The Society of Cannabis Clinicians (SCC) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization registered in the United States, dedicated to educating healthcare professionals about the medical use of cannabis.[1] Its mission is to unite into one association members of the various medical specialties and allied professionals with this common purpose. SCC is one of the oldest active organization of its kind, and one of the few global non-profit medical societies[a] related to cannabis and cannabinoids, along with the International Cannabinoid Research Society and the International Association for Cannabinoid Medicines.[1][2][3]

Society of Cannabis Clinicians (SCC)
Founded1999
FounderTod H. Mikuriya
Type501(c)(3)
OriginsCalifornia
Area served
Global
Key people
Websitecannabisclinicians.org
Formerly called
California Cannabis Research Medical Group (CCRMG)

History

edit

The group was first established in 1999[1] by California-based psychiatrist Tod Mikuriya, MD[4] as a project of the California Cannabis Research Medical Group to facilitate voluntary medical standards for physician-approved cannabis under California law (HSC §11362.5).

Early years: the California Cannabis Research Medical Group

edit

The California Cannabis Research Medical Group (CCRMG) was established as a 501c3 non-profit by Tod Mikuriya in 1999,[5][1] to help physicians share and exchange data about cannabis use by their patients, essentially in California around the San Francisco area.[1][6][7] The CCRMG members published their research findings, such as president Jeffrey Hergenrather's survey of patients with Crohn's disease,[8] in the unconventional Journal of Cannabis in Clinical Practice O'Shaughnessy, and developed an online research archive[permanent dead link]. CCMRG maintained the William B. O'Shaughnessy Archives.

After 2004: Society of Cannabis Clinicians

edit

After 2004, SCC progressively took over the CCRMG[9] as it started expanding beyond California, as other US States opened access to medical cannabis.

In 2015, SCC launched a Medical Cannabis Continuing Education program, worth 12 CME credits, which in sequential order, a series of 12 courses designed to take a practicing clinician from the basics of the plant, its history and the underlying physiologic (endocannabinoid) system to the pharmacology and clinical practice of medical cannabis.

2020s: Internationalization

edit

In 2019, SCC started an International Committee and launched several national chapters outside the United States, claiming presence in 21 countries[10] and three active chapters.[11]

In 2020, the SCC submitted contributions to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights during the COVID-19 pandemic in relation with access to medical cannabis[12][13][14][15] and the rights of people who use drugs.[16] SCC also contributed to the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs in relation with the recommendations of the World Health Organization to withdraw cannabis and cannabis resin from Schedule IV of the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs.[17][18][19][20][21]

In 2021, SCC engaged in the field of veterinary medicine with the launch of an International Veterinary Cannabis Alliance.[22]

Organisation and activities

edit

SCC members hold quarterly meetings of physicians and allied professionals featuring presentations by clinicians, researchers, and legal experts in the medical cannabis field.

The society runs five thematic committees[23] (Editorial, Education, International, Outreach, and Research) for members to share their areas of expertise in the fields that relate to the medical uses of cannabis and cannabinoids.

Notes

edit
  1. ^ A Medical Society is a specific type of trade association for medical professionals.

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c d e Takakuwa, Kevin M. (May 1, 2020). "A history of the Society of Cannabis Clinicians and its contributions and impact on the US medical cannabis movement". International Journal of Drug Policy. 79: 102749. doi:10.1016/j.drugpo.2020.102749. ISSN 0955-3959. PMID 32289591. S2CID 215771647.
  2. ^ "Η Δρ. Γκόλντσταϊν πιστεύει ότι η ιατρική κάνναβη μπορεί να αντικαταστήσει πολλά φάρμακα | LiFO". www.lifo.gr (in Greek). June 1, 2018. Retrieved May 26, 2021.
  3. ^ Grotenhermen, Franjo; Müller-Vahl, Kirsten R. (October 23, 2020). "Two Decades of the International Association for Cannabinoid Medicines: 20 Years of Supporting Research and Activities Toward the Medicinal Use of Cannabis and Cannabinoids". Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research. 6 (2): 82–87. doi:10.1089/can.2020.0044. ISSN 2578-5125. PMC 8064956. PMID 33912675.
  4. ^ Fox, Margalit (May 29, 2007). "Tod H. Mikuriya, 73, Dies; Backed Medical Marijuana". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 26, 2021.
  5. ^ Mikuriya, T. (2003). Cannabis as a substitute for alcohol. O'Shaughnessy's Summer, 2003, 5–8.
  6. ^ Gardner, Fred (April 8, 2007). "Army's conquer by cannabis plan". SFGATE. Retrieved May 26, 2021.
  7. ^ Rosner, Abbie. "New 'Cannabis For Dementia' Podcast Launches". Forbes. Retrieved May 26, 2021.
  8. ^ Hergenrather, Jeffrey (2013). "Survey of Cannabis Use for Crohn's Disease" O'Shaugnessy's Journal of Cannabis in Clinical Practice
  9. ^ Gardner, Fred (2012). "SCC/O'Shaughnessy's Backstory" O'Shaugnessy's Journal of Cannabis in Clinical Practice
  10. ^ "SCC Brochure (English) May 2020" (PDF). Society of Cannabis Clinicians.
  11. ^ "International Chapters". Society of Cannabis Clinicians. Retrieved May 26, 2021.
  12. ^ "Ensuring continuity of treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic for patients using Cannabis and cannabinoid medicines" (PDF). Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. April 20, 2020.
  13. ^ Russo, Sarah (May 4, 2020). "Open Letter to the United Nations: Ensuring Continued Medical Cannabis Access During the COVID-19 Pandemic". Society of Cannabis Clinicians. Retrieved May 26, 2021.
  14. ^ "International Association for Cannabis as Medicine". www.cannabis-med.org. May 4, 2020. Retrieved May 26, 2021.
  15. ^ Bennoune, Karima (February 4, 2021). "Report of the United Nations Special Rapporteur in the field of cultural rights, on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cultures and cultural rights, delivered to the Human Rights Council in its 46th session, February–March 2021". Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.
  16. ^ "In the time of COVID-19: Civil Society Statement on COVID-19 and People who use Drugs" (PDF). International Drug Policy Consortium.
  17. ^ "CND Intersessional on WHO recommendations – Vienna NGO Committee on Narcotic Drugs". Retrieved May 26, 2021.
  18. ^ Russo, Sarah (October 8, 2020). "Dr. Joel Wren's Civil Society Statement on Cannabis to the World Health Organization". Society of Cannabis Clinicians. Retrieved May 26, 2021.
  19. ^ Wren, Joel (October 8, 2020). "Commission on Narcotic Drugs, Sixty-third session Second intersessional meeting, 8 October 2020, United Nations Office at Vienna Statement of Dr. Joel Wren, MBBS, Adelaide, Australia" (PDF). United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.
  20. ^ "Statement "Towards science-based scheduling of cannabis sativa and other controlled herbal medicines" [E/CN.7/2020/NGO/8] submitted by the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies, a non-governmental organization in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council". United Nations Documents.
  21. ^ "Statement "Support patient access to medicine, vote yes!" [E/CN.7/2020/NGO/7] submitted by the European coalition for just and effective drug policies, a non-governmental organization in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council". United Nations Documents.
  22. ^ "International Veterinary Cannabis Roundtable Webinar". Society of Cannabis Clinicians. Retrieved June 7, 2021.
  23. ^ "Committees". Society of Cannabis Clinicians. Retrieved May 26, 2021.
edit