ASTM D8452-24

Standard Guide for Medical-related Professionals within the Cannabis and Hemp Industries

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 As patient use of cannabis and hemp for medical purposes increases and medical professionals are increasingly called upon to provide medical advice, the following requirements and expectations within the medical profession are increasingly significant, requiring:  
5.1.1 Availability by patients to qualified medical professionals who can provide safe and objective advice on the medical use of cannabis and hemp,  
5.1.2 Clarity by medical professionals on the legal restrictions in their area of jurisdiction to ensure compliance, and  
5.1.3 Development of qualified training and certificate programs to ensure safe and quality healthcare for patients.  
5.2 The primary objectives of this guide are as follows:  
5.2.1 Provide a general overview of the BoK required for the professions listed in Section 7; and  
5.2.2 Provide recommendations to form the foundation for training and subsequent recognition/certificate systems that enable consumers, employers, organizational management, government agencies, and others who rely upon medical professionals to distinguish between qualified and non-qualified workers.  
5.2.3 Recommend requirements that agencies can use to develop and document the specific criteria used for training or certificate programs.  
5.3 Users of this guide shall document deviations from the recommended requirements to inform their clients of the criteria applied in either the training or the certificate programs offered. As the cannabis and hemp industries and medical guidelines mature, this guide will be updated to reflect current thinking and requirements.  
5.4 The Bok elements are applicable to certificate programs, while the BoK, experiential and educational elements are applicable to certification process requirements.
SCOPE
1.1 This guide can provide certification bodies, training providers, employers, and certificate issuers, with best-practice guidance for administering their respective programs for medical-related professions within the cannabis and hemp industries.  
1.2 This guide recommends requirements for experience, training, education, and the body of knowledge (BoK) necessary for medical-related professions within the cannabis and hemp industries listed in Table 1.  
1.3 For purposes of this guide, a medical professional is defined as a person qualified and licensed as required by the jurisdiction to provide guidance or recommendations regarding a person's health or fitness.  
1.4 This guide provides recommendations for articulating professional requirements for training and education or earning certificates. It is part of a series of guides denoting certification requirements for professions within the cannabis and hemp industries (Guides D8346, D8347, D8348), and supporting Practice D8403 for associated certificate programs.  
1.5 This guide's content does not supersede requirements for training or earning a certificate defined by jurisdictional entities such as government or other regional regulatory bodies.  
1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.  
1.7 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 29-Feb-2024
• ICS: 03.100.30 - Management of human resources
• ICS: 11.120.99 - Other standards related to pharmaceutics
• ICS: 65.020.20 - Plant growing
• Technical Committee: D37 - Cannabis
• Drafting Committee: D37.06 - Personnel Training, Assessment, Credentialing

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM D8452-22 - Standard Guide for Requirements for Medical-related Professionals within the Cannabis and Hemp Industries
• Effective Date: 01-Mar-2024

Overview

ASTM D8452-24: Standard Guide for Medical-related Professionals within the Cannabis and Hemp Industries provides comprehensive guidance for certifying and training medical professionals operating in the evolving cannabis and hemp sectors. Developed by ASTM, this standard supports a rapidly growing area where patients increasingly seek cannabis and hemp for medical uses, and where credentialed health professionals must offer safe, compliant, and evidence-based advice and services. ASTM D8452-24 is intended for use by certification bodies, training organizations, employers, and certificate issuers to ensure that education and credentialing programs for medical roles in this industry meet high, internationally recognized standards.

Key Topics

• Body of Knowledge (BoK): Outlines essential topics medical professionals should understand, such as the legal landscape, cannabis science, delivery systems, patient dosing, laboratory testing, clinical applications, and opioid interactions.
• Legal and Regulatory Compliance: Highlights the importance of adhering to local, regional, and national laws and regulations concerning the medical use of cannabis and hemp.
• Training and Certification Requirements: Recommends experience, educational prerequisites, and ongoing professional development for medical-related roles in the cannabis and hemp industries.
• Documenting Deviations: Advises organizations to transparently document any deviations from the recommended practices and share these with stakeholders.
• Professional Roles and Scope: Clarifies the spectrum of medical professionals covered, including doctors, nurses, pharmacists, dentists, hospice workers, and technicians, within the specific context of their license, jurisdiction, and field of expertise.

Applications

ASTM D8452-24 delivers practical value to several user groups within the cannabis and hemp healthcare ecosystem:

• Certification and Training Providers: Enables development and administration of programs that ensure medical staff are qualified according to a recognized body of knowledge and practice.
• Employers: Assists clinics, dispensaries, healthcare facilities, and other providers in evaluating the credentials and training of prospective and current staff.
• Medical Professionals: Offers guidance on necessary specialties, continuing education, and legal compliance for offering medical advice or therapy in cannabis and hemp.
• Regulatory Bodies: Used as a benchmark when reviewing, recognizing, or accrediting training and certificate programs in this specialized medical field.
• Patients: Promotes access to knowledgeable professionals and helps the public distinguish between qualified and unqualified healthcare providers.
• Program Documentation: Supports consistent documentation of training, certification criteria, and processes-crucial in evolving legal and therapeutic landscapes.

Related Standards

This guide is part of ASTM’s broader suite addressing workforce qualifications in the cannabis and hemp industries. Key referenced standards include:

• ASTM D8270: Terminology Relating to Cannabis
• ASTM D8346: Guide for Quality Related Professions in Cannabis and Hemp
• ASTM D8347: Guide for Analytical Laboratory Professions in Cannabis and Hemp
• ASTM D8348: Guide for Transportation and Logistics Professions in Cannabis and Hemp
• ASTM D8403: Practice for Certificate Programs within Cannabis and Hemp
• ASTM E2659: Practice for Certificate Programs
• ASTM E2708: Terminology for Accreditation and Certification

These standards intersect to create a robust framework for credentialing, training, and professional practice, ensuring safe, effective, and legally compliant medical services across the cannabis and hemp sectors.

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Keywords: ASTM D8452-24, cannabis medical professionals, hemp healthcare certification, medical cannabis training, professional credentialing, body of knowledge, healthcare compliance, cannabis standards, certificate programs, medical hemp industry.

Standards Content (Sample)

This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: D8452 − 24
Standard Guide for
Medical-related Professionals within the Cannabis and
Hemp Industries
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D8452; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 2. Referenced Documents
1.1 This guide can provide certification bodies, training 2.1 ASTM Standards:
providers, employers, and certificate issuers, with best-practice D8270 Terminology Relating to Cannabis
guidance for administering their respective programs for D8346 Guide for Requirements for Quality Related Profes-
medical-related professions within the cannabis and hemp sions Within the Cannabis and Hemp Industries
industries. D8347 Guide for Requirements for Analytical Laboratory
Related Professions Within the Cannabis and Hemp In-
1.2 This guide recommends requirements for experience,
dustries
training, education, and the body of knowledge (BoK) neces-
D8348 Guide for Requirements for Transportation and Lo-
sary for medical-related professions within the cannabis and
gistics Related Professions Within the Cannabis and
hemp industries listed in Table 1.
Hemp Industries
1.3 For purposes of this guide, a medical professional is
D8403 Practice for Certificate Programs within the Cannabis
defined as a person qualified and licensed as required by the
and Hemp Industries
jurisdiction to provide guidance or recommendations regarding
E2659 Practice for Certificate Programs
a person’s health or fitness.
E2708 Terminology for Accreditation and Certification
1.4 This guide provides recommendations for articulating
3. Terminology
professional requirements for training and education or earning
certificates. It is part of a series of guides denoting certification
3.1 Definitions:
requirements for professions within the cannabis and hemp
3.1.1 General—Definitions are in accordance with Termi-
industries (Guides D8346, D8347, D8348), and supporting
nology D8270, unless otherwise indicated.
Practice D8403 for associated certificate programs.
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
1.5 This guide’s content does not supersede requirements
3.2.1 certificate, n—a document (letter, card, or other me-
for training or earning a certificate defined by jurisdictional
dium) awarded to certificate holders that designates the suc-
entities such as government or other regional regulatory
cessful completion of a credentialing program’s requisites.
bodies.
(E2708)
1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the
3.2.2 certificate program, n—a non-degree-granting educa-
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
tion of training program consisting of (1) a learning event or
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
series of events designed to educate or train individuals to
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
achieve specified learning outcomes within a defined scope,
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
and (2) a system designed to ensure individuals receive a
1.7 This international standard was developed in accor-
certificate only after verification of successful completion of all
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
program requisites, including but not limited to an evaluation
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
of learner attainment of intended learning outcomes.
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
(E2708, E2659)
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
3.2.3 certification, n—procedure and action by a duly au-
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
thorized body of determining, certifying, and attesting in
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D37 on Cannabis and
is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D37.06 on Personnel Training,
Assessment, Credentialing. For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Current edition approved March 1, 2024. Published May 2024. Originally contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
approved in 2022. Last previous edition approved in 2022 as D8452 – 22. DOI: Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
10.1520/D8452-24. the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
D8452 − 24
TABLE 1 Cannabis and Hemp Medical Professions
tent of the professional BoK. The validation process can occur
Cannabis & Hemp Medical Professionals Section 7 through proctored exams.
5. Significance and Use
5.1 As patient use of cannabis and hemp for medical
writing to the qualifications of individuals, processes,
purposes increases and medical professionals are increasingly
procedures, or items in accordance with application require-
called upon to provide medical advice, the following require-
ments; personnel certification-procedure and action by a duly
ments and expectations within the medical profession are
authorized body of determining, verifying, and attesting in
increasingly significant, requiring:
writing to the qualifications of individuals in a profession, in
5.1.1 Availability by patients to qualified medical profes-
accordance with application requirements associated with that
sionals who can provide safe and objective advice on the
profession. (E2708, E2659)
medical use of cannabis and hemp,
3.2.4 certification agency, n—the organizational or admin-
5.1.2 Clarity by medical professionals on the legal restric-
istrative unit that offers or operates, or both, a certification
tions in their area of jurisdiction to ensure compliance, and
program. (E2708)
5.1.3 Development of qualified training and certificate pro-
3.2.5 guide, n—a compendium of information or series of grams to ensure safe and quality healthcare for patients.
options that does not recommend a specific course of action;
5.2 The primary objectives of this guide are as follows:
guides are intended to increase the awareness of information
5.2.1 Provide a general overview of the BoK required for
and approaches in a given subject area.
the professions listed in Section 7; and
3.2.5.1 Discussion—Guides may propose a series of options
5.2.2 Provide recommendations to form the foundation for
or instructions that offer direction without recommending a
training and subsequent recognition/certificate systems that
definite course of action. The purpose of this type of guide is
enable consumers, employers, organizational management,
to offer guidance based on a consensus of viewpoints but not to
government agencies, and others who rely upon medical
establish a standard practice to follow in all cases (ASTM
professionals to distinguish between qualified and non-
Form and Style C15.2).
qualified workers.
5.2.3 Recommend requirements that agencies can use to
4. Summary of Guide
develop and document the specific criteria used for training or
4.1 The BoK criteria is itemized in their associated tables
certificate programs.
and represent the general competency subject matter expertise
5.3 Users of this guide shall document deviations from the
that practitioners within each profession should demonstrate to
recommended requirements to inform their clients of the
meet certificate requirements as guided by Practice E2659
criteria applied in either the training or the certificate programs
NOTE 1—If certificate issuers or certifying bodies use this Guide as the offered. As the cannabis and hemp industries and medical
sole source of their documented program’s BoKs, they will not be in
guidelines mature, this guide will be updated to reflect current
conformance with the requirements of Practice E2659 nor ISO 17024.
thinking and requirements.
4.2 Mastery of said criteria can be demonstrated by many
5.4 The Bok elements are applicable to certificate programs,
alternative means, including but not limited to passing proc-
while the BoK, experiential and educational elements are
tored examinations, attaining educational degrees or training
applicable to certification process requirements.
certificates, and the documented completion of apprenticeships
or other on-the-job training, as determined by the relevant
6. Professional Requirements for Medical Professionals
jurisdiction.
within the Cannabis and Hemp Industries
4.3 Section 6 identifies the professions covered in this
6.1 The medical-related professions are listed in Table 1.
guide.
The general requirements, experience, education, and BoK for
4.4 Section 7 identifies the profession covered in this guide,
each profession are provided in the section specified.
followed by the following four sections:
6.2 The profession titles used in this guide represent poten-
4.4.1 Professional roles,
tial titles. The titles used are not intended to replace existing
4.4.2 Experience,
job titles, which fall under the
...

This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: D8452 − 22 D8452 − 24
Standard Guide for
Requirements for Medical-related Professionals within the
Cannabis and Hemp Industries
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D8452; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope
1.1 This guide can provide certification bodies, training providers, employers, and certificate issuers, with best-practice guidance
for administering their respective programs for medical-related professions within the cannabis and hemp industries.
1.2 This guide recommends requirements for experience, training, education, and the body of knowledge (BoK) necessary for
medical-related professions within the cannabis and hemp industries listed in Table 1.
1.3 For purposes of this guide, a medical professional is defined as a person qualified and licensed as required by the jurisdiction
to provide guidance or recommendations regarding a person’s health or fitness.
1.4 This guide provides recommendations for articulating professional requirements for training and education or earning
certificates. It is part of a series of guides denoting certification requirements for professions within the cannabis and hemp
industries (Guides D8346, D8347, D8348), and supporting Practice D8403 for associated certificate programs.
1.5 This guide’s content does not supersede requirements for training or earning a certificate defined by jurisdictional entities such
as government or other regional regulatory bodies.
1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility
of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of
regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.7 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization
established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued
by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
2. Referenced Documents
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D8270 Terminology Relating to Cannabis
D8346 Guide for Requirements for Quality Related Professions Within the Cannabis and Hemp Industries
D8347 Guide for Requirements for Analytical Laboratory Related Professions Within the Cannabis and Hemp Industries
D8348 Guide for Requirements for Transportation and Logistics Related Professions Within the Cannabis and Hemp Industries
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D37 on Cannabis and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D37.06 on Personnel Training, Assessment,
Credentialing.
Current edition approved Aug. 1, 2022March 1, 2024. Published August 2022May 2024. Originally approved in 2022. Last previous edition approved in 2022 as
D8452 – 22. DOI: 10.1520/D8452-22.10.1520/D8452-24.
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
D8452 − 24
TABLE 1 Cannabis and Hemp Medical Professions
Cannabis & Hemp Medical Professionals Section 7
D8403 Practice for Certificate Programs within the Cannabis and Hemp Industries
E2659 Practice for Certificate Programs
E2708 Terminology for Accreditation and Certification
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions:
3.1.1 General—Definitions are in accordance with Terminology D8270, unless otherwise indicated.
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
3.2.1 certificate, n—a document (letter, card, or other medium) awarded to certificate holders that designates the successful
completion of a credentialing program’s requisites. (E2708, E2659)
3.2.2 certificate program, n—a non-degree-granting education of training program consisting of (1) a learning event or series of
events designed to educate or train individuals to achieve specified learning outcomes within a defined scope, and (2) a system
designed to ensure individuals receive a certificate only after verification of successful completion of all program requisites,
including but not limited to an evaluation of learner attainment of intended learning outcomes.
(E2708, E2659)
3.2.3 certification, n—procedure and action by a duly authorized body of determining, certifying, and attesting in writing to the
qualifications of individuals, processes, procedures, or items in accordance with application requirements; personnel certification-
procedure and action by a duly authorized body of determining, verifying, and attesting in writing to the qualifications of
individuals in a profession, in accordance with application requirements associated with that profession. (E2708, E2659)
3.2.4 certification agency, n—the organizational or administrative unit that offers or operates, or both, a certification program.
(E2708, E2659)
3.2.5 guide, n—a compendium of information or series of options that does not recommend a specific course of action; guides are
intended to increase the awareness of information and approaches in a given subject area.
3.2.5.1 Discussion—
Guides may propose a series of options or instructions that offer direction without recommending a definite course of action. The
purpose of this type of guide is to offer guidance based on a consensus of viewpoints but not to establish a standard practice to
follow in all cases (ASTM Form and Style C15.2).
4. Summary of Guide
4.1 The BoK criteria is itemized in their associated tables and represent the general competency subject matter expertise that
practitioners within each profession should demonstrate to meet certificate requirements as guided by Practice E2659
NOTE 1—If certificate issuers or certifying bodies use this Guide as the sole source of their documented program’s BoKs, they will not be in conformance
with the requirements of Practice E2659 nor ISO 17024.
4.2 Mastery of said criteria can be demonstrated by many alternative means, including but not limited to passing proctored
examinations, attaining educational degrees or training certificates, and the documented completion of apprenticeships or other
on-the-job training, as determined by the relevant jurisdiction.
4.3 Section 6 identifies the professions covered in this guide.
4.4 Section 7 identifies the profession covered in this guide, followed by the following four sections:
Available from ASTM at https://www.astm.org/form-style-for-astm-stds.
D8452 − 24
4.4.1 Professional roles,
4.4.2 Experience,
4.4.3 Education, and
4.4.4 BoK.
4.5 The sourcing of personnel meeting these qualifications may be difficult in an emerging sector. In situations where
post-secondary degreed personnel or post-secondary institutions are not available or applicable, the phasing-in of staff is acceptable
in the first three years of employment along with sector training or apprenticeship programs reflecting the content of the
professional BoK. The validation process can occur through proctored exams.
5. Significance and Use
5.1 As patient use of cannabis and hemp for medical purposes increases and medical professionals are increasingly called upon
to provide medical advice, the following requirements and expectations within the medical profession are increasingly significant,
requiring:
5.1.1 Availability by patients to qualified medical professionals who can provide safe and objective advice on the medical use of
cannabis and hemp,
5.1.2 Clarity by medical professionals on the legal restrictions in their area of jurisdiction to ensure compliance, and
5.1.3 Development of qualified training and certificate programs to ensure safe and quality healthcare for patients.
5.2 The primary objectives of this guide are as follows:
5.2.1 Provide a general overview of the BoK required for the professions listed in Section 7; and
5.2.2 Provide recommendations to form the foundation for training and subsequent recognition/certificate systems that enable
consumers, employers, organizational management, government agencies, and others who rely upon medical professionals to
distinguish between qualified and non-qualified workers.
5.2.3 Recommend requirements that agencies can use to develop and document the specific criteria used for training or certificate
programs.
5.3 Users of this guide shall document deviations from the recommended requirements to inform their clients of the criteria
applied in either the training or the certificate programs offered. As the cannabis and hemp industries and medical guidelines
mature, this guide will be updated to reflect current thinking and requirements.
5.4 The Bok elements are applicable to certificate programs, while the BoK, experiential and educational elements are applicable
to certification process requirements.
6. Profess
...