NATALIE M. LAPRADE MEDICAL CANNABIS COMMISSION

ORIGIN & FUNCTIONS


In October 2013, the Natalie M. LaPrade Medical Marijuana Commission was authorized (Chapter 403, Acts of 2013). Its charge was expanded in June 2014 (Chapters 240 & 256, Acts of 2014), and it was renamed the Natalie M. LaPrade Medical Cannabis Commission in May 2015 (Chapter 251, Acts of 2015).

The Commission implements and administers the 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, legislation authorized it to make medical cannabis available beyond those patients participating in a research study at an academic medical center (Chapters 240 & 256, Acts of 2014). Thereafter, the Commission established a framework to certify health care providers, including physicians, dentists, podiatrists, nurse practitioners, and nurse midwives. Written certification also is provided to qualifying patients and their caregivers.

Medical Cannabis Program. Implemented by the Commission, the Program in Maryland licenses growers, processers, and dispensaries; and registers testing laboratories.

In Maryland, medical cannabis has been available to patients since December 2017. Qualifying patients who have received written certification from their certifying physician then may obtain medical cannabis. Only those dispensaries licensed by the Commission are authorized to sell cannabis to qualifying patients. License holders that grow and process the drug are available on the Commission website.

Natalie M. LaPrade Medical Cannabis Commission Fund. Established in 2013, the Fund is administered by the Commission (Code Health-General Article, sec. 13-3303(h)(1)).

Formerly located at the Metro Executive Office Building, 4201 Patterson Avenue, Baltimore, the Commission moved to its present location in Linthicum in September 2017.

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).

Maryland Constitutional Offices & Agencies
Maryland Departments
Maryland Independent Agencies
Maryland Executive Commissions, Committees, Task Forces, & Advisory Boards
Maryland Universities & Colleges
Maryland Counties
Maryland Municipalities
Maryland at a Glance


Maryland Manual On-Line

Search the Manual
e-mail: mdmanual@mdarchives.state.md.us


This information resource of the Maryland State Archives is presented here for fair use in the public domain. When this material is used, in whole or in part, proper citation and credit must be attributed to the Maryland State Archives. PLEASE NOTE: Rights assessment for associated source material is the responsibility of the user.


Tell Us What You Think About the Maryland State Archives Website!


[ Archives' Home Page  ||  All About Maryland  ||  Maryland Manual On-Line  ||  Reference & Research
||  Search the Archives   ||  Education & Outreach  ||  Archives of Maryland Online ]

Governor     General Assembly    Judiciary     Maryland.Gov

© Copyright May 23, 2018 Maryland State Archives