Medical Cannabis Certifying Provider FAQs for PAs and Physicians

No.

The Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission (MMCC) certifies and registers certifying providers for medical cannabis. A physician or physician assistant may find the registration requirements outlined in COMAR 10.62.03.01, and additional information is available on the MMCC website, Provider FAQs at the following link.

A Maryland-licensed physician who is: "Certifying Provider" includes both physicians and physician assistants.

1. A physician shall:
   • Have an active unrestricted license to practice medicine under Title 14
   • Be in good standing with the Board;
   • Have a State controlled dangerous substances registration; and
   • Be registered with the Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission.


2. A physician assistant shall:
   • Have an active unrestricted license to practice as a physician assistant under Title 15 Have an active delegation agreement with a primary supervising physician who is a certifying provider;
   • Be in good standing with the Board;
   • Have a State controlled dangerous substances registration; and
   • Be registered with the Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission.

No. Certification of medical cannabis is considered a core duty, however, a physician assistant is required to have an active delegation agreement with a primary supervising physician who is a certifying provider with MMCC and may only certify conditions within the primary supervising physician's scope of practice.

Current delegation agreements appear on the individual practitioner Profile available here: MBP Profile Search.

It depends. If the primary supervising physician has designated one or more alternate supervising physicians to provide supervision in their absence, and in accordance with the delegation agreement, the alternate supervising physician may not delegate duties to a physician assistant that are outside their own scope of practice or outside the primary delegation agreement. When a physician assistant is working under the temporary supervision of an alternate supervising physician, the alternate supervising physician must be a registered, certifying provider in order for a physician assistant to practice as a certifying provider.

A physician assistant is required to have an active delegation agreement with a primary supervising physician who is a certifying provider through MMCC. If that delegation agreement is terminated, a physician assistant cannot continue to certify for medical cannabis. A physician assistant cannot practice without a valid delegation agreement.

Certifying provider information is available on the individual practitioner's Profile available on the Board's website.

• Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission
• Office of Controlled Substances Administration