California was the very first state to permit the use of medical marijuana. Most other states have now enacted the same or similar laws, and most patients across the country now have regular access to medical weed. More and more people are replacing prescription drugs with cannabis, yet finding a doctor to recommend it is not always as easy as getting it.
Legal Risks for a Medical Marijuana Doctor in California
There is yet to be a single existing case of medical malpractice for negligent recommendation of cannabis. No one has ever sued a physician for weed. However, despite the small legal risk to physicians and lax state enforcement, some doctors have lost their medical licenses, and even more have faced state reprimanding for recommending weed use in unsafe or improper ways.
Because marijuana is still illegal at the federal level, doctors cannot prescribe it legally. Official federal policy on cannabis, however misguided, is that it lacks significant medical value and potential for its abuse is high. Nonetheless, under the Rohrbacher-Farr Amendment, the U.S. Department of Justice may not pursue actions against doctors operating in states where medical marijuana is legal.
Medical Marijuana Recommendations in California
For this reason, physicians in California may only write letters of recommendation for patients. In it, they must state why the patient qualifies for medical marijuana, and then only after meeting physical examination requirements and others. Doctors may not dispense weed either. Patients can only access medical cannabis from a licensed marijuana dispensary in California.
Despite the fact that recommending medical marijuana is legal, and that there are actual protections in place to protect doctors in legal states from federal harassment, finding a physician willing to write a recommendation can be difficult. Not all are willing to take the risks involved, some do not agree with legalized medical marijuana, and others would rather avoid the social stigma attached with it:
Unwillingness to Recommend Marijuana
Patients looking specifically for a medical marijuana doctor may have difficulty finding one. In some states, they revert to cold-calling physicians to ask if they write these letters. In California, there are certified cannabis doctors available for marijuana patients, but you will not find them in a traditional doctor’s office. Physicians have the right to refuse recommendations, regardless of their reasons.
Disagreement with Medical Marijuana
Some doctors do not agree that cannabis should be legal and freely available. Some do not even consider it an effective medical treatment, despite vast quantities of evidence proving otherwise. These physicians will not write recommendation letters for patients in need of cannabis treatment, as they advocate the use of prescription drugs and other pharmaceutical concoctions instead.
Fear of Marijuana Stigma
There are, unfortunately, many stories of physicians who lost credibility because they were recommending marijuana. In the past, doctors were consulting with patients in shady hotels and other less-than-professional situations. There is a huge rift in the medical industry between marijuana advocates and opponents, and there is still a negative reputational effect surrounding it in some circles.
Lack of Marijuana Oversight and Control
Not all medical marijuana doctors are legitimate in California. People have lost money trusting newspaper ads offering recommendation letters at affordable prices. Many operate unregulated, cash-only systems with no transparency or accountability. Others recommend cannabis for people to use recreationally. Because of such bad practices, many doctors avoid all association with medical weed.
Medical Marijuana Dispensary in California
Despite the challenges that medical marijuana doctors face, there are many certified to practice in California. Although they may be hard to find, they are available and willing to help patients get online marijuana recommendations. Once you know where to go, the whole process is actually extremely easy. Here are two simple ways to get legitimate medical marijuana recommendations in California:
420 Evaluation Centers
Patients can go to any 420 Evaluation Center in California to find a medical marijuana doctor and get a legal recommendation. You can find them throughout the state, but often downtown or in dangerous, seedy areas. Frequently, queues are inconveniently long and patients wait most of the day to see a physician, but he or she will provide you with an authentic recommendation letter.
Online Medical Marijuana Doctors
It is also possible to get marijuana recommendations online, from the comfort of your own home. Most legal cannabis dispensaries in California can put you in touch with a physician willing to consult with you via video chat. These doctors write letters for those with genuine medical conditions that qualify them for cannabis use, including cancer, AIDS, epilepsy, muscle spasticity, chronic pain, and many more.
Conclusion
Although it may be difficult to get a medical cannabis recommendation by cold-calling local physicians, it is actually easy if you know what to do and where to go. Finding a medical marijuana doctor in California involves simply asking your local cannabis dispensary or looking online for directions to the 420 Evaluation Center closest to you.