Code of Ethics & State of Missouri Compliancy

Each section below further identifies our compliancy with both the ACA Code of Ethics and the State of Missouri, where we are licensed to practice.

  • Introduction – “Counselors are expected to advocate to promote changes at the individual, group, institutional, and societal levels that improve the quality of life for individuals and groups and remove potential barriers to the provision or access of appropriate services being offered. Counselors have a responsibility to the public to engage in counseling practices that are based on rigorous research methodologies.”
    • Application – We have the responsibility to advocate, promote change, and remove barriers to the provision or access of appropriate services being offered; ones that are based in research. At the time we take a 
    • cannabis client, they have already been prescribed medical marijuana by a licensed Physician. That physician, who is more qualified in determining the safety of an individual using cannabis medicine than either of us, decided the potential benefits may outweigh the potential risks. In other words, a Physician has deemed this type of medicinal intervention as “appropriate”. However, due to the federal outlaw on marijuana that directly contradicts the state law, medical marijuana is a difficult treatment to have access to, navigate, and learn about. Still, science has proven again and again (see our library) how cannabis is able to interact with our bodies in a helpful, stabilizing way. Because this treatment works for so many, it is our responsibility to advocate, promote change (by practicing!), and remove barriers to the provision or access of medical marijuana treatment. 
  • C.2.a Boundaries of Competence – “Counselors practice only within the boundaries of their competence, based on their education, training, supervised experience, state and national professional credentials, and appropriate professional experience.”
    • Application – All practitioners at Soul Fire LLC have Master’s Degree level education in Counseling and are pursuing state licensure. All practitioners who offer cannabis-assisted services for Missouri Medical Marijuana patients have received training and education in cannabis science and patient education. Furthermore, each has a state-issued Medical Marijuana Agent license to reinforce her status as a cannabis advocate and patient educator registered with the state of Missouri. Each has been working in the Missouri Medical Marijuana industry for over 1 year, gathering vast experience in helping patients with various qualifying conditions navigate treatment options. Additionally, both practitioners are committed to allocating a portion of their continuing education units (necessary for maintaining counseling licensure) for further education in cannabis-assisted counseling and therapy. 
  • C.2.b New Specialty Areas of Practice – “Counselors practice in specialty areas new to them only after appropriate education, training, and supervised experience. While developing skills in new specialty areas, counselors take steps to ensure the competence of their work and protect others from possible harm.”
    • Application – (Appropriate education and training listed in Section C.2.a Application) Both practitioners are actively involved in supervision as per the requirements of provisional state licensure. As stated in section C.2.b Application, both practitioners are committed to allocating a portion of their continuing education units (necessary for maintaining counseling licensure) for further education in cannabis-assisted counseling and therapy. Practitioners offering cannabis-assisted counseling services require all clients utilizing this service to complete regular service efficacy assessments that track treatment progress, effectiveness, and assess for potential risk or harm. To view this assessment measure, click here.
  • C.2.g Impairment – “Counselors monitor themselves for signs of impairment from their own physical, mental, or emotional problems and refrain from offering or providing professional services when impaired.”
    • Application – While this rule speaks directly to physical, mental, and emotional problems, we interpret this as extending to physiological impairment as well; meaning, we do not medicate with cannabis or other substances that may impair our ability to counsel our clients.
  • C.7.a Scientific Basis for Treatment – “When providing services, counselors use techniques/procedures/modalities that are grounded in theory and/or have an empirical or scientific foundation.”
    • Application – Our cannabis-assisted psychotherapy services were informed and designed after many training courses in both cannabis medicine and cannabis-assisted psychotherapy. Our practitioners have attended seminar lectures by various minds at the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Research (MAPS), completed Cannabis Consultant certification training, and have studied cannabis science and counseling for over 10 cumulative years. We follow the science of both cannabis and psychology in our practice, and commit to expanding on our knowledge of these each year with additional training and education. 
  • C.7.b. Development and Innovation – “When counselors use developing or innovative techniques/procedures/modalities, they explain the potential risks, benefits, and ethical considerations of using such techniques/procedures/modalities. Counselors work to minimize any potential risks or harm when using these techniques/procedures/modalities.”
    • Application – Our informed consent packages disclose and elaborate on the potential risks of using medical cannabis. All clients must sign and agree to accepting these risks before starting sessions with our practitioners. We also trust the medical decisions of the licensed physicians who prescribed medical marijuana to these patients, and the patients who are making their own medical decisions in consuming marijuana. We, as mental health professionals, do not offer medical advice in session- rather, we create psychologically-safe spaces for our clients to medicate with cannabis and offer therapeutic guidance and support as they experience the medicine integrating with their body, mind, and spirit. 
  • C.7.c Harmful Practices – “Counselors do not use techniques/procedures/modalities when substantial evidence suggests harm, even if such services are requested.”
    • Application – We do not have substantial evidence that suggests a licensed medical marijuana patient using marijuana is harmful. In fact, we have substantial evidence to the contrary. Beginning with a licensed physician’s prescription, we believe the real potential harm ensues when a patient is given a license to access cannabis medicine with inadequate knowledge on how to safely use or experience cannabis. As advocates for the safety and healing of all people, we view it as our responsibility to utilize our unique training and skill set to prevent such risks as overmedicating in the medical marijuana patient community.

  • Number 5: Additional Patient, Physician, Caregiver, and Provider Protections, subsection 4, “A health care provider shall not be subject to civil or criminal prosecution under Missouri Law, denial of any right or privilege, civil or administrative penalty or sanction, or disciplinary action by any accreditation or licensing board or commission for owning, operating, investing in, being employed by, or contracting with any entity licensed or certified pursuant to this section or providing health care services that involve the medical use of marijuana consistent with this section and legal standards of professional conduct.”
  • Number 1: Purpose, paragraph 2, “This section does not allow for the public use of marijuana and driving under the influence of marijuana.”
    • Number 7 subsection (7) states, “No qualifying patient shall consume marijuana for medical use in a public place, unless provided by law.” For a definition of “public place” see the Department of Health and Senior Services section, below.
    • Number 7 subsection (1) line c states, “Nothing in this section permits a person to: Operate, navigate, or be in actual physical control of any dangerous device or motor vehicle, aircraft or motorboat while under the influence of marijuana;”
  • Number 7: Additional Provisions, subsection (1) line b states, “Nothing in this section permits a person to: Undertake any task under the influence of marijuana when doing so would constitute negligence or professional malpractice;”
    • Application- As with ACA Code of Ethics section C.2.g, our practitioners will not practice or administer services while they themselves are under the influence of medical cannabis, even if they are qualifying Missouri medical marijuana patients.  
  • Number 2: Definitions, subsection (15), states “‘Qualifying medical condition’ means the condition of, symptoms related to, or side-effects from the treatment of:
    • Cancer;
    • Epilepsy;
    • Glaucoma;
    • Intractable migraines unresponsive to other treatment;
    • A chronic medical condition that causes severe, persistent pain or persistent muscle spasms, including but not limited to those associated with multiple sclerosis, seizures, Parkinson’s disease, and Tourette’s syndrome;
    • Debilitating psychiatric disorders, including but not limited to, posttraumatic stress disorder, if diagnosed by a state licensed psychiatrist;
    • Human immunodeficiency virus or acquired immune deficiency syndrome;
    • A chronic medical condition that is normally treated with a prescription medication that could lead to physical or psychological dependence, when a physician determines that medical use of marijuana could be effective in treating that condition and would serve as a safer alternative to the prescription medication;
    • Any terminal illness; or
    • In the professional judgment of a physician, any other chronic, debilitating or other medical condition, including, but not limited to, hepatitis C, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn’s disease, Huntington’s disease, autism, neuropathies, sickle cell anemia, agitation of Alzheimer’s disease, cachexia, and wasting syndrome.
      • Application- Because there are many psychiatric disorders listed and implied in the qualifying conditions list, which are a focus of our treatment as counselors and health care practitioners and part of our scope of practice in doing so, we are providing services for qualifying Missouri medical marijuana patients that are in line with our mission, experience and training, professional scope of practice, Missouri law and regulations, and profession’s ethical standards. 

  • Number 5: Additional Patient, Physician, Caregiver, and Provider Protections, subsection 4, “A health care provider shall not be subject to civil or criminal prosecution under Missouri Law, denial of any right or privilege, civil or administrative penalty or sanction, or disciplinary action by any accreditation or licensing board or commission for owning, operating, investing in, being employed by, or contracting with any entity licensed or certified pursuant to this section or providing health care services that involve the medical use of marijuana consistent with this section and legal standards of professional conduct.”
  • Number 1: Purpose, paragraph 2, “This section does not allow for the public use of marijuana and driving under the influence of marijuana.”
    • Number 7 subsection (7) states, “No qualifying patient shall consume marijuana for medical use in a public place, unless provided by law.” For a definition of “public place” see the Department of Health and Senior Services section, below.
    • Number 7 subsection (1) line c states, “Nothing in this section permits a person to: Operate, navigate, or be in actual physical control of any dangerous device or motor vehicle, aircraft or motorboat while under the influence of marijuana;”
  • Number 7: Additional Provisions, subsection (1) line b states, “Nothing in this section permits a person to: Undertake any task under the influence of marijuana when doing so would constitute negligence or professional malpractice;”
    • Application- As with ACA Code of Ethics section C.2.g, our practitioners will not practice or administer services while they themselves are under the influence of medical cannabis, even if they are qualifying Missouri medical marijuana patients.  
  • Number 2: Definitions, subsection (15), states “‘Qualifying medical condition’ means the condition of, symptoms related to, or side-effects from the treatment of:
    • Cancer;
    • Epilepsy;
    • Glaucoma;
    • Intractable migraines unresponsive to other treatment;
    • A chronic medical condition that causes severe, persistent pain or persistent muscle spasms, including but not limited to those associated with multiple sclerosis, seizures, Parkinson’s disease, and Tourette’s syndrome;
    • Debilitating psychiatric disorders, including but not limited to, posttraumatic stress disorder, if diagnosed by a state licensed psychiatrist;
    • Human immunodeficiency virus or acquired immune deficiency syndrome;
    • A chronic medical condition that is normally treated with a prescription medication that could lead to physical or psychological dependence, when a physician determines that medical use of marijuana could be effective in treating that condition and would serve as a safer alternative to the prescription medication;
    • Any terminal illness; or
    • In the professional judgment of a physician, any other chronic, debilitating or other medical condition, including, but not limited to, hepatitis C, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn’s disease, Huntington’s disease, autism, neuropathies, sickle cell anemia, agitation of Alzheimer’s disease, cachexia, and wasting syndrome.
      • Application- Because there are many psychiatric disorders listed and implied in the qualifying conditions list, which are a focus of our treatment as counselors and health care practitioners and part of our scope of practice in doing so, we are providing services for qualifying Missouri medical marijuana patients that are in line with our mission, experience and training, professional scope of practice, Missouri law and regulations, and profession’s ethical standards.