Dear Members and Friends of ACS,

Cannabis and cannabinoid medicine continues to evolve and the discussions at the state, national, and international levels continue to prioritize issues that conflict with patient care. The outcome of these discussions will shape patient treatment and our field for years to come.  I am proud that the Association of Cannabinoid Specialists (ACS) is on the forefront of this debate, advocating for our members and the patients we serve.

We strive to present members with meaningful education and tools to help them practice quality medicine.  See all of ACS’s member benefits here.

All patients will be treated with a level of care consistent with highest medical ethics and standard of care equal to, or exceeding, any other medical specialty.

Records detailing prior and current treatment of illnesses relevant to cannabis treatment will be required of all patients, reviewed by clinicians, and properly filed in the medical record.

The purpose of a medical cannabis practice is to provide care for patients. Certification is only a tool to be used in that pursuit, and should be de-emphasized in favor of a holistic view of the patient and their needs.

Medications and allergies will be documented and reviewed at each visit (medication reconciliation). Medication reviews will be documented as well.

Cannabis patients require guidance by knowledgeable, caring specialists. Patients may have concerns and questions that are best not left to laypeople or non-cannabis specialists to address. Patients will receive ongoing care as at least every 6 months, more often, and for a length of visit, as is medically indicated, commensurate with other specialty care for similar illnesses. We advocate for 60 minute initial consultations, and 30 minute subsequent visits.

Women of childbearing age will receive additional counseling on risks of using medical cannabis during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Cannabis science and practice is changing rapidly. Specialists commit to keeping pace with these changes through reading of the literature or other continuing medical education of at least 20 hours per year.

Records of clinical encounters will be communicated to a patient’s primary care provider or other such provider as the patient chooses, unless the patient actively chooses not to allow communication.

Telemedicine visits are felt to be an inferior choice to in-person visits. They should be used only when circumstances make in-person visits impractical, perilous, or an undue hardship. Telemedicine should never be used in contravention of local law or regulation. At least annual in-person visits are strongly encouraged.

The same high level of care and ethics will be applied to all patients regardless of race, gender, age, sexual orientation, sexual identification, or economic background.

All encounters with patients will be properly documented in the EHR.

Neither the practice or any practitioner shall enter into any business arrangement that might cause an ethical conflict with patients’ best interests. Conflicts of interest, or apparent conflicts of interest, will be disclosed to patients, governing bodies, and the ACS.