Florida Senate - 2022 SB 164
By Senator Brandes
24-00117-22 2022164__
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to physician certifications for the
3 medical use of marijuana; amending s. 381.986, F.S.;
4 authorizing qualified physicians to perform patient
5 examinations and evaluations through telehealth for
6 renewals of physician certifications for the medical
7 use of marijuana; providing an effective date.
8
9 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
10
11 Section 1.âParagraphs (a) and (g) of subsection (4) of
12 section 381.986, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
13 381.986âMedical use of marijuana.â
14 (4)âPHYSICIAN CERTIFICATION.â
15 (a)âA qualified physician may issue a physician
16 certification only if the qualified physician:
17 1.âConducted an a physical examination of while physically
18 present in the same room as the patient and a full assessment of
19 the medical history of the patient. For an initial
20 certification, the examination must be a physical examination
21 conducted while physically present in the same room as the
22 patient. For a certification renewal, the examination may be
23 conducted through telehealth as defined in s. 456.47.
24 2.âDiagnosed the patient with at least one qualifying
25 medical condition.
26 3.âDetermined that the medical use of marijuana would
27 likely outweigh the potential health risks for the patient, and
28 such determination must be documented in the patientâs medical
29 record. If a patient is younger than 18 years of age, a second
30 physician must concur with this determination, and such
31 concurrence must be documented in the patientâs medical record.
32 4.âDetermined whether the patient is pregnant and
33 documented such determination in the patientâs medical record. A
34 physician may not issue a physician certification, except for
35 low-THC cannabis, to a patient who is pregnant.
36 5.âReviewed the patientâs controlled drug prescription
37 history in the prescription drug monitoring program database
38 established pursuant to s. 893.055.
39 6.âReviews the medical marijuana use registry and confirmed
40 that the patient does not have an active physician certification
41 from another qualified physician.
42 7.âRegisters as the issuer of the physician certification
43 for the named qualified patient on the medical marijuana use
44 registry in an electronic manner determined by the department,
45 and:
46 a.âEnters into the registry the contents of the physician
47 certification, including the patientâs qualifying condition and
48 the dosage not to exceed the daily dose amount determined by the
49 department, the amount and forms of marijuana authorized for the
50 patient, and any types of marijuana delivery devices needed by
51 the patient for the medical use of marijuana.
52 b.âUpdates the registry within 7 days after any change is
53 made to the original physician certification to reflect such
54 change.
55 c.âDeactivates the registration of the qualified patient
56 and the patientâs caregiver when the physician no longer
57 recommends the medical use of marijuana for the patient.
58 8.âObtains the voluntary and informed written consent of
59 the patient for medical use of marijuana each time the qualified
60 physician issues a physician certification for the patient,
61 which shall be maintained in the patientâs medical record. The
62 patient, or the patientâs parent or legal guardian if the
63 patient is a minor, must sign the informed consent acknowledging
64 that the qualified physician has sufficiently explained its
65 content. The qualified physician must use a standardized
66 informed consent form adopted in rule by the Board of Medicine
67 and the Board of Osteopathic Medicine, which must include, at a
68 minimum, information related to:
69 a.âThe Federal Governmentâs classification of marijuana as
70 a Schedule I controlled substance.
71 b.âThe approval and oversight status of marijuana by the
72 Food and Drug Administration.
73 c.âThe current state of research on the efficacy of
74 marijuana to treat the qualifying conditions set forth in this
75 section.
76 d.âThe potential for addiction.
77 e.âThe potential effect that marijuana may have on a
78 patientâs coordination, motor skills, and cognition, including a
79 warning against operating heavy machinery, operating a motor
80 vehicle, or engaging in activities that require a person to be
81 alert or respond quickly.
82 f.âThe potential side effects of marijuana use, including
83 the negative health risks associated with smoking marijuana.
84 g.âThe risks, benefits, and drug interactions of marijuana.
85 h.âThat the patientâs de-identified health information
86 contained in the physician certification and medical marijuana
87 use registry may be used for research purposes.
88 (g)âA qualified physician must evaluate an existing
89 qualified patient at least once every 30 weeks before issuing a
90 new physician certification. The evaluation may be conducted
91 through telehealth as defined in s. 456.47. A physician must:
92 1.âDetermine if the patient still meets the requirements to
93 be issued a physician certification under paragraph (a).
94 2.âIdentify and document in the qualified patientâs medical
95 records whether the qualified patient experienced either of the
96 following related to the medical use of marijuana:
97 a.âAn adverse drug interaction with any prescription or
98 nonprescription medication; or
99 b.âA reduction in the use of, or dependence on, other types
100 of controlled substances as defined in s. 893.02.
101 3.âSubmit a report with the findings required pursuant to
102 subparagraph 2. to the department. The department shall submit
103 such reports to the Consortium for Medical Marijuana Clinical
104 Outcomes Research established pursuant to s. 1004.4351.
105 Section 2.âThis act shall take effect July 1, 2022.