Florida: How to find the right Medical Marijuana Doctor near You.
Here are steps you can take when searching for a Medical Marijuana Doctor.
Finding a medical cannabis doctor can sound a little daunting. Some of us have doctors that don’t believe in using cannabis – be it because it’s illegal on a federal level or they have no idea about its actual health benefits. Others have to find a specialty doctor and want it to be a cannabis-friendly one.
Whatever situation life has thrown at you, finding a doctor that can help you understand if cannabis can be an alternative medication is only a Google search away.
Map Out Your Doctors
Once you ask your search engine for “medical cannabis doctors in Florida” you should be given a map of the state with multiple options to choose from. You’ve got “CannaMD” in Tampa, “Cannabis Doctors of Florida” in North Miama, “Medical Cannabis Clinic of Florida” in Pensacola…
Find a clinic or holistic/alternative medicine practitioner near you that you wouldn’t mind driving to for your appointment. But before you set up a time…
Give Your Chosen Clinic/Physician a Call
You’ll have a few questions you may want to consider asking before choosing a doctor at a location near you:
- Do they accept your insurance? If not, how much is a consultation or new patient appointment?
- Do their hours line up with your own schedule? Some are open longer hours than others.
- Can this doctor help address all the issues you’re seeking to use cannabis for?
- Visit their website. Do they have a mission that resonates with you? Do they have a great blog, FAQ page, and thorough contact info?
If you want to get a medical marijuana certification for a specific ailment – and especially if you have other underlying medical conditions – it’s important you get it from the right kind of specialty doctor that understands where you’re coming from and why you’re getting the certification. You’ll want to be able to see them again in the future if you ever come across any problems or questions you may develop.
Set up that Appointment & Go to it Prepared
You’ll want to bring your medical records and identification to your first appointment with your new cannabis-certified doctor. Don’t forget to bring any medications you take regularly as well. The doctor should review these to mitigate unforeseen side-effects that can be caused by mixing medications.
List of Qualifying Medical Conditions in Florida
If you’re unsure whether your condition can be helped via cannabis, this list shows you what Florida accepts as a “qualifying medical condition”. Granted, you still must be evaluated – but you’ll likely get that certification if you have one of the following and other medications don’t work or they cause unwanted side-effects:
Alcoholism
Alzheimer’s
Anorexia
Anxiety
Arthritis (Other)
Autism
Chronic Pain
Cerebral Palsy
Chemotherapy Side Effects
Dementia
Depression
Diabetes
Dystonia
Endometriosis
Fibromyalgia
Essential Tremor (Kinetic)
Hepatitis C
Hyperemesis
Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Insomnia
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Lyme Disease
Meniere’s Disease
Migraine Headaches
Muscle Spasms
Muscular Dystrophy
Myasthenia Gravis (MG)
Nausea
Neuropathy
Obesity
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Osteoarthritis
Ovarian Cysts
Overweight
Psoriasis
Radiation Therapy Side Effects
Restless Leg Syndrome
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Seizures
Sickle Cell Anemia
Spinal Cord Injury
Tardive Dyskinesia
Tourette’s
Traumatic Brain Injury
Ulcerative Colitis (UC)
Vertigo