Marijuana is a plant that has been used as a medicine for centuries. In recent years, the legality of marijuana in many states has changed drastically. Some states have legalized it for medical purposes, while others have legalized it recreationally.
Florida is one of those states where marijuana can be obtained medically with a doctor’s prescription.
As the medical use of marijuana is approved for adult use in Florida, you might be wondering about how and where to get a marijuana card to access legal cannabis medicines in the Sunshine state.
But before you apply for the medical marijuana card, you need to know that over-the-counter marijuana is just allowed to cure certain medical problems. So, the first thing you should do is check if you qualify for certain conditions to use marijuana. After that, you can do further research on whether medical marijuana is right for you or not. For that, you can consult a marijuana doctor in Florida who has specializations in Marijuana medicines.
Marijuana Doctor Guide Florida
Go through this guide to learn everything about marijuana doctors in Florida.
What is a medical marijuana doctor?
A medical marijuana doctor or a cannabinoid medicine physician is just like any other general practitioner, except they are educated and trained to recognize the symptoms of cannabinoid deficiency. They also know how cannabis can benefit specific conditions related to pain, nausea, spasticity, etc.
It is important to know that Florida requires written certification from doctors before you can legally purchase marijuana.
Once the doctor certifies your condition, you need to register with the Department of Health and receive a medical-marijuana use identification card with an expiration date of one year. This process makes it easier for law enforcement to identify the cardholders.
The last step is to get your medical marijuana from a nearby dispensary, but you can’t just walk into any shop and buy it like that. You must receive authorization from one of these dispensaries beforehand so they will know if they can sell medicine to you or not. This also helps keep track of who uses medical marijuana legally.
Are medical marijuana doctors real doctors?
Yes, medical marijuana doctors are real doctors who have gone through the same process as general practitioners. They have equal rights to practice medicine in the state of Florida. In addition to that, many marijuana doctors have specializations in other fields, like oncology, rheumatology, etc.
Meeting with your Marijuana doctors is confidential and can be done online as well. You can “meet” with a marijuana doctor in Florida on MarijuanaDoctors.com and get the help you need to manage your medical condition easily and legally. Moreover, licensed Florida weed doctors adhere to HIPAA privacy regulations for your safety.
Florida pot doctors believe that cannabis is an effective medicine that can help to improve several troubling illnesses. They understand the benefits of medical cannabis to treat various health conditions like cancer, chronic pain, Alzheimer’s disease, epilepsy, etc. If you want to make sure if your marijuana doctor is qualified or not, you can check that by clicking here.
Qualifying Conditions to use Marijuana in Florida
The newly enacted law allows medical marijuana for the 9 following conditions:
1- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
ALS is a debilitating disease that affects brain and spinal cord nerve cells, causing muscle wasting. It is a degenerative disease that affects the nerves that control muscles used for talking, chewing, and walking. There is no cure for this disease, but medical marijuana is smoked, or edible form provides relief to muscle spasticity, sleep disturbance, and chronic pains. Marijuana also improves appetite as well as helps with pain management associated with ALS.
2- Crohn’s Disease
Crohn’s disease is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease that can cause severe pain, diarrhea, and weight loss. It affects more than 150000 people in the United States alone – 80% of them are diagnosed before they turn 30. Marijuana has been shown to relieve Crohn’s symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, appetite loss, and abdominal pain.
3- Cancer
Marijuana has been shown to help with the side effects of chemotherapy, such as nausea and vomiting in cancer patients undergoing treatment for breast, prostate, or colon cancers. Marijuana can also reduce pain and improve appetite when used by itself or combined with traditional therapies.
4- Epilepsy
Cannabis has shown to be effective in reducing epileptic seizures. Some of the chemicals found in cannabis, particularly CBD, have been proven to reduce seizure activity. The use of other cannabinoids for this purpose is currently being studied and may help with conditions that are resistant to traditional treatments.
The Epilepsy Foundation also endorses cannabis treatment and additional research into the effectiveness of marijuana in treating epilepsy and other neurological diseases. Consult with a Florida marijuana doctor as soon as possible if you believe medical marijuana can assist your symptoms.
5- Multiple Sclerosis
MS or multiple sclerosis is a neurological disorder that affects the central nervous system. Medical marijuana has been shown to decrease pain and muscle stiffness caused by MS and prevent future attacks from occurring.
6- Parkinson’s Disease
Marijuana can help with many of the symptoms associated with Parkinson’s disease, such as tremors, sleepiness, and pain. Currently, a prescription medication containing THC is the only treatment for Parkinson’s disease. But, medical marijuana can help reduce some of these symptoms without taking medications with harmful side effects.
7- PTSD
Post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD is a mental health condition that can occur after an individual experiences trauma. Symptoms of PTSD include flashbacks to the traumatic event and emotional changes such as depression and anxiety. Marijuana has been shown to reduce symptoms associated with PTSD, including stress, nightmares, mood swings, anger outbursts, etc.
8- Glaucoma
Glaucoma is a condition that occurs when there is an increase in pressure inside the eye, which can lead to vision loss. Medical marijuana has been shown to reduce intraocular pressure associated with glaucoma and prevent further damage from occurring.
9- HIV/AIDS
Marijuana has been shown to decrease nausea and loss of appetite that AIDS patients experience and improve their mood.
Cachexia or wasting syndrome is when an individual loses weight, becomes weak, and muscle atrophy occurs. Medical marijuana can help treat this disease by increasing the patient’s desire to eat while helping with pain control at the same time.
Other health conditions that Marijuana can help:
In Florida, if a debilitating illness can be identified, it may be eligible for cannabis therapy. The following are examples of qualifying conditions that are not explicitly addressed in Amendment 2:
- Migraine headache
- Alzheimer’s
- Neuropathy
- Restless leg syndrome
- Myasthenia Gravis
- ADHD
- Spinal cord injury
- Endometriosis
- Fibromyalgia
Do Florida Marijuana Doctors prescribe Marijuana to cure illnesses?
No, Florida Marijuana Doctor offices do not prescribe medical marijuana to cure illnesses. Instead, they recommend cannabis therapy as a treatment option for those who qualify as per the State of Florida’s guidelines.
If cannabis treatment seems to be the right option for your health condition, they will submit your name to The Florida Department of health office of Medical Marijuana registry. After that, you can apply for the postcard, and when the state approves it, you will receive your medical marijuana card by mail.
With your pod card, you can visit any Florida dispensaries and choose from a wide selection of marijuana products that suit your needs.
Where can I find a Florida medical marijuana doctor near me?
If you have been diagnosed with one of the qualifying conditions, you want to check with your primary care physician or schedule an appointment with ABC. For your convenience, we provide cannabis recommendations throughout the year. So, if you are planning to visit soon or have any questions about getting your weed card in Florida, contact us now at (561) 766-1776