OUR MISSION
The Association of Cannabinoid Specialists ensures the highest standards in the practice of cannabis medicine, safeguards patient care with clinical best practices, and interfaces with other stakeholders in the cannabis community. We believe that patients are uniquely vulnerable and have very different needs than recreational users. We provide evidence and experience-based education for patients, cannabis clinicians, referring clinicians, and lawmakers to help them understand cannabis medicine and make informed decisions. We are an advocacy organization striving to provide guidance on best practices in the laws and regulations at the federal, state, and international levels.
OUR CORE VALUES
- Patients are a vulnerable group who deserve the highest standard of medical care and products.
- Recreational use is not the same as medical use. These groups have different goals and needs and must be addressed separately.
- Prohibition of cannabis is a major public health hazard that has failed to decrease drug use and has led to unsupportable consequences.
- Cannabis is medicine. It should be regulated like other medications and be available by prescription including in botanical form.
- Cannabis products should not make unsubstantiated medical claims. Products should be required to meet strict standards of safety, bioavailability, and efficacy.
- Dispensaries should operate like pharmacies. They should provide products that are safe and effective. They should not provide medical advice to patients. They should not contradict patients’ clinicians’ orders.
OUR PROFESSIONAL CODE OF CONDUCT
Our members provide the utmost in care for their patients. All members and their practices agree to abide by the following pledge:
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OUR WORK
The Association of Cannabinoid Specialists has multiple working committees that envision, plan, and implement the outreach and advocacy of the association. Below are the mission statements of each committee, and the current members.
EducationThe Education Committee produces educational events and materials for both Cannabis Specialists and referring clinicians. AdvocacyThe Advocacy Committee provides evidence, testimony, and guidance to governmental and non-governmental groups to help implement legal and regulatory systems that benefit cannabis patients and the clinicians who care for them. IndustryThe Industry Committee promulgates a rating system by which dispensaries can be evaluated and accredited by the ACS. Further it provides a similar system for specific products assuring that they meet ACS standards. |
MembershipThe Membership Committee focuses on recruiting new members, and increasing ACS visibility to the public. FundraisingThe Fundraising Committee seeks donations from individuals and corporations to support ACS activities in a blind, non-quid-pro-quo manner. Institutional CaregiverThe Institutional Caregiver Committee develops and implements plans to provide care and access to cannabis medicine to patients who reside in institutions such as nursing homes, rehabilitation hospitals, and hospice. |