Extensive research has shown that the Cannabis Sativa contains medical elements that could help in treating some ailments and conditions. Some of the issues that marijuana can reportedly be helpful with are chronic pain, anxiety, epilepsy, and cancer pain. Others may also be glaucoma, HIV/AIDS, asthma, arthritis, multiple sclerosis, nausea, muscle pain, and Crohn’s disease.
It’s worth noting that medical marijuana is made from two cannabis chemicals. These are cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Medical cannabis can be ingested in the form of edibles such as cookies, brownies, or candies. You can also smoke it, apply it to your skin as oil, lotion, or cream, or inhale it using a vaporizer.
What Is the Purpose of a Medical Marijuana Examination?
In some states, it allowable to get medical marijuana online or in a cannabis dispensary. However, in some regions, you’ll need a cannabis card. These marijuana cards are obtained from certified cannabis doctors after an evaluation. This examination is done to establish that other remedies have proved unproductive, and you, therefore, need medical marijuana (MMJ) treatments for your illness or condition.
What Happens in a Medical Marijuana Exam?
If you’re looking to get your medical marijuana card, you first have to get approval from your doctor or a recommendation from a certified cannabis doctor. The process may seem worrisome, but in truth, it isn’t. It’s simple and barely takes more than half an hour to complete. The test is also confidential as all doctors follow the legal requirements in safeguarding patient health details.
Some states also allow an online MMJ evaluation. Like any other online doctor-patient consultation, you first have to book an appointment. The procedure is almost similar to a physical one, but online examinations are convenient because they are done in the comfort of one’s own home.
During the evaluation session, you’ll have a video chat with the doctor. They’ll review your documents, and if they establish that medical cannabis is a necessary treatment, they’ll send you your recommendation via email or any other suitable channel. In a physical exam, however, you have to avail yourself of the facility.
Here is an outline of what happens before, during, and after the medical marijuana examination:
- Before Your Exam
Before visiting a certified cannabis doctor, you first schedule an appointment with the clinician, just like any other normal medical consultation session. Ensure that you attend your meeting since some physicians may charge you for not attending.
- During The Evaluation
Upon arrival at the medical facility, you’ll be welcomed by the front desk personnel. They’ll confirm your appointment, then direct you to a waiting room, where you’ll fill out a pre-screening document they’ll provide to you. If you experience any difficulty filling your form, feel free to ask for assistance from them.
Some clinics will provide this documentation online to be filled in before your visit. However, if your physician doesn’t, it’s advisable to arrive a few minutes earlier so that you’re able to complete your paperwork in time to avoid delays in your evaluation.
After filling out and handing over your form, you’ll be allowed into the doctor’s room. Here, the physician will assess the previously filled pre-screening paperwork and other required documents. These are:
- Proof Of Identification
These documents are necessary to prove your identity and your residency. For this, the doctor will need you to provide either a credible state or military-issued identification (ID) card or driver’s license. Alternatively, you could give a passport, an out-of-state driver’s license or ID, and proof of residency like a posted mail with your name on it or a bank statement.
- Personal Medical Records
For personal medical records, the physician will need to see a document that shows what prescription you’re currently under. They’ll also ask for proof of any test results related to the condition you’re seeking MMJ for. Additionally, the physician could ask for a doctor’s or caregiver’s letter and your latest medical records as well.
Even though the doctor will conduct their tests, these documents will be very helpful to accurately analyze your disease or condition and determining if cannabis treatment is suitable.
- Payment Method
Most facilities will take a debit or credit card, a check, or allow an online payment if they allow it. However, you can verify this with the facility when scheduling your appointment to fasten the process.
After carefully analyzing all these documents, the physician will run some more tests on you and ask a few questions based on their required guidelines for further assurance.
- After The Examination
After the medical cannabis evolution, the clinician will determine if MMJ treatment is or isn’t suitable for you. If you’re a good candidate for MMJ, they’ll first explain the potential benefits and dangers of marijuana treatments and all precautionary measures to apply.
After this, they’ll recommend it to you, notify you of the various ingestion methods available, and may advise you on how much to take. Moreover, they may schedule a check-up to analyze the progress. However, if the physician identifies an alternative medicine you could try, they’ll first recommend it and then schedule a visit to see the results.
Once everything is done, you may now receive an MMJ recommendation from the specialist. With this, you can easily get MMJ treatments from an approved dispensary or an online store. This documentation may be renewed after a year, and you’ll be charged a fee during the process. The amount, however, will be lower than the initial payment given for the first examination.
Note that an MMJ card is more recognized than a recommendation in most states. Therefore, upon receiving your physician’s MMJ certification, you can start processing your Medical Marijuana Identification Card (MMIC). This procedure is done through an individual’s county MMIC program.
Conclusion
There’s no need to get anxious over a medical marijuana evaluation. The examination process is uncomplicated and takes about 20 to 30 minutes only. The details of this procedure remain confidential, as is required by law.
To get your MMJ card, you first schedule an appointment with a certified cannabis doctor. They will verify and analyze your documents on your MMJ evaluation date to determine if medical marijuana treatments are suitable for your condition or illness.
If they identify that MMJ is befitting you, the clinician will explain the potential risks and benefits of cannabis treatments. During this period, they’ll also counsel you on the precautions to observe when taking MMJ and may also advise you on how much you should, as per your ailment or condition. However, if they establish that medical cannabis isn’t appropriate for you, they may recommend something else.
