DFCR Publishes White Paper on Legislating Cannabis Use in Healthcare Facilities

WASHINGTON - April 5, 2023 - PRLog -- Doctors for Cannabis Regulation (DFCR), the global voice for physicians and other health professionals to advance the legalization and science-based regulation of cannabis, published a white paper titled "Legislative and Administrative Guidelines for Regulating Cannabis Use in Healthcare Facilities," aimed at helping guide policies and regulations around the use of cannabis in healthcare spaces across the U.S. and beyond.

Written by DFCR Board President Bryon Adinoff, M.D. and Emily Wilbert, B.S., the white paper shares that the legalization of medical cannabis in many states and its increasing acceptance by the medical community has made access to cannabis easier for patients seeking alternative treatment options. However, half of the states with legalized medical cannabis have not provided regulatory statutes guiding cannabis use in healthcare settings (e.g. hospitals and clinics). Similarly, most healthcare settings have not formalized internal rules for cannabis use. The white paper serves as a conduit to achieving that.

Aimed primarily at healthcare administrators and lawmakers, the white paper addresses several key questions including:

• Can Medicare and Medicaid be withheld from healthcare facilities allowing cannabis use?
• What kind of patients should qualify for cannabis use in these settings?
• How should cannabis be stored and dispensed in medical facilities?
• How should medical cannabis be consumed in a hospital setting?
• Should hospital staff administer cannabis and if so, how?

"It is imperative that states and healthcare facilities adopt policies and protocols that ensure the safe and effective use of cannabis as a form of medical treatment," says DFCR Board President Bryon Adinoff. "This will not only benefit patients but will also provide healthcare providers with the necessary tools to provide safe and effective care to their patients. We believe that the responsible integration of cannabis into healthcare practice will have a positive impact on patient outcomes and overall health and wellness."

The entire "Legislative and Administrative Guidelines for Regulating Cannabis Use in Healthcare Facilities" white paper can be accessed here.