Healthcare Providers Frequently Asked Questions

Who can recommend medical cannabis?

The following providers may recommend medical cannabis:

• Medical Doctors (MDs)
• Physician Assistants (PAs)
• Osteopathic Physicians (DOs)
• Osteopathic Physician Assistants
• Naturopathic Physicians (NDs)
• Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioners (ARNPs)

Am I limited in the conditions that I can recommend medical cannabis for?

Yes. The law includes a specific list of qualifying conditions. In addition to those conditions in the law, chronic renal failure was added by petition in 2010.

What are the requirements for providing a recommendation?

The requirements for providing a recommendation are:

• The patient must have a new or existing documented relationship with a primary care provider or specialist relating to the diagnosis and ongoing treatment or monitoring of the patient’s terminal or debilitating medical condition.
• The provider may only provide a recommendation after:
  • Completing a physical examination;
  • Documenting the terminal or debilitating medical condition in the patient’s medical record and that the patient may benefit from treatment of the condition or its symptoms with the medical use of cannabis;
  • Informing the patient of other options for treating the terminal or debilitating condition; and
  • Documenting other measures attempted to treat the terminal or debilitating medical condition that do not involve medical cannabis.
   

What are some of the restrictions to providing recommendations?

A healthcare provider cannot have a business or practice which consists solely of authorizing the medical use of cannabis or include any statement or reference on the medical use of cannabis in advertisements. The law also restricts a healthcare provider from benefiting in certain ways for recommending medical cannabis.

What else should I consider before I recommend medical cannabis for a qualifying condition?

For many healthcare providers, recommending medical cannabis is not a common occurrence. Healthcare providers should adhere to the same standards of care as when recommending any other treatment.

What risks are there to recommending medical cannabis to a qualifying patient?

The law establishes provider immunity against prosecution when appropriately recommending medical use of cannabis under state law, but not federal law. Failure to adhere to state law requirements exposes the healthcare provider to risk of prosecution under state law and may also result in disciplinary action by the licensing authority. Healthcare providers might also incur other penalties from privileging hospitals, medical malpractice insurers, or certification boards.

How do I prepare a recommendation?

Recommendations must include the information required in the law and must be written on tamper proof paper. The Washington State Medical Association and the American Civil Liberties Union have developed templates for healthcare providers that are available on their websites.

A qualifying patient asked me to issue them an I.D. card. Am I responsible for that?

No. Some organizations that provide services to qualifying patients promote the use of I.D. cards. Law does not require an I.D. card and there is no state authorized card.

Can I see patients who are referred to me by a local dispensary or other organization that produces or sells medical cannabis or offers to provide a patient with an I.D. card?

Providers should be cautious when interacting with dispensaries or other organizations that provide services to qualifying patients. Dispensaries are illegal under state law. The law prohibits a healthcare provider from benefiting financially or otherwise, or offering a discount or other thing of value to a qualifying patient, based on a relationship with a dispensary or other organization.

Can I own or have an interest in a medical cannabis enterprise?

Not if you also recommend the use of medical cannabis to qualifying patients.

Back to Top