10 Steps To Get Your Medical Cannabis Card

Half a million people are in Florida’s medical marijuana patient registry. Here’s how you can join the crowd. Nearly five years after the first medical marijuana dispensary opened in Florida, the number of licensed patients is crossing the half-million mark. With an assist from Sarasota’s Brad Weinstock, patient consultant director at Cannabis Theory’s clinic and host of WSLR-FM’s “Cannabis Connection Show” at 6:30 p.m. Fridays, here’s how you can join the crowd. All quotes are from Weinstock. That’s how much a medical weed card will set you back, for every year you want to renew. To get a card, you’ll need to find a qualifying affliction at the Office of Medical Marijuana Use. There are plenty to choose from, including Parkinson’s, any kind of cancer, HIV/AIDS, glaucoma, epilepsy, post-traumatic stress, and more. Restrictions on related conditions that aren’t listed, such as anxiety or insomnia, are squishy and negotiable. You’ll need a prescription before you can get that card. Google “cannabis” and “physicians” and wherever you live for a list of doctors authorized by the state to fix you up. You’ll have plenty of choices. More: Sarasota police were supposed to be issuing citations for marijuana.

They arrested people instead. Comparison shop for expertise. A lot of doctors are doing it just because it’s an extra revenue stream and it only requires, like, four hours of watching a video and passing a test, which is mostly about regulation. Comparison shop for consultation pricing, because physicians can charge pretty much whatever they want. Doctors have the option through the state to choose the system they want to set up. Why is the maximum cap set at 210 days if the card is good for a year? I don’t know. It’s Florida, it’s arbitrary - 210 plus 210 equals what? Answer: 420. (That’s right. Typically, you’ll need an office visit, but thanks to COVID-19, telehealth conferences are permitted and you don’t even have to go in. Consultation fees: Some offices take cash only, others will accept credit cards. Getting a 30-day supply is not a place you want to go. Consultation completed, the physician will register you in the state patient database. A personal email of notification from the Office of Medical Marijuana Use will arrive in your inbox with instructions on how to complete your application. You’ll have to upload your driver’s license photo or state ID. You can snail-mail a check or money order to the Department of Health. Within a week or so, you’ll get an email to print out and use as a temporary card to get you into the dispensary ASAP to relieve the stress. Within two weeks, your real card will arrive in a nondescript envelope, so be sure to open everything that looks like junk mail.

This is an integral part of the process, so do it wisely; otherwise, you may not receive approval. Once it is clear that you understand the process, you will likely receive your medical marijuana doctor’s recommendation. First of all, it is important to relax and smile. Believe it or not, your attitude could make all the difference! Put yourself in the doctor’s shoes: Are you more likely to approve an MMJ card to someone who is jovial and pleasant, or a patient who is surly? Remember, the physician has no legal obligation to approve you. Medical marijuana physician evaluations are often tense for both parties, but only if you allow it! If you are in the office and don’t know what to say, break the ice by talking about another person you know that is using medicinal marijuana. Explain that it is working for them. Alternatively, state that you have read a book, watched a documentary, or researched weed online. Be honest when discussing the medical possibilities of cannabis, and if you’ve tried it before, let the doctor know.

Some physicians are hesitant to recommend weed to new users. Also, if you believe a specific cannabis-derived product can help, mention it. Bear in mind that a significant proportion of medical professionals have little knowledge of marijuana’s potential healing capabilities. It Isn’t Illegal to ASK About Medical Cannabis! Remember, you’re entitled to an MMJ card if you have a qualifying condition. Assuming you live in a state where medicinal marijuana is legal, you’re unlikely to get into trouble. Even though cannabis is federally illegal, asking your physician about the health benefits of weed is not against the law. The physician cannot report you to the police, and you are not getting arrested for asking about medical marijuana. In Contant V. Walters (2002), the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled to protect the rights of patients and physicians to seek medical information about therapeutic weed. Don’t assume that the physician is up to date on the latest research, even if he has registered with the program. For a lot of doctors, providing medical weed is a lucrative option.

However, they risk losing their license and possibly even jail time if they knowingly recommend marijuana to an ineligible person. You should ask the physician if he has attended any workshops or continuing education programs about cannabis recently. The likely answer is ‘no,’ but that doesn’t mean you won’t get a recommendation. The range of treatment options depends on your condition. For instance, an individual with depression may be asked to see a therapist and use antidepressants before they are considered for MMJ card approval. What Do I Need to Bring to My Medical Marijuana Evaluation? A medical marijuana evaluation is mandatory in most states. As a result, you need to book an appointment with the physician and get ready. In general, the meeting will last up to 30 minutes. However, some marijuana-friendly physicians may provide you with a recommendation in far less time. When answering ‘what to bring to a medical marijuana evaluation,’ many sites overlook something crucial.

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