Appointed by Governor to 4-year terms: Nancy Rosen-Cohen, Ph.D. Term expires 2016.
Paul W. Davies, M.D.; John T. Gontrum; Charles P. LoDico; Barry G. Pope; Eric E. Sterling, Esq. Terms expire 2017.
Jeffrey R. Gahler; Jean Gilmor Marshall, R.N.; Saundra O. Washington; Scott L. Welsh. Terms expire 2019.
Ehsan Abdeshahian, M.D.; Alvin W. Davis, M.D.; Rachel J. Rhodes; J. Charles Smith III. Terms expire 2020.
Ex officio: James R. Pyles, designee of Secretary of Health
Patrick Jameson, Executive Director (410) 764-4663; e-mail: patrick.jameson@maryland.gov
Metro Executive Building, 4201 Patterson Ave., Baltimore, MD 21215
(410) 764-5050
e-mail: dhmh.medicalcannabis@maryland.gov
web: http://mmcc.maryland.gov/
Report to General Assembly on level of competition in the market for medical marijuana, including consequences of oversupply & excessive demand, due Dec. 1, 2015 (Chapters 240 & 256, Acts of 2014).
In October 2013, the Natalie M. LaPrade Medical Marijuana Commission was authorized (Chapter 403, Acts of 2013). It was expanded in June 2014 (Chapters 240 & 256, Acts of 2014), and renamed the Natalie M. LaPrade Medical Cannabis Commission in May 2015 (Chapter 251, Acts of 2015).
The Commission develops policies, procedures, guidelines, and regulations to implement and administer a program for the compassionate medical use of cannabis (marijuana) in Maryland.
Initially, the Commission was to request proposals from academic medical centers to operate medical cannabis compassionate use programs. In 2014, however, its charge was expanded to make medical cannabis available beyond those patients participating in a research study at an academic medical center (Chapters 240 & 256, Acts of 2014).
Implemented by the Commission, the Medical Cannabis Program in Maryland will provide for the approval, licensing, and registration of growers, dispensaries, grower agents, and dispenser agents. To provide qualifying patients legally with medical cannabis, the Program will establish a structure by which to certify physicians and qualify patients.
It is anticipated that medical cannabis could become available for patients in 2017. Qualifying patients who have received written certification from their certifying physician then will be able to obtain medical cannabis. Only those dispensaries licensed by the Commission will be authorized to sell cannabis to qualifying patients. Licenses to grow and process the drug will start being awarded by the Commission during the summer of 2016.
The Natalie M. LaPrade Medical Cannabis Commission Fund is administered by the Commission (Code Health-General Article, sec. 13-3303(h)(1)).
Sixteen members constitute the Commission. Fifteen are appointed to four-year terms by the Governor, and one serves ex officio (Code Health-General Article, sec. 13-3302 through 13-3316).
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