The Virginia Medical Cannabis Foundational Certification offers cannabis education and industry knowledge that will support your cannabis knowledge and skill set, allowing you to enter or successfully compete in the cannabis job market right out of the gate. This course allows you to learn the fundamentals of cannabis science and explore cannabis industry knowledge so you are prepared and certified to work with cannabis in Virginia.
The Virginia Medical Cannabis Foundational Certification consists of 12 educational modules designed to teach Virginia cannabis professionals pertinent details that relate to their everyday work. The course begins by detailing the legality of cannabis at the state and federal level and what this means for cannabis professionals in Virginia. Next, learn about the basics of the cannabis plant, the Endocannabinoid System, and how cannabinoid receptors work within our bodies. Additional modules cover important topics, including but not limited to: how to medicate with cannabis, inhalation versus ingestion, contraindications, and dosing considerations for specific illnesses.
This certification also includes video testimonials from scientists and medical experts, downloadable infographics, and additional visuals to support the written content. The education is followed by an exam, and upon passing, you will receive your official certification.
Did you know?ย Healthcare professionals are permitted, by federal law, to talk to patients about medical marijuana, even in non-legal states. This is but one example of the wealth of information contained in MM411, Inc. certifications.
If you are a dispensary, medical group, or company and interested in multi-seat pricing or a customized, white label course, please call 844.411.0500.
Course Syllabus
Module 1 โ US Legal
- U.S. Controlled Substances Act
- Drug Schedule โ Cannabis Schedule I
- Drug Schedule (Graphic)
- COVID Cannabis Guidelines
- Economic Impact
- Cannabis genus of flowering plants in the family Cannabaceae
- Legal differentiation between hemp and marijuana distinguished by their respective concentrations of the cannabinoid delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)
- 2018 Farm Bill
- Impact on hemp classification
- SAFE Banking Act
- U.S. Pat. No. 6,630,507
- Trademarks
- Ogden Memo
- Cole Memo
- Wilkenson Memo
- 2018 Sessions Memorandum
- RohrabacherโBlumenauer Amendment
- Joyce Amendment
- Conant v. Walters
- What Medical Professionals Can Legally Provide To Their Patients (Graphic)
- Cannabis and Cannabis-Derived Compounds: Quality Considerations for Clinical Research
- Guidance for Industry โ Downloadable PDf
- Cannabis and Cannabis-Derived Compounds: Quality Considerations for Clinical Research
- Guidance for Industry โ Video Explainer
- Taxes
- Affirmative Defense
- Bankruptcy Protection
- Employment Law
- Access to Bankingย – Financial Crimes Enforcement Network FinCEN Guidance
- Copyright and Registration
Module 2 โ Virginia Cannabis Legal Module
Module 3 โ History
- Early History of Cannabis Use
- Cannabis in the West
- U.S. Prohibition History
- The Medical Implications of U.S. Prohibition
- Medical Cannabis Today
- Hemp vs Cannabis
- Brief Chronology of History in Spain and throughout Europe
Module 4 โ The Discovery of the Endocannabinoid System
- Introduction of the Endocannabinoid System (ECS)
- Largest Receptor System
- ECS โ Video Explainer
- Newly Discovered
- Chemical Bridge to All Bodily Functions
- Homeostasis
- Healthy Body = Healthy ECS
- ECS โ Downloadable Graphic
- Dr Jake Felice – What is the Endocannabinoid System (ECS)? Video Interview
- Largest Neurotransmitter System of all โthe bodyโsย supercomputerโ
- 1964ย discovery of THC and CBD โ Raphael Mechoulam, Ph.D and Yehiel Gaoni, Ph.D
- The Scientist โ video regarding Raphael Mechoulam, Ph.D discoveries
- Allyn Howlett, Ph.D ย – Isolating THC in the brain โ 1998
- No cannabinoid receptors in the cardiac andย respiratory centers of the brainstem therefore no overdose from cannabis
- Raphael Mechoulam, Ph.D found in 1992, brain chemical that mirrors the effects of THC
- Two brain chemicals – anandamide, Sanskrit word โanandaโ brain chemical that mimicsย THC and CBD, 2-Arachidonoylglycerol, which they named 2-AG.
- Endogenous Molecules โendocannabinoidsโ.
- CB1 receptors, and CB2 receptors
- Cannabinoids and how they attach to receptors
- CB1 receptors
- Located in the central nervous system and affect many brain functions including movement, anxiety, stress, fear, pain, appetite, reward, and motor control
- CB2 receptors
- CB2 receptors control the release of cytokines, immuno-regulatory proteins, that are linked to inflammation during illness or after injury.
- Retrograde Inhibition
- Lack of education on the Endocannabinoid System
- Clinical Studies
- At a Glance โ Downloadable Infographic
- Homeostatsis
- Human Thriving Behavior and the ECS
Module 5 โ One Plant, One Complex Chemical Factory
- Minor Cannabinoids: CBG CBC CBN THCV
- Terpenes
- The Entourage Effect & Tolerance / ECS Down Regulation
- Botanical vs. Single Molecule Compounds & Cannabinoids and Opioids
Module 6 โ Getting Cannabinoids into the Bloodstream
- Inhalation: Smoking vs. Vaporization
- In the News Discussions
- Cannabis Flower vs. Concentrate
- Different Concentrate Consistencies
- Extraction Methods
- Winterization
- Concentrates Using Solvents
- Solventless Concentrates
- Edibles, Oral Mucosal, Topicals and Suppositories
- The Role of the Medical Provider
- The Role of the Dispensary: Experts within the Dispensary
Module 7 – Patient Centered Dosing
- Considerations Before Medicating with Cannabis
- Set and Setting
- Drug-Drug Interactions
- Relative Contraindications
- Youth Under 25
- Patients and Cardiac Conditions
- Patients with Psychiatric Diagnoses
- Immunocompromised Patents
- Biphasic Effect
- Finding the Appropriate Dose
- Recommended Ratios for Specific Illnesses
ย Module 8 โ Laboratory Testing
- How Testing Works
- Contaminants: Pesticides, Fungi and Mold
- How to Interpret a Test
Module 9 โ Clinical Practice
- Anxiety Disorders
- Cancer
- Epilepsy
- Gastrointestinal Disorders
- Glaucoma
- HIV/AIDS
- Migraine Headaches
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Neurodegenerative Disorders
- Neuropathy
- Pain
- Palliative Care
- Parkinson’s Disease
- Post Traumatic Stress Disorders
- Sleep Disorders
- Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
- Endometriosis
- Premenstrual Syndrome and Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder
- Menopause
Module 10 โ Cannabis and Opioids
- Pain Management Today
- Cannabis and Opioids: The Good News
- Cannabis and NSAIDS: More Good News
Module 11 โ Medical Myths and Facts
- Gateway Theory, Addiction and Brain Function
- Impaired Motivation, Memory and Mental State
- Lung Damage, Usage Patterns and Overall Danger
Module 12 โ Side Effects Abuse and Misuse
- Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome
- Cannabis Useย Disorder (CUD)
- Short and Long Term Side Effects
- Physical and Mental Effects
- Cannabis and driving
- Cannabis Overconsumption and Tolerance
