Medical Marijuana: Ethical Decisions for Mental Health Providers

Presenter: Linda Friskey, LCSW-C

Category 1 | 3 CEUs (Qualifies for Ethics CEUs)

Workshop Description: This workshop will be presented by Linda Friskey, LCSW-C, who presented previously for GWSCSW on the topic of medical marijuana. The focus of this new workshop will be the ethics of discussing medical marijuana with clients/patients and colleagues. It is recommended for mental health professionals working in Maryland who want to be current regarding rapidly changing laws, regulations and attitudes regarding the use of medical marijuana for treatment of health and mental health conditions. Timely information about current status of laws and regulations for Maryland will be presented, as well as an overview of federal laws and regulations. Potential for ethical dilemmas related to the clinician's role in providing information or guidance to clients/patients and colleagues will be explored. Clinicians will gain knowledge of how to guide clients to information and resources. DSM V cannabis use diagnoses and a basic introduction to differentiating between self-medicating versus regulated and monitored cannabis use and related assessment and treatment implications will be discussed. A glossary of terms and definitions as well as a bibliography will be provided.

About the Presenter: The workshop will be presented by Linda Friskey, LCSW-C, who specializes in the intersection of biological/somatic and emotional/psychological concerns. Linda is a seasoned clinician practicing at Linda Friskey, LLC in Columbia, Maryland. 

Objectives:

1. Participants will gain knowledge of current laws regulating medical marijuana in Maryland.
   
2. Participants will learn what the DSM V says about cannabis and medical cannabis.
   
3. Participants will be able to identify some of their personal and professional values and biases regarding the use of medical marijuana through presented case vignettes.
   
4. Participants will be given a lengthy bibliography covering many aspects of cannabis research and facts and a copy of the Maryland Code of Ethics.

Schedule:

8:30 to 9:00 a.m. Registration & Breakfast (a delicious breakfast is included with your registration)
9:00 to 9:30 a.m. Introduction of participants, presenter,topic and learning objectives
9:30 to 10:30 History of laws and regulations in Maryland regarding medical marijuana through 2018
10:30 to 10:45 Break
10:45 to 11:30 Current status of medical marijuana availability in Maryland and how patients/clients may obtain it. DSM V cannabis diagnoses. 11:30 to 12:30 Case vignettes and discussions