Effective December 31, 2020, OCSA will no longer be accepting paper CDS applications for a new registration and renewal registration within the current renewal period. Please go to the OCSA online website to register or renew a controlled dangerous substances registration.

OCSA is accepting paper CDS applications for an address change, name change, change of ownership, replacement/duplicate copy of CDS certificate, and expired renewal registration. Please submit the CDS application to the Office of Controlled Substances Administration, 1223 West Pratt Street, 2nd floor, Baltimore, MD 21223.

New Legislative Mandates

Continuing Education Requirements click here

Archives

Previous memos concerning your CDS registration click here

The Office of Controlled Substances Administration (OCSA)

Important Updates:

Electronic Presribing of Controlled Substances

Effective January 1, 2022, Senate Bill 0166 (CH0299)/House Bill 0512 (CH0230) (2020) Drugs and Devices – Electronic Prescriptions – Controlled Dangerous Substances requires licensed health care providers to electronically prescribe prescriptions for controlled dangerous substances. The Health General Article, 21-220(C) provides exceptions to this requirement, and the requirement to request a waiver. A health care practitioner who is unable to electronically transmit prescriptions for controlled dangerous substance drugs may request a waiver from the electronic prescribing requirement under certain circumstances. A waiver, if granted, may not exceed one year.

Pharmacists: A pharmacist may continue to accept handwritten prescriptions. This bill allowed for a waiver and multiple exceptions. Many of the exceptions would be difficult for a pharmacist to verify. Therefore, the bill stated that a pharmacy is not required to verify the ability of a provider to issue non-electronic prescriptions. While a pharmacist does not need to verify that the prescription is an authorized exception to the electronic prescription requirement, the pharmacist must still follow due diligence requirements to ensure the prescription is written for a legitimate medical purpose.

Providers: If you are a provider that is unable to issue controlled substance prescriptions electronically, please visit the OCSA website. On the left panel, select the “Electronic Prescribing Waiver Request". Please read the page completely to verify the need for a waiver. If you meet the criteria for one of the listed exceptions, you do not need to apply for a waiver or issue controlled substance prescriptions electronically. If you are required to apply for a waiver, click the link at the bottom of the page to submit an application for a waiver.

Electronic CDS Registration Certificates

OCSA has discontinued issuing paper Controlled Dangerous Substances (CDS) registrations.

Electronic CDS registration certificates are being emailed to the email address listed in our database. This email address is obtained using the email address supplied on the CDS application. If your email address has changed since your application, please notify OCSA by sending an email to sandrad.cobb@maryland.gov.

OCSA Alerts

Update: "We've Moved"

The Office of Controlled Substances Administration has moved to:

1223 W. Pratt Street

Baltimore, MD 21223

The OCSA enforces the Controlled Dangerous Substance (CDS) Act and ensures the availability of drugs for legitimate medical and scientific purposes. OCSA also issues CDS permits to practitioners, researchers, and establishments that administer, prescribe, dispense, distribute, manufacture, conduct research and conduct chemical analysis of CDS.

Pill Mill Tip Line

(888)-829-1115

Distributors of CDS: Report of Suspicious Orders click here

​​The Office of Controlled Substances Administration (OCSA)​

Important Updates:

OCSA Alerts

The Office of Controlled Substances Administration (OCSA)