Ch. 442                                    2003 LAWS OF MARYLAND

20-802.

(A)     (1) THERE IS ESTABLISHED IN THE BOARD OF PHYSICIAN QUALITY
ASSURANCE THE MEDICAL MARIJUANA RESEARCH PROGRAM.

(2) THE PROGRAM SHALL BE ADMINISTERED BY THE BOARD.

(B)     ON OR BEFORE JANUARY 1, 2004, THE BOARD SHALL ADOPT REGULATIONS
NECESSARY FOR THE PROPER ADMINISTRATION OF THE PROGRAM, INCLUDING THE
MANNER IN WHICH THE BOARD WILL CONSIDER APPLICATIONS FOR PROGRAM
PARTICIPATION CARDS AND FOR RENEWING PROGRAM PARTICIPATION CARDS FOR
PARTICIPATING PATIENTS AND PRIMARY CAREGIVERS:

20-803.

(A) SUBJECT TO REGULATIONS ADOPTED UNDER § 20-804(A) OF THIS
SUBTITLE, PARTICIPATION IN THE PROGRAM SHALL BE LIMITED TO PATIENTS WITH
A DEBILITATING MEDICAL CONDITION.

(B) THE BOARD SHALL ADMIT A PATIENT TO THE PROGRAM IF:

(1) THE PATIENT'S PHYSICIAN HAS SUBMITTED WRITTEN

CERTIFICATION ON THE PATIENT'S BEHALF;

(2) THE PATIENT AND THE PATIENT'S PHYSICIAN HAVE AGREED IN
WRITING TO JOINTLY COMPLETE PATIENT EVALUATION FORMS; AND

(3) THE PATIENT HAS PAID A REGISTRATION FEE, NOT TO EXCEED $150
PER PATIENT.

(C) (1) THE BOARD SHALL VERIFY THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN AN
APPLICATION SUBMITTED UNDER THIS SECTION, AND SHALL APPROVE OR DENY AN
APPLICATION WITHIN 30 DAYS AFTER RECEIPT OF THE APPLICATION.

(2) THE BOARD MAY DENY AN APPLICATION ONLY IF THE APPLICANT
DID NOT PROVIDE THE INFORMATION REQUIRED UNDER THIS SECTION, OR IF THE
BOARD DETERMINES THAT THE INFORMATION PROVIDED WAS FALSIFIED.

(3) AN INDIVIDUAL WHOSE APPLICATION HAS BEEN DENIED MAY NOT
REAPPLY FOR AT LEAST 6 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE DENIAL, UNLESS
AUTHORIZED TO DO SO BY THE BOARD OR A COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION.

20-804.

(A) (1) ON OR BEFORE JANUARY 1, 2004, THE BOARD SHALL ADOPT
REGULATIONS GOVERNING THE MANNER IN WHICH IT WILL CONSIDER PETITIONS
SUBMITTED BY PHYSICIANS OR PATIENTS TO ADD DEBILITATING MEDICAL
CONDITIONS TO THOSE INCLUDED IN THE DEFINITION OF "DEBILITATING MEDICAL
CONDITION" STATED IN § 5-610(A) OF THE CRIMINAL LAW ARTICLE.

(2) (I) THE REGULATIONS SHALL REQUIRE THAT, IN CONSIDERING A
PETITION SUBMITTED BY A PHYSICIAN OR PATIENT, THE BOARD SHALL PROVIDE
PUBLIC NOTICE OF THE PETITION AND AN OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT IN A PUBLIC
HEARING ON IT.

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