There are several ways to get a medical marijuana card in California. There are two types of cards: dispensary-recommended and patient-recommended.
Both types can be valuable tools for patient education, support, and independence. dispensary-recommended cards can help you distinguish yourself from other patients who use the same locations and staff, but only purchase from one specific dispensary.
patient-recommendedd cards can help you distinguish yourself from other patients who use the same locations and staff, but only purchase from one specific patient. As someone who is confined to a wheelchair, patient-recommendedds can help you find a safe space where you can receive treatment in a relaxed environment.
This article will focus on ways for patients to navigate the California medical marijuana program. Although this article is focused on patients, all forms of healthcare are important to look into.
Make an appointment
Once a patient has their medical marijuana appointment set, they can start making plans! This is crucial to do as soon as the appointment is scheduled because later appointments will not count.
It is very important to make your doctor or medical marijuana practitioner (aka dispensary) as early in the appointment process as possible. Your doctor can help you find the right balance of pain management and therapeutic effects for you.
He or she can even help you find a second doctor or dispensary to join the medical marijuana program so that there is always a backup plan. By having this backup plan in place, patients are safer.
It’s also important to get involved before your scheduled visit because there may be any changes happening at that time.
Bring your medical records with you to the appointment
It is recommended that patients who are diagnosed with major depression or other serious conditions keep a medical record at all doctor appointments to help them navigate the program. This helps determine if treatment is working, and determine whether or not a change in treatment is needed.
There are several reasons why it is important to have a record of your appointment. If you cannot bring your medical records, your healthcare provider can estimate how much cannabis you need based on your condition and how much you use.
It is also important to note how much you use because there is a limit to the amount of cannabis you can have before health problems arise. While there are some reports of people using less than half of what they measure shows, it is still recommended to be aware of the limit because it could turn into too little or too much.
Tell them about your medical conditions
If you have a serious medical condition, or if your doctor suggests using medical cannabis for pain treatment, you should talk to your doctor about getting medical marijuana. It’s a great way to start medication management programs.
As part of your treatment, you may be required to follow guidelines about how much and where you use it. Your doctor can tell you when to use it and for what purposes – for pain relief, for mood lift, for overall comfort.
The full cannabis compound includes many components that prevent user side effects such as nausea and dizziness. However, because the herb is still federally illegal , only some patients get access to it. You can still buy lower proof products like dried flower and concentrate, but these require a transfer of drug ownership from dispensary to patient.
They will give you a recommendation letter
Once a patient is diagnosed with a medical condition that benefits from medical marijuana, they will then need to receive a recommendation letter from a physician.
Currently, there are over 40 physicians in the state who offer medical marijuana recommendations. Many patients go through multiple physicians to get each one to sign off on the patient, which is another difficult part of the program.
When beginning your journey as a patient, it is important to have an answer to all of your questions. The Department of Health Services (DHS) offers three ways for patients to receive this: by phone, in-person, or via the internet.
Having answers to all of the most common questions can help guide you in getting started as a patient. There are several articles on blog post today that will help you navigate the program and provide information for both new and old patients.
Keep your medical marijuana card with you at all times
It may seem like a lot at first, and there are plenty of articles for you to read that break it down for you, but this program is designed in stages. You are valued as a patient even before you have a medical marijuana card.
You can only gain access to the dispensary if you have a card. You must be diagnosed with an ailment that can be treated with cannabis, such as cancer treatment or pain management. Some conditions do not allow sleeping pills, so cannabis can help with sleep issues.
You do not need to be high when visiting a dispensary, so long as you are allowed into the building! You can go at any time of day or season, both of which have access restrictions removed.
Know the law about smoking in public areas
Even though smoking marijuana is not allowed in public places, you still need to be knowledgeable about safe practices when using it. Many people make the error of smoking it in a smokeless substitute, such as vaporization.
The way you use it and the place you use it in MUST BE SAFE! Any drug, even ones that feel safe to use on yourself, can lead to unintended consequences.
Many people who use medical marijuana believe that it does not affect other users or bystanders alike, but this is emphatically NOT THE CASE. People who use marijuana frequently tend to get involved with the diseases they treat and the precautions they take.
You can help reduce the chances of unintentional harm by knowing how to manage yourself with it, and being aware of any guests or bystanders.
Find a dispensary near you
Once you find a dispensary, it is time to explore! How do I sign up? What about referral programs? How do I know if the dispensary I want to join has been approved by the California Department of Health Services (CAH-DHS)?
Signing up for a referral program can be tricky. You want to get the most out of it but not too much because then you will need to send out reminders and take a trip to the office meeting when you visit the dispensary.
As with any drug, there are side effects that people may have to watch for. People who have severe pain may find that they do not feel able to travel or they need to take things in a more comfort level level.
Understand the different marijuana strains and their effects
There are five main strains of marijuana: Indica, Sativa, Hybrid, Resource and Revive. Each has varying effects and biosynthesis patterns.
All marijuana strains are bred to contain THC, the molecule that creates the “high” effect in marijuana. Most people find that their strain is slightly different – for example, they may have had a mix of two strains or maybe one had been mixed with another.
Most people do not notice a big difference between plants from different growers unless they are closely related. This is why it is important to know which plants you use to get your cannabis!
There are four levels at which cannabis plants are classified. These include: breeders, cuttings from the same plant, cultivars and types of cultivation. Knowing which ones you have can help you choose the right treatment for you.
