Think of Pharmacists as a Resource On Drug Interactions with Cannabis

In Florida, your typical pharmacy cannot dispense medical cannabis and CBD products, that’s the job of medical marijuana treatment centers, which under Florida law must be owned and operated by the same company that grows and cultivates medical marijuana.

But does such a vertically integrated business structure mean a pharmacist shouldn’t be involved in a medical marijuana patient’s treatment?

“No,” say pharmacists Dr. Caleshia Herring and Valeria Robinson-Baker, who make a strong case for consulting doctors and pharmacists about potential drug interactions with medical marijuana and CBD products.

Herring, a “master herbalist” and researcher for a medical marijuana company, has extensive training in medication management, pharmacotherapy, herbal supplementation, and alternative medicine. She also holds a Doctor of Pharmacy from Florida A&M University (FAMU).

Robinson-Baker has served as director of pharmacy at four hospitals, and she’s currently running the non-sterile compounding section and hazardous drugs program at Olympia Compounding Pharmacy in Orlando. She holds a Bachelor of Pharmacy from FAMU and serves on MMERI’s External Advisory Council.

Both say patients should keep their primary care physicians in the loop on recommended medical marijuana treatment regimens, and they encourage talking with pharmacists about concerns over interactions with prescription medications.

Fortunately, adds Dr. Herring, there are “very, very few major drug interactions” with the cannabis herb.”

But that’s not to say cannabis treatments don’t pose some health risks. Robinson-Baker warns against using the prescription blood thinners Warfarin or Coumadin while undergoing cannabis therapies. The mixture could lead to increased bleeding, she says.

“Those are some of the things that we as pharmacists can play a primary, actually a very integral role in your healthcare with drugs that interact with your medicinal marijuana,” says Robinson-Baker.

Visit bit.ly/medicineandcannabis to watch MMERI’s Conversations on Cannabis Virtual Forum on YouTube featuring Pharmacists Dr. Caleshia Herring and Valeria Robinson-Baker.