Menu
Medical Marijuana Treatment

Everything You Need to Know About Medical Marijuana Treatment

VWB Blog 3 years ago 4

Maybe you’ve tried everything under the sun to relieve unwanted symptoms. Or perhaps this is your first line of defence after learning the dangers of certain pharmaceuticals. Either way, medical marijuana treatment is manifesting like a beautiful sunrise as legalization spreads around the world.

Is cannabis the right treatment for your malady?  Find out how medical marijuana treatment works and what it’s good for in this handy guide.

Medical Marijuana Treatment FAQ

I hope to help patients who are interested in learning more about cannabis treatments and to teach you the basics. Check out what we’re covering today. The sections in this guide will answer the following 5 questions:

  1. What is medical marijuana used to treat?
  2. How do I qualify to buy medical marijuana?
  3. Who can recommend a medical marijuana treatment?
  4. What do I do after I’ve been given a recommendation?
  5. What exactly is a medical marijuana card (MMIC)?

Before reading the answers, I’ll familiarize you with some of the terms used to refer to marijuana and are used interchangeably. The most common terms include weed, pot, ganja, herb, and cannabis. Many more terms exist for marijuana, but that’s a tangent for another time.

What is Medical Marijuana Used to Treat?

Ailments include insomnia, depression, anxiety, PTSD, multiple sclerosis, nausea, and more. Many cancer patients, for example, have found that chemotherapy results in nausea and that cannabis has relieved that symptom, at least in part. Cannabis is a unique herb in that it has a plethora of uses.

The science is promising for those with fibromyalgia, Crohn’s disease, glaucoma, Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, migraines, and fibromyalgia. Many older adults are finding relief from the various symptoms associated with ageing, such as the pain and inflammation caused by arthritis. It may provide relief from the symptoms of menopause as well.

How do I Qualify to Buy Medical Marijuana?

It differs from state to state, but if you have a chronic or serious medical condition and your treatments have failed to help you, you may be able to qualify. Any state-licensed healthcare provider can update your medical record to include a recommendation for legal, medical marijuana treatment. This isn’t exactly a prescription since it’s currently a Schedule 1 drug.

After you visit a medical professional such as those at any marijuana doctor clinics, you can get your medical marijuana at a dispensary or supplier in specific amounts. You may be able to grow some yourself, depending on the recommendation. If you’re under 18, you’ll need to bring a parent or guardian with you to the dispensary/supplier as well as proof of residence (in some states).

Who Can Recommend a Medical Marijuana Treatment?

Talk with your primary doctor first. If they fail to recommend it to you, then find a doctor who sees patients exclusively for medical marijuana treatment. Those who have specifically studied cannabis in medicine are sometimes referred to as “medical cannabis doctors.” Here is a list of medical professionals who can legally prescribe it to you (varies by state):

  • Medical Doctor
  • Psychiatrist
  • Osteopathic Physician
  • Naturopathic Physician
  • Physician Assistant
  • Osteopathic Physician Assistant
  • Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner

Don’t be afraid to ask for medical marijuana treatment recommendations because the stigma has been lifted. The professionals you’ll speak to, including the budtenders, want to help you feel better, teach you how medical marijuana is used, and teach you the many uses for cannabis. You’ll be well taken care of throughout your journey.

What do I do After I’ve Been Given a Recommendation?

After you’ve been given a recommendation, you are officially qualified to possess, transport, buy, consume, and grow cannabis. This is up to the limits written into that recommendation. You are also qualified to apply for a medical marijuana identification card, but that part is not necessarily required.

1. Find a Dispensary Near You

Search online to find a dispensary near your home. Of course, there will be many to choose from in your state, and you can visit any of them. But note that upon the first visit to any dispensary, they’ll need proof of residency and your medical marijuana recommendation (or MMIC). They’ll probably give your recommending doctor a call for verification.

2. Find the Perfect Products

Next, talk to your budtender about which product(s) have worked for people with similar ailments. There are hundreds of strains of marijuana, each one having unique effects mentally and physically. None are dangerous unless you consume so much more than the recommended dose that you become disoriented and attempt to drive a car, etc.

Types of Cannabis Products

Products include dried cannabis flower, edibles, tonics, tinctures, and more. Try a few to experiment with different strains and methods of consumption. As the budtender will likely say, “Start small and work your way up to find the right dose for you.”

What Exactly is a Medical Marijuana Card (MMIC)?

States with MMPs (Medical Marijuana Programs) are operated by the County Health and Human Services Department and/or the Department of Public Health. If you apply for a card and successfully qualify (using your doc’s recommendation), you’ll be issued a medical marijuana identification card (MMIC).

Your MMIC puts you on a state registry that can be easily accessed online, but not by just anyone. Law enforcement agents, doctors, and dispensaries can view it. BONUS: This card will get you into any dispensaries in your state without the need for documents or calls to your doctor.

Medical Marijuana Treatment Could Improve Your Quality of Life

You could gain relief from symptoms you never thought would go away. You could also learn that the side effects are pleasant and help you in ways you never imagined. Remember to always do the initial experiments with medical marijuana treatment in a safe place such as your home and at a time when you have no other responsibilities.

In closing, I wish you good luck on your journey with this very special herb. Evidence teaches us that marijuana has been used by humans for thousands of years. It was made illegal for a blip in time, but it’s no surprise that cannabis is back in a big way and helping billions of people live better lives.

If you found this article beneficial, go on to read more of our blog.

Written By