Medical marijuana telemedicine services allow medical providers to issue medical marijuana certifications for eligible patients via a phone or video call. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, people have increasingly relied on Internet alternatives to access education, work, and healthcare services like medical marijuana telemedicine. Whether or not authorizing medical marijuana telemedicine has become a topic of consideration in many state legislatures.

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Florida Medical Marijuana Telehealth Recertifications

State Representative Spencer Roach (R) introduced bill H0387 on January 23, 2023, which would authorize physicians to perform telehealth patient examinations and evaluations for renewals of physician certifications for the medical use of marijuana. Current state law requires one in-person examination to receive initial certification and in-person re-evaluations every 30 weeks to continue to receive recertifications. H0387 would remove the requirement for in-person re-evaluations and allow physicians to conduct them virtually.

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Massachusetts Extends Medical Marijuana Telehealth Services

The Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission extended COVID policies that authorized first-time medical marijuana telehealth consultations until the end of 2023. However, it remains unclear whether Massachusetts will permanently authorize medical marijuana telemedicine after the COVID-19 policy expires.

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South Dakota Prohibition on Medical Cannabis Telemedicine

South Dakota lawmakers introduced HB1129 to modify and establish provisions surrounding medical cannabis access. Unlike other efforts to expand patient access, the bill prohibits the conduction of telemedicine in place of an in-person physical examination to determine whether a patient should receive certification. The bill passed through the House and is now in the Senate.

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