In order to find the best medical marijuana doctor, you should first know what they do. Contrary to popular belief, medical marijuana doctors are not regular doctors. This means that you cannot ask your regular doctor to prescribe you marijuana. While you will need your doctor in order to obtain your MMJ card, it doesn’t stop there. Here is everything you need to know about medical marijuana doctors so that you can find the best one.
What Do Medical Marijuana Doctors Do?
Medical marijuana doctors are the final step between you and your MMJ card. These doctors specialize in not only medicine, but also in the law. This way they can lawfully certify you to legally purchase or cultivate marijuana. You can find a medical marijuana doctor working at any certification center. The biggest misconception about these doctors is that they will be able to examine you and prescribe you marijuana. That is not their job. It is your job to obtain your own medical records.
Once you have your medical records, the medical marijuana doctor will be able to clear you for your MMJ card. This means that you will still need to see your primary physician for a full physical first. This may seem like a waste of time, but this guideline is there for good reason. It would be a conflict of interest for your medical marijuana doctor to also be your primary doctor. People seek medical marijuana because everything they have tried has failed. In order to get a MMJ card you need proof of a reoccurring problem. This law is in place to protect you and the doctor.
How Will They Certify You?
While medical marijuana doctors need the paperwork, it isn’t always that easy. You need to have written proof that you suffer from a condition that warrants marijuana use. Each state has a different list of conditions that will allow you to obtain your MMJ card. While most states follow pretty similar guidelines, you should check before visiting a certification centre.
Common conditions you will see across the board are; cancer, migraines, chronic pain, and MS. Some states have started to expand their conditions to include mental conditions. This is good news for anyone who suffers from anxiety and depression. While conditions like anxiety and migraines are easy to diagnose, more serious problems are trickier. You cannot not simply walk into a medical marijuana doctor’s office and say you have cancer. If you do this, do not expect to walk out with an ounce of cannabis. Medical marijuana doctors need to have that paper trail showing that you have been properly diagnosed and treated.
Why Do You Need Medical Records?
It isn’t the medical marijuana doctors specifically that need your medical records. The state in which you are applying for a MMJ card needs them. Once you bring your paperwork into a certification centre, the medical marijuana doctor will give you the seal of approval. This of course happens after they ask you a few questions regarding your diagnoses and treatment. Once the medical marijuana doctor is satisfied they will sign off on your certification. The papers that the doctor will approve then get sent off to the state for final approval.
Some states used to require a second screening process. This means that even after the medical marijuana doctor approved you, they state will do the same. These days, as long as the certified doctor gives the approval there is no reason why you should be denied. The doctor will then keep a copy of your medical records. This way you can easily re-apply every two years.
Finding a Medical Marijuana Doctor
If you live in a state where you can buy cannabis legally, you should have seen a certification near you. If not, there are plenty of resources out there to find one. Just remember that every certification centre will be slightly different from the next. This is especially true when it comes to the price. If you are nervous about finding a medical marijuana doctor, ask a friend who is a card holder. Chances are they can give you a recommendation.
Final Thoughts
Medical marijuana doctors do not always get the credit they deserve. They are often seen as the middle man or an unneeded step. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Not only do they have to be up to date on medical conditions, they need to know the law. Those guidelines are there to protect them and more importantly, protect you.
