A registered certifying physician may not do any of the following:
- (1) Except for the limited purpose of performing a medical cannabis-related study, accept, solicit, or offer any form of remuneration from or to a qualified patient, designated caregiver, or any licensee, including a principal officer, board member, agent, or employee of the licensee, to certify a patient, other than accepting payment from a patient for the fee associated with the examination, medical consultation, or other treatment, including, but not limited to, any third party reimbursement for the same.
- (2) Accept, solicit, or offer any form of remuneration from or to a dispensary for the purpose of referring a patient to a specific dispensary.
- (3) Offer a discount of any other item of value to a qualified patient who uses or agrees to designate a specific caregiver or use a specific dispensary to obtain medical cannabis.
- (4) Hold a direct or indirect economic interest in a licensee.
- (5) Serve on the board of directors or as an employee of a licensee.
- (6) Refer qualified patients to a specific caregiver or a specific dispensary.
- (7) Advertise in a dispensary.
- (8) Advertise on the physician’s website, brochures, or any other media that generally describe the scope of practice of the physician, any statement that refers to the physician as a “medical cannabis” or “medical marijuana” physician or doctor, or otherwise advertises his or her status as a registered certifying physician, other than the following: “Dr. _______ is qualified by the State of Alabama to certify patients for medical cannabis use under the Alabama Compassion Act.”
(Act 2021-450, §1.)