What is Medical Marijuana?
Medical marijuana uses the marijuana plant or chemicals in it to treat diseases or conditions. It’s basically the same product as recreational marijuana, but it’s taken for medical purposes.
The marijuana plant contains well over 100 different chemicals called cannabinoids. Each one has a different effect on the body.
Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) are the main chemicals used in medicine. THC also produces the "high" people feel when they smoke marijuana or eat foods containing it.
Medical marijuana uses the marijuana plant or chemicals in it to treat diseases or conditions.
Currently the US Food and Administration (FDA) has NOT approved Medical Marijuana, but it is approved by many states including Florida.
What are the medical benefits of cannabinoids and THC?
Cannabinoids — the active chemicals in medical marijuana — are similar to chemicals the body makes that are involved in appetite, memory, movement, and pain.
Research suggests cannabinoids and THC might:
- Reduce anxiety
- Reduce inflammation and relieve pain
- Control nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy
- Kill cancer cells and slow tumor growth
- Relax tight muscles in people with multiple sclerosis
- Stimulate appetite and improve weight gain in people with cancer and AIDS
Greatest benefits of Medical Marijuana and low dose THC seem to be : reduce chronic pains, reduce muscle stiffness (spasticity) , Anxiety Disorders and relieve Nausea and Vomiting (especially Chemotherapy related)
How do you take Medical Marijuana
How you take it is up to you. Each method works differently in your body. Smoking or vaporizing will make you feel the effects of cannabis almost immediately. However, it can take up to 2 hours for edibles to take effect.
- Smoke it
- Inhale it through a device called a vaporizer that turns it into a mist
- Eat it — for example, in a brownie or lollipop
- Apply it to your skin in a lotion, spray, oil, or cream
- Place a few drops of a liquid under your tongue
Qualifying Medical conditions Under Medical Cannabis Laws for the State of Florida:
(a.) Cancer
(b.) Epilepsy
(c.) Glaucoma
(d.) HIV
(e.) AIDS
(f.) PTSD
(g.) ALS
(h.) Crohn’s Disease
(i.) Parkinson’s disease
(j.) Multiple Sclerosis
(k.) * Medical conditions of the same kind or class as or comparable to those enumerated in (a)-(j) above. Examples might include: Painful muscle spasms, Generalized Anxiety Disorder with or without Panic Attacks, , Autism with disabling Anxiety Component, fibromyalgia, Dementia or Alzheimer’s with disabling Anxiety Component, nerve pain or neuropathies, muscular dystrophy or other muscle disorders if accompanied by painful muscle spasm. Physician *must send the Board of Medicine a documentation letter for any patient certified under (k.)
(l) A terminal condition ( less than one year survival if condition is to follow its natural course) diagnosed by a Physician other than the physician issuing Medical Marijuana certification.
AND (m.) CHRONIC NON-MALIGNANT PAIN caused by a qualified medical condition and persists beyond the usual course of that qualifying medical condition.
FEES: (no medical Insurance in FL currently covers visits related to Medical Marijuana)
New Patient: 1st visit: $229, 2nd visit: about 3 months later: $150, subsequent visits: typically every 6 months: $150
Established patients: must have had at least 1 visit with us not related to use of Medical Marijuana, last visit must have been in last 9 months:
1st visit: $175, 2nd visit: about 3 months later: $150, subsequent vsits: typically every 6 months: $150
Get PREQUALIFIED by: bringing or signing the release of medical records mentioning your any of the above Qualified Medical Condition. Last 3 clinic visit notes and summary page of your Diagnoses from your treating Physician usually suffice. Please see release of Information under Forms Tab of this web site.
Steps to Treatment for New patient seeking Medical Marijuana or low dose THC: Become a Qualified Patient :
1) Be a permanent or seasonal (more on this later) FL resident.
2) Be diagnosed with a Qualifying medical condition (described above) by a qualified physician.
3) Be entered into Medical Marijuana Use Registry
4) Obtain a Medical Marijuana Use Registry Identification Card
5) Go to FL state approved Dispensaries to get the product/s.
Get the treatment you need and FEEL BETTER !!
Latest: US House of Representatives has already approved Medical Marijuana for recreational use, but it will meet HURDLES in US Senate and then the Individual states!!
Site to study in Details to learn more:
FL Dept of Health: Office of Medical Marijuana Use: OMMU: knowthefactsmmj.com