Legalization of Marijuana: The Impacts in Colorado

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This webinar is part of our “Preparing South Dakota Healthcare for the Legalization of Marijuana” Series. You can join the series at any time and access recordings of previous sessions.

Overview: In November 2000, Amendment 20 was passed in the state of Colorado which legalized the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes, namely illnesses refractory to conventional treatments. A small enterprise was envisioned. However what followed was exponential growth in distribution and use. By 2013 the state had changed its law to include recreational use leading to the full commercialization of marijuana. Since that decision, a variety of public health and safety trends and statistics have been published, raising questions about the long-term impacts of marijuana use on health care, medical regulation and public safety.

Dr. Gundersen will review the regulations created by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment which govern the sale and use of marijuana in the state. She will review guidelines physicians should consider if and when they choose to make recommendations for the use of marijuana. She will share both potential benefits and risks of marijuana use in both medicinal and recreational demographics. Finally, Dr. Gundersen will share the impact of liberalized marijuana laws on public health and safety.

Presenters: Doris C. Gundersen, MD

Dr. Doris Gundersen is board certified in both general adult and forensic psychiatry. She is an Assistant Clinical Professor in the department of Psychiatry at the University of Colorado where she teaches medical students residents and fellows. Additionally Dr. Gundersen maintains a private practice in general adult and forensic psychiatry.

In 2000, Dr. Gundersen was invited to join the Colorado Physician Health Program (CPHP) team and for twenty years, has been dedicated to assisting physicians with serious illnesses and providing education to medical communities locally, nationally and internationally concerning physician health. She served as CPHP’s medical director from 2009 through 2019. She has collaborated with her CPHP colleagues on physician health research and coauthored articles and book chapters accepted for publication. She currently serves on the Colorado Medical Society’s committee on physician well-being.

Dr. Gundersen is a past president of the Federation of State Physician Health Programs as well as a past president of the Colorado Psychiatric Society. She has a Colorado Supreme Court appointment to the Character and Fitness Committee of the Office of Attorney Regulation where she assists in assessing attorneys applying to the Colorado bar. Finally, she collaborates with Lawyers Assistance Programs across the country in educating attorneys about wellness.

Registration: Registration for this series is per facility. This allows multiple staff members to participate in the education for one fee. Prior registration is required to ensure connection information and applicable materials are distributed prior to the webinar. Registration for this series is free for SDAHO member facilities and $199 for non-member facilities.

*this series is included in the 2021 education package