Cannabis can be confusing: the different names, routes of administration, physiological effects, and legal aspects. This course will address all of these topics with a focus on implications for physical and occupational therapy.
Live Webinar
Tue, Apr 7, 2026 at 7:00 pm EDTCEUs/Hours Offered: AOTA/0.2 Introductory, Foundational Knowledge, 15426; CE Broker/2.0 CE Broker #20-1362109; IACET/0.2; NBCOT PDUs/2.5 Beginner, Rehabilitation
Learning Outcomes
- After this course, participants will be able to identify the various parts of the cannabis plant.
- After this course, participants will be able to describe routes of administration, the mechanism of action, and the side effects of cannabis.
- After this course, participants will be able to describe the implications of cannabis for physical and occupational therapy.
Agenda
| 0-5 Minutes | Introduction, Review of Learning Outcomes |
| 5-15 Minutes | Various parts of the cannabis plant |
| 15-30 Minutes | Legal aspects of cannabis |
| 30-45 Minutes | Endocannabinoid system |
| 45-60 Minutes | Routes of administration |
| 60-75 Minutes | Mechanism of action |
| 75-90 Minutes | Side effects |
| 90-115 Minutes | Implications for therapy, including a case study |
| 115-120 Minutes | Summary; Q&A |
Presented By

Melissa Bednarek
PT, DPT, PhD, CCS
Melissa Bednarek received a Master of Physical Therapy from MCP Hahnemann University, a PhD in Physiology from Virginia Commonwealth University, and a transitional Doctor of Physical Therapy from Chatham University. She has been a Board-Certified Clinical Specialist in Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Physical Therapy since 2014. In 2009, she joined the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program faculty at Chatham University in Pittsburgh, PA, where she is currently Professor and Program Director. Dr. Bednarek teaches clinical physiology, cardiovascular and pulmonary physical therapy, and the pharmacology thread in the curriculum. She has clinical experience in acute care, home health, and outpatient pulmonary rehabilitation. Her research interests include interprofessional education, high-fidelity simulation, and patients with pulmonary disease.
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Financial disclosures: The presenter received an honorarium for this course. She is also a presenter with MedBridge and a faculty member for APTA Advanced Competency in Home Health.
Non-financial disclosures: The presenter has no non-financial disclosures.
Sponsor Disclosure: This Course is presented by OccupationalTherapy.com, a Continued site.
Content Disclosure: This learning event does not focus exclusively on any specific product or service.
Course participation information
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American Occupational Therapy Association
OccupationalTherapy.com is an AOTA Approved Provider of professional development, #7659. Course approval ID# 15426. This distance learning - interactive course is offered at 0.20 CEUs/contact hours (Introductory level, Foundational Knowledge Area). The assignment of AOTA CEUs does not imply endorsement of specific course content, products, or clinical procedures by AOTA.
CE Broker
OccupationalTherapy.com is an approved provider for CE Broker, provider #50-14558. This course is offered for 2.00 hours. If you are an OT/OTA in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina or Tennessee, CE Broker may be of interest to you.
International Association for Continuing Education and Training
continued, LLC, DBA OccupationalTherapy.com, is accredited by the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET). continued complies with the ANSI/IACET Standard, which is recognized internationally as a standard of excellence in instructional practices. As a result of this accreditation, continued is authorized to issue the IACET CEU. continued, LLC, is authorized by IACET to offer 0.20 CEUs for this program.
National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy
AOTA approved CE can be used to meet NBCOT® continuing education requirements for certification renewal. This course is offered for 2.50 NBCOT PDUs (Beginner level, Rehabilitation Area). NBCOT® is a registered trademark of The National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, Inc.