ACCME Highlights (01/05/23)

There are a number of factors that accredited continuing medical education (CME) providers planning to host activities related to medical marijuana and other topics should be aware of, according to the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME). Worth considering are the Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education. Companies that mainly produce, market, sell, resell or distribute medical marijuana are ineligible for accreditation, and prohibited from joint providership with accredited CME providers. No decisions concerning planning, faculty selection, delivery and assessment of accredited education can be influenced by or involve owners or employees of ineligible companies, nor can they control accredited CME content unless participation meets an exception defined in Standard 3.2. Accredited providers should also consider any relevant financial relationships of anyone who controls content, and report to learners if they have relevant relationships with medical marijuana companies. "Be aware that many experts are also advocates, and it is your responsibility as an accredited provider to maintain the boundary between accredited CME and advocacy," ACCME advises. Accredited providers must also assume responsibility for the content of a jointly provided activity, and cannot make any exceptions to content validity requirements.

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