Pharmacist Eligibility
Learn about requirements and eligibility criteria for certifying pharmacists.
Pharmacist working at a dispensary facility who wish to issue temporary certifications to patients for medical marijuana must:
- Possess an active Connecticut Pharmacist License issued by the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection.
- Possess an active and sponsored Medical Marijuana Dispensary Registration (MMDR) issued by the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection.
- Be registered with and review a patient's prescription history in the Connecticut Prescription Monitoring Program.
Additional requirements for a pharmacist to temporarily certify a patient for medical marijuana:
- Obtain a state-issued DEA registration number issued by the Medical Marijuana Program.
- Create a DAS Business Network Account to access the online registration system.
- A licensed pharmacist, acting in the course of the licensed pharmacist’s employment and on the premises of the dispensary facility or hybrid retailer that employs such licensed pharmacist, may issue a temporary written certification to an individual that authorizes the individual to engage in the palliative use of marijuana as a qualifying patient for a period not to exceed ninety consecutive days, provided such licensed pharmacist has:
- Reasonably determined, after reviewing such individual's medical history, that such individual is at least eighteen years of age and has a debilitating medical condition;
- Conducted an in-person assessment of such individual at the dispensary facility or on the premises of the hybrid retailer that employs the licensed pharmacist;
- Determined that the potential benefits the individual would derive from the palliative use of marijuana likely outweigh the health risks that such use would pose to such individual;
- Reviewed the electronic prescription drug monitoring program established pursuant to section 21a-254 and verified that no other licensed pharmacist had prescribed or dispensed marijuana to such individual during the one-year period immediately preceding the date of such review.
- The pharmacist shall maintain all patient assessments and eligibility documentation concerning such temporary written certification for a period of at least three years beginning on the date on which the licensed pharmacist issued such temporary written certification. Such documentation shall be organized and maintained (A) in hard copy at the dispensary facility or hybrid retailer premises at which the licensed pharmacist conducted an in-person assessment of the patient, or (B) electronically in a system readily accessible by the licensed pharmacist.
- Patient assessments and eligibility documentation will be made readily available to the department, and shall submit any such documentation to the department, in a form and manner prescribed by the department, not later than forty-eight hours after the department requests such documentation.
- A licensed pharmacist shall not be subject to arrest or prosecution, penalized in any manner, including, but not limited to, being subject to any civil penalty, or denied any right or privilege, including, but not limited to, being subject to any disciplinary action by the Commission of Pharmacy or any other professional licensing board, for providing a temporary written certification pursuant to Public Act 25-101.