Medical Marijuana Goes Mainstream: CCIC Co-Sponsors Certified Medical Education in Nation's Capital

International Researchers to Teach Washington D.C. Health Professionals about Medical Cannabis

WASHINGTON, Feb. 5, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Health professionals in the nation's capital will soon be able to earn education credits for learning about medical marijuana. A certified medical education program called "Cannabis in Medicine: A Primer for Health Care Professionals" will take place at the Mayflower Renaissance Hotel on Friday, February 22, 2013 from 2 pm to 6 pm. This course will present an expert overview of the medical use of cannabis, including basic science, clinical trial results, safety information and practical advice for physicians and nurses. The program is accredited by the University of California-San Francisco (UCSF). Health professionals who attend will receive 2.75 AMA PRA Category 1 credits.

Course faculty includes academic researchers who conduct clinical trials of the drug, as well as clinicians with years of experience monitoring patients. Speakers hail from California and Canada, where patients have long had access to medical marijuana. "We've seen the best and worst examples of patient care. We hope to share what we have learned over the years with physicians on the East coast, where there has been little exposure to medical cannabis," said Dr. Donald Abrams, professor of clinical medicine at UCSF and chair of the steering committee.

More than one-third of physicians in the United States now live in states with medical marijuana laws, based on data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Timing for the program coincides with the long-awaited implementation of Washington's medical marijuana program.

"The need for this type of education has never been greater," explained Dr. Mark Ware, executive director of the Canadian Consortium for the Investigation of Cannabinoids (CCIC) and associate professor of family medicine at McGill University. "Medical marijuana laws are getting passed in more states every year. Yet the basic physiology of our body's own cannabinoid system is hardly covered in medical school, and the clinical applications of cannabis are not discussed in any professional training. Most people do not realize how much data on medical cannabis has become available in recent years."

The program is jointly sponsored by the CCIC and the UCSF, in collaboration with the Society of Cannabis Clinicians (SCC), and is supported by an unrestricted educational grant from the Americans for Safe Access Foundation (ASAF).

For more information, including course agenda, faculty and registration, go to: www.ccic.net/USACME

About the CCIC 
The CCIC is a nonprofit organization formed in 2000 to promote evidence-based education concerning the endocannabinoid system and therapeutic applications of cannabinoid agents to clinical audiences. Its membership includes more than 200 basic scientists, clinical researchers and healthcare professionals from around the world. The organization conducts accredited cannabinoid education programs, symposia and workshops in Canada, Europe and the United States.

About the SCC 
The SCC, formed as a project of the California Cannabis Research Medical Group (CCRMG) in 2004, is dedicated to educating physicians and the public about the medicinal properties of cannabis, conducting quality clinical medical cannabis research, ensuring the safety and confidentiality of all research subjects, and maintaining the highest quality of practice standards.

About the ASAF 
Founded in 2002, the ASAF is a non-profit organization dedicated to educating patients, medical professionals, scientists and concerned citizens about safe and legal access to cannabis for therapeutic use and research. Together with their sister organization, Americans for Safe Access, ASAF comprises the largest medical cannabis education and advocacy team in the United States.

SOURCE CCIC