By
Cannabis
has been providing relief to humans for thousands of years. But even as more
and more states legalize it, the medical use of marijuana remains plagued by stigmas. Fortunately, prospective
“users” can obtain the proven-effective medicine without looking like drug
seekers.
“The essence of medical marijuana is that it’s for medical use,”
says Jordan Tishler, a Harvard medical doctor who specializes in cannabis
therapeutics and runs Inhale MD Health and Wellness. “You must have an illness that is treatable with
cannabis.”
- Live in a state that has legalized marijuana; have
documented proof of residency
- Have a valid medical reason for obtaining the
marijuana
- Obtain a medical cannabis recommendation from a
doctor
- Find a reputable
dispensary
But, until medical marijuana becomes truly mainstream,
you may encounter a few bumps along the way.
You may need a new
doctor
“Most doctors are not trained in the science of
cannabis medicine,” says Emily Earlenbaugh, co-founder of Mindful Cannabis
Consulting. “It
isn’t part of their standard training, so medical professionals need to seek
out cannabis education independently.”
Tishler suggests using an evidence-based approach with
your general practitioner. “Look up some medical research on cannabis and your
condition to discuss with your physician.” You can find condition-specific
findings at norml.org. And a comprehensive survey conducted by HelloMD, a digital healthcare platform for the medical
cannabis industry, provides a wealth of information for prospective users.
“If you’ve already tried cannabis and found it
helpful, let your doctor know the ways in which it has helped,” adds Tishler.
“Focusing on the positive outcome can help the doctor understand your reason
for using medical cannabis.”
When your regular healthcare provider simply refuses
to recommend cannabis, ask for a referral to a cannabis specialist. If that
doesn’t work, you can safely and legally find a specialist by visiting Weedmaps . In less-restrictive states, such as
California, any licensed physician can provide a recommendation. “There are
many physicians that focus much, if not all, of their business on evaluating
patients and writing such recommendations for a small fee,” says Lincoln Fish,
CEO of Outliers Collective, San Diego County’s first medical marijuana
dispensary.
“Whatever state you’re in, you want to find a
physician who is knowledgeable about the use of cannabis for your condition and
is focused on providing ongoing care,” says Tishler. “Avoid ‘card mills’ where
you can get your state [medical marijuana] card quickly and cheaply but have
no access to a caring physician.” He adds that most physicians who do not
specialize in cannabis simply do not have the time and knowledge to use the
medicine well. “So finding a cannabis specialist is important.”
When you do turn to another doctor for a cannabis
recommendation, it’s important to keep your regular doctor in the loop.
“Cannabis can interact with other treatments,” says Earlenbaugh. “After you’ve
talked with a cannabis specialist, let your general practitioner know that
you’ve received the recommendation.”
Your secret is safe
Once the recommendation is obtained, you can register
with your state and acquire medical marijuana in various forms from a local
registered marijuana dispensary. Finding a legal cannabis dispensary is as
simple as an Internet search.
Many businesses still screen employees for marijuana use, unfortunately, even in states that
have legalized medical and/or recreational pot (though the law continues to evolve on the matter). But while workplaces still might not
have caught on, and each state’s regulation of medical marijuana is different,
federal HIPAA rules regarding patient privacy do not vary: your medical cannabis business is private and
confidential. Your
practitioner won’t blab.
“HIPAA laws prohibit doctors from disclosing patient
information except in very extreme circumstances,” explains Fish. “Doctors are
very well regulated, and most states with a medical marijuana program treat
cannabis as they would any prescribed medication when it comes to privacy.”
Your marijuana transactions are safe with the
dispensary, too. By state law, dispensaries must keep records of patients—and
these may be subject to review by certain state or local agencies—but the
federal privacy laws prevent that information from being published anywhere.
“There is such valuable medicinal use to this plant,
and those with cancer, epilepsy, arthritis, and PTSD find relief without side
effects,” says patient Elizabeth Remington-Wishba, who uses cannabis to relieve
arthritis and insomnia.. “To make people feel like criminals and deny safe
access is purely political and a big pharma ploy.”
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