuss the importance of and key elements to a prescription.

3. Describe key elements of federal cannabis reform that are necessary of a functional national medical system.