How to get a Medical Marijuana Card
Procuring a medical marijuana card is the first step to using cannabis to relieve or manage a condition; however, it is not a prescription for marijuana. Because marijuana remains illegal at the federal level, doctors are not permitted to prescribe it. They are, however, permitted to vouch for its efficiency. A medical marijuana card is a recommendation from an MD that MJ may help you feel better, treat your disease, or improve your quality of life.
There are many physicians who have different opinion on Marijuana and its efficacy. Many have their own moral issue with Medical Marijuana as well. ?This will change as time passes, since there will be more medical marijuana studies in the future.
The process of obtaining a marijuana card varies by state (according to Forbes, 28 states have legalized weed for medical use), but it generally involves one of the following steps:
See your Family Doctor
If you live in a state where medical marijuana is legal, there?s nothing wrong with talking to your primary care doc about cannabis. But, the conversation may be more one-sided than hoped: according to the Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine, a 2013 survey of Colorado family doctors found that only 19 percent agreed that physicians should recommend cannabis. A large majority of physicians, eighty-one percent, agreed that those who do recommend it should have formal training.
See a Cannabis Doctor
Because of the hesitation discussed above, most people seeking medical marijuana bypass their family doctor for a cannabis specialist. The latter tends to be more knowledgeable about the benefits of marijuana and better able to determine whether these benefits are applicable to your situation.
The downside of seeing a doctor in person is the inconvenience: though they?re abundant, they?re extraordinarily busy; the clinics involve long lines and wait times. Some clinics are also located in hard to reach areas, particularly if you don?t live in a major city.
Using Telemedicine
Telemedicine is a form of medicine conducted virtually. With regards to medical marijuana, telemedicine is used to determine whether a person qualifies for cannabis. This process is simple: patients are asked to fill out medical forms, explain their illness or problem, and decide if they want a recommendation letter or a cannabis ID card (the letter is all that is needed to purchase from a dispensary but the card is more convenient).
Most evaluations are fast and involve a video conversation, as well as a discussion of medical history and how marijuana may benefit.? If you?re approved, some recommendations are sent via email (depending on state) and immediately useable at certain dispensaries. Other dispensaries require the official letter rather than a copy: it arrives by mail within a few days.
If you or your loved one think that medical marijuana may be helpful for anxiety, pain, depression, loss of appetite, or anything else that?s impacting your enjoyment of life, contact Holistic on Call. Convenient, highly affordable, and accessible, Holistic on Call allows California and New York patients to qualify for medical marijuana from a living room, a coffee house, or an automobile.
Schedule an appointment today and qualify for medical marijuana immediately. You only pay once you qualify.
