Maryland Senate Unanimously Approves Bill Protecting Veterinarians Who Discuss Cananbis for Animals
- Maryland’s Senate Bill 54, protecting veterinarians from discipline for discussing or recommending cannabis products for animals, passed the Senate unanimously 45-0.
- The companion House Bill 452 was previously approved by the House of Delegates with a 136-0 vote and now the Senate-approved bill is sent back to the House Environment and Transportation Committee.
- The legislation prevents the State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners from penalizing veterinarians solely for discussing or recommending marijuana or CBD products for animals’ therapeutic or health supplementation use.
- If enacted, the bill would take effect on October 1, allowing veterinarians more freedom to discuss cannabis as a treatment option without fearing license repercussions.
Maryland’s Senate Bill 54, which would protect veterinarians from professional discipline solely for discussing or recommending cananbis products for animals, has now passed the full Senate in a unanimous 45 to 0 vote. A companion measure, House Bill 452, was given approval last month by the full House of Delegates by a vote of 136 to 0. With the Senate now giving the proposal final passage, it has been sent back to the House and referred to the Environment and Transportation Committee.
The measure would make it clear that the State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners could not suspend or revoke a license, reprimand or censure a veterinarian, or place them on probation solely because they discussed or recommended the use of marijuana or a product containing CBD for an animal’s potential therapeutic benefit or for health supplementation purposes.
Supporters say the change would give veterinarians more freedom to speak openly with pet owners about possible treatment options without worrying that doing so could jeopardize their license.
If enacted, the measure would take effect October 1.