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 Medical cannabis, or medical marijuana (MMJ), is cannabis and cannabinoids that are prescribed by physicians for their patients. The use of cannabis as medicine has not been rigorously tested due to production and governmental restrictions ...

. 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 related to

cannabis ''Cannabis'' () is a genus of flowering plants in the family Cannabaceae. The number of species within the genus is disputed. Three species may be recognized: '' Cannabis sativa'', '' C. indica'', and '' C. ruderalis''. Alternative ...

and

cannabinoid Cannabinoids () are several structural classes of compounds found in the cannabis plant primarily and most animal organisms (although insects lack such receptors) or as synthetic compounds. The most notable cannabinoid is the phytocannabinoid tet ...

s, along with the International Cannabinoid Research Society and the International Association for Cannabinoid Medicines.

History

The group was first established in 1999 by California-based psychiatrist Tod Mikuriya, MD 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

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

After 2004: Society of Cannabis Clinicians

After 2004, SCC progressively took over the CCRMG 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 Cannabinoids () are several structural classes of compounds found in the cannabis plant primarily and most animal organisms (although insects lack such receptors) or as synthetic compounds. The most notable cannabinoid is the phytocannabinoid tet ...

) system to the pharmacology and clinical practice of medical cannabis.

2020s: Internationalization

In 2019, SCC started an ''International Committee'' and launched several national chapters outside the United States, claiming presence in 21 countries and three active chapters. In 2020, the SCC submitted contributions to the

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, commonly known as the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) or the United Nations Human Rights Office, is a department of the Secretariat of the United Nati ...

during the

COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identi ...

in relation with access to medical cannabis and the rights of people who use drugs. SCC also contributed to the United Nations

Commission on Narcotic Drugs The Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) is one of the functional commissions of the United Nations' Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), and is the central drug policy-making body within the United Nations System. The CND also has important man ...

in relation with the recommendations of the

World Health Organization The World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for international public health. The WHO Constitution states its main objective as "the attainment by all peoples of the highest possible level of ...

to withdraw cannabis and cannabis resin from Schedule IV of the

Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs The Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, 1961 (Single Convention, 1961 Convention, or C61) is an international treaty that controls activities (cultivation, production, supply, trade, transport) of specific narcotic drugs and lays down a syste ...

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

Organisation and activities

SCC members hold quarterly meetings of physicians and Health professional, allied professionals featuring presentations by Clinician-scientist, clinicians, Medical cannabis research, researchers, and Lawyer, legal experts in the medical cannabis field. The society runs five thematic committees (Editorial, Education, International, Outreach, and Research) for members to share their areas of expertise in the fields that relate to the Medical cannabis, medical uses of cannabis and cannabinoids.

Notes

References

External links

*
O'Shaughnessy's Archives
{{Portal bar, Cannabis Medicinal use of cannabis organizations based in the United States Cannabis research Culture of San Francisco Medicinal use of cannabis category:Organizations established in 2004 category:1999 in cannabis category:2004 in cannabis category:Cannabis in California 1999 establishments in California 2004 establishments in California Drug policy organizations Organizations established in 1999