Join Dr. Mark Garofoli on your journey to become a Cannabis Specialty Pharmacist!
Easily Become A Cannabis Specialist with Our Convenient & On-demand Training Format!
freeCE offers pharmacy staff and independent pharmacies the opportunity to offer specialized cannabis consulting services for their patients. This series of educational modules is intended to equip the pharmacist with a solid understanding of medical cannabis and how regulatory policies continue to evolve.
Background
Cannabis has been around almost forever, with quite the circular debate on its safety, efficacy, and of course, legality across the globe. The global policies revolving around Cannabis are ever-evolving, so learning from related history is essential to any new policies being introduced by lawmakers and governing bodies.
This series takes a deep dive into understanding the pharmacology and clinical care concerns of current prescription cannabinoids in respect to FDA-approvals, dosage, drug interactions, and side effects. The current landscape is critically examined, navigating into the realm of CBD products, including the distinguishment of various formulations, pharmacological properties, and practical dosing. This series of educational modules is intended to equip the pharmacist with a solid understanding of medical cannabis and how regulatory policies continue to evolve.
Program Description
The Cannabis Specialty Pharmacist Certificate is perfect for pharmacists looking for fast, convenient, affordable education. In this self-paced course consisting of six on-demand modules, pharmacists will learn about their role in dispensing and counseling on medicinal cannabis. The Cannabis Speciality Pharmacist course is a six-hour specialty certificate aimed at helping pharmacists understand the pharmacology and clinical care concerns of current prescription cannabinoids for FDA approvals, dosage, drug interactions, and side effects. This course will aid pharmacists in becoming experts in medicinal cannabis and earning credits toward licensure requirements.
Enroll in the Cannabis Speciality Pharmacist Certificate course today to gain one year of unlimited access to the course and begin your journey to better serving patients as a Cannbis Specialty Pharmacist.
Endocannabinoid System Pharmacology
Cannabis. Marijuana. Cannabinoids. CBD. THC. Cannabis has been around almost forever, with quite the circular debate on its safety, efficacy, and of course, legality across the globe. Perhaps before getting lost in the weeds, we all need to discuss the basic pharmacology of all things Cannabis, starting with some basic botanical “farm” information and a review of our human Endocannabinoid System (ECS) before then endeavoring into the complexities of its pharmacology. A higher education for all.
Policy & History
Colonial America grew industrial hemp as a more viable cash crop than cotton. Fast forward a few centuries, and eventually the term “Marihuana” (Not a typo) traveled north to our country from Mexico and brought with it a stigmatization for decades upon decades. The global policies revolving around Cannabis are ever evolving, right, left, and all around. Essential to any new policy is learning from related history. So, join us for a discussion on where Cannabis has been, stands today, and what the future may hold. Meet us at the corner of criminal and clinical for a “higher education” on Cannabis past, present, and future.
Clinical Applications & Concerns
Cutting through the Cannabis hysteria brings one to cannabinoids, whether within our human bodies (endocannabinoids), natural (phytocannabinoids), or synthetic. Does society need more studies on the possible clinical applications of cannabinoids? Of course, as with any healthcare-related realm. Does society already have a plethora of studies on the possible clinical applications of cannabinoids? Yes. In fact, there are already multiple cannabinoids that are FDA-approved to treat specific medical conditions, with some having already been around for decades. However, there are countless other products lacking the same scrutiny available with much lower pricing. Thus, healthcare professionals must discuss where cannabinoids fit into clinical practice. In this discussion, we’ll review practical and tangible patient care clinical applications and more, all centering around helping more and more patients with inquisitive and open minds.
Prescription Products
There are already multiple cannabinoids that are FDA-approved to treat specific medical conditions, with some having already been around for decades, and plenty more in the pipeline of late phase studies. In this discussion, we will dive deeper into the weeds of understanding the pharmacology and clinical care concerns of current prescription cannabinoids in respect to FDA-approvals, dosage, drug interactions, and side effects. We will then discuss possible mechanistic EndoCannabinoid System (ECS) targets of future pharmaceutical and commercial cannabinoid products.
CBD Products
If the day ends in “Y”, there’s probably another hundred CBD products now available across the globe. Where does one even begin to wrap their head around it all before getting lost in the weeds? Marijuana dispensaries sometimes involve healthcare professionals (pharmacists), yet not universally. The FDA has already approved multiple cannabinoid medications, yet the vast majority of Americans attain their CBD supply elsewhere. Pharmacies, gas stations, grocery stores, convenience stores, and head shops across our country have blinking neon signs protruding the letters “CBD” on all those passing by. How does one navigate into the realm of CBD products with a well-balanced approach? Join us for this discussion on CBD products including the distinguishment of various formulations, pharmacological properties, and even practical dosing.
THC Products
Webster’s dictionary defines “medical” as “of, relating to, or concerned with physicians or the practice of medicine” and/or requiring or devoted to medical treatment”. So just where does marijuana fit into that definition? Whether “medical” or recreational, the ship on acceptance of marijuana utilization by the majority of our country has sailed. Regardless of THC and/or marijuana’s classification, one needs to understand just what types of marijuana exist and are prevalent in our society. Join us for this discussion on THC/Marijuana products including the distinguishment of various formulations, pharmacological properties, and even practical dosing.
Dr. Mark “Pain Guy” Garofoli is a 2004 graduate from the Pitt School of Pharmacy and a 2008 graduate of the Strayer University MBA program, and is a Board-Certified Geriatric Pharmacist (BCGP), Certified Pain Educator (CPE), and Certified Tobacco Treatment Specialist (CTTs), with APhA certificate training in Immunizations and Medication Therapy Management (MTM).
He began his career as a pharmacist and field manager with CVS Health, then became an MTM pharmacist with Humana Healthcare, before initially joining the WVU School of Pharmacy by developing MTM and managed care pain management programs. Dr. Garofoli created and coordinated the West Virginia Expert Pain Management Panel, which developed the West Virginia Safe & Effective Management of Pain (SEMP) Guidelines. He is currently a Clinical Assistant Professor and Director of Experiential Learning for the WVU School of Pharmacy, along with being a Clinical Pain Management & Addiction Pharmacist at the WVU Medicine Center for Integrative Pain Management and faculty member in the WVU School of Medicine Pain Fellowship.
Mark is also a 2021 TEDx Talk presenter and a recipient of the WV GenerationRx Award. Dr. Garofoli has consulted as CDC grant reviewer, served as an expert witness in multiple criminal and civil court cases, served on multiple advisory boards, and been the host of the Pain Pod on the Pharmacy Podcast Network while also developing and conducting presentations across the country revolving around pain management, substance-use disorder (addiction), substances of abuse, and drug diversion.
Some important notes to remember regarding the Cannabis Specialty Pharmacist (CSP) Certificate:
Registration costs $157 for members, $257 for non-members.
Once you have completed the specialty certificate, you are eligible to claim a sharable digital badge. Learn more about badges here.
This program's final exam consists of 50 unique multiple-choice questions.
You have only three (3) attempts to pass the final exam.
You may not leave the final exam in the middle and return at a later time.
The final exam has no time limit; however, we recommend that you write the answers down in case you lose your Internet connection or get interrupted while taking the exam.
You will earn continuing education credit as you complete each activity, totaling 6 CE credits upon final completion.
You will have 12 months to complete the specialty certificate before it expires from your account.
This specialty certificate is accredited for pharmacists ONLY.
