We’ve been processing Medical Marijuana Registration Cards for about a year and a half now. One of our primary goals from the start has been to try to build a true medical marijuana program. One of the keys is setting clear expectations for clinical assessment and medical record review by physicians before they sign a medical marijuana certification.
From the beginning, we’ve been monitoring the types and numbers of certifications written by physicians. Our Annual Report included an analysis of the kinds of certifications that have been coming in as well as the number of certifications by a physician. In short- the Report made it clear that we needed some educational opportunities for all classes of physicians. That day has come.
We’ve collaborated with the U of A’s Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health to develop a 5-hour free online Certified Medical Education course regarding the physician’s role and expectations under AZ Medical Marijuana program. It’s available on our website at: www.azdhs.gov/medicalmarijuana/physicians/. We also asked the 4 Medical Boards to promote the course. Over time, we’re expecting this physician education to help us get better results when it comes to the certifications.
Dear Director Humble,
I applaud your efforts to keep this a responsible medical program. Thank you.
I clicked on the links in your blog in attempt to find the course you speak of. I was unable to find the course. Will you please update your information so as to provide a direct link that a busy (and sometimes computer illiterate) physician can actually find.
Thank you for your efforts.
Henry
Henry,
In case you haven’t found the link to the course, here it is http://www.azdhs.gov/medicalmarijuana/physicians/index.htm#module
Thanks.
Director Humble,
Your website has a link called “Patient Application Reports.” The link indicates that the reports will be made available on a monthly basis. The last available report is dated November 7th and has October data. It is now December 27. We did not receive the data set for the month of November.
Why is the data not being released in the timeline that your department indicated?
Henry
Henry,
We are diligently working on the monthly update report. We apologize for the inconvenience and will have the report posted as soon as it is complete. Thank you for your patience.
I just completed the course and I have to say I’m shocked by the lack of real information about cannabis in this module. The doctor that put this together does not even know what cannabis sativa is per an administrative law hearing held in June 2012. When asked what is cannabis sativa, Cara Crist (the author of the module) replied “I don’t know” and further Dr. Crist did not know the differences between cannabis and hemp.
There is absolutely no information in this module on the benefits of topicals, tinctures or cannabis capsules. Instead you are promoting Marinol (an expensive synthetic THC that costs $1,600 a month) as well as Sativex (oral spray) which is not even approved for use in the United States thus an experimental drug.
I suggest you revamp this module and work with real data and scientific research instead of your Reefer Madness mentality that starts with you Mr. Humble.
Thank you for not scrubbing my question. I’ll also be posting this on Facebook since you there is considerable public interest in our medical marijuana program being run above board.
Your blog is very informative. I really got lots of help from your web site. Thanks for sharing.
Achieving and maintaining health is an ongoing process, shaped by both the evolution of health care knowledge and practices as well as personal strategies and organized interventions for staying healthy known as Lifestyle Management. Thanks.