How to Find the Best Doctor for Medical Marijuana in Florida
In 2018, 67% of doctors were in favor of using marijuana for medical reasons. Since then, the number has increased as medical marijuana becomes legal in multiple states.
Florida is one state that has shown promise with the use of medical marijuana. To obtain medical marijuana legally, you must find a physician. Read on to learn how to find the best doctor for medical marijuana.
Check Florida’s List of Qualifying Conditions
Each state varies when it comes to qualifying for medical marijuana. In Florida, only medical cannabis is legal.
An ailment you must have to begin finding the best doctor include:
- AIDS
- ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease)
- Chronic or severe pain
- Cancer
- Seizures
- Epilepsy
- HIV positive status
- Glaucoma
- PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder)
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Parkison’s
Patients with other chronic or severe medical conditions may qualify for medical marijuana (MMJ) card if other treatments have been ineffective. A condition similar in nature to the ones listed above is also considered a qualifying condition.
You also qualify if you have a terminal condition that has been diagnosed by a physician other than the one issuing medical marijuana recommendations.
Finding the Best Doctor for You
If you have one of the conditions listed above, you qualify to receive a medical marijuana card. The Florida medical marijuana laws require you to visit a physician before obtaining medical marijuana legally.
You may find that your primary doctor can issue medical marijuana recommendations. Those without this luxury or without a primary physician at all have to find a Florida doctor differently.
To find the best doctor in your area, you’ll need to do some research. If you know someone who has a medical marijuana card already, you can ask them for advice. Otherwise, you can go through these steps:
Create a List
Generally, the first step of finding the right doctor is determining the kind of doctor you need.
You know you need a doctor for medical marijuana so the first step is already complete. Now, you must create a list of these types of doctors in your area. Your insurance carrier may be able to help you come up with a list.
Narrow your list down by considering your preferences. Some common preferences could be a doctor’s educational background, gender, type of insurance accepted, office locations, etc.
Complete a Background Check
Finding a medical marijuana doctor that complies with the law is important. You can do an online background check to ensure a doctor is right for you.
This is more work than reading through online reviews. Yet, checking online reviews and social media presence is also helpful.
To complete a thorough background check on a physician, you should verify that they have a certification. You should also verify their license online.
Schedule a Consultation
After your research, you should have a good idea of the doctor you want to go with. To be sure, schedule a consultation to see first-hand if you’ll have a good physician experience.
If the consultation goes well, you can schedule an appointment.
Just like your primary physician, your medical marijuana doctor will have access to your health records. When you find the right doctor, you can request that your primary physician send your records over.
This step should get completed before your appointment to ensure the process runs smoothly. A qualifying physician must submit a written consent form each time a recommendation gets made.
After your appointment, there are a few additional steps you’ll need to take per the laws in Florida before you can visit a medical marijuana dispensary.
Registering Online
After your appointment with a medical marijuana doctor, the provider will issue a certification. You’ll create an account to begin the certification process.
You’ll complete an application form and submit it then verify the link sent to your email. Without verification, your application will not be reviewed.
An application will ask you to fill out the following information:
- Valid email address
- Social Security Number (the last four digits)
- A digital copy of a government photo ID
- Proof of residency in Florida
- A recent digital photograph
Government-issued IDs are accepted. You can provide a driver’s license, state-issued ID card, military ID, or a US passport to complete your application. Medical marijuana is available to seasonal residents now.
Application Review
Once your application is complete, you’ll receive an email explaining if it was approved or not. Because of the high volume of applications, it may take days or weeks before an application is accepted.
If you have not received an email for over 45 days since you submitted your application, call or email to check if there is a problem.
Obtain the Certification
An approved Florida provider can give you your valid certification once your application is approved. You cannot order an ID card until an application is approved and you have received a certification from a provider.
After approval, you can use the Patient Registry to designate a caregiver. Registered patients must name two caregivers older than 21 years. These individuals must be registered as well.
Receiving a Medical Marijuana Card
Once you have obtained a Florida medical marijuana card, you can receive medical marijuana from a licensed dispensary.
Cards expire three years after they are issued. Once a card is renewed, a new three-year period begins.
Find Your Florida Medical Marijuana Doctor Now!
Medical marijuana is beneficial for several ailments. If you have any qualifying conditions in Florida, use this guide to find the best doctor for medical marijuana now. Your journey to pain relief and more is right around the corner.
The Herbal Clinic, MD has two locations in Florida to choose from; Tampa and Hudson. Our certified and professional doctor can issue you a medical marijuana recommendation.
Contact us today or request an appointment online.
