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A Brief Guide to Help You Ace Your Medical Marijuana Evaluations
As per an estimate, there are approximately three million medical cannabis patients all across the United States. And California alone accounts for around one-third of them. But given so many health benefits of the plant, the numbers do not shock us in any way. In fact, with the rising popularity of cannabis as a medicine, we are expecting an even steeper rise in this number very soon.
But do you know, in order to use marijuana as a medicine, you need to have a medical 420 Card? You probably know about this already. And if so, you perhaps know this as well that to get this card, you need to go through medical marijuana evaluations.
But is this knowledge enough? Probably not.
You must understand that despite having a status of medicine in several states, cannabis is still an illegal drug at the federal level. And thus, there is a strict screening of people who apply for a 420 Card.
But hey, it doesn’t mean you need to worry. This is just to sideline those people who are not eligible for the card. If you have the things you need to qualify, you have nothing to worry about. The process is extremely simple.
However, you can surely use some extra help!
Thinking of getting a 420 Card? Here is a brief guide to help you ace your medical marijuana evaluations without any trouble.
Understanding Medical Marijuana Evaluations
Before getting any further, let’s understand what do we mean by medical marijuana evaluations, first. We can say that medical marijuana evaluation is a process to get the legal right to use cannabis as a medicine. It involves a simple consultation with a qualified medical practitioner. And if he finds you eligible, you get your recommendation instantly.
You should note that it doesn’t matter which state you are living in, you must have a doctor’s approval to get a 420 Card. And you can’t have an approval without medical marijuana evaluations. It is a very important process to check if a person is eligible for the card or not.
The evaluation process doesn’t take more than 30 minutes. Your doctor will just check your medical records and ask you some basic questions to check if you qualify or not. And if found eligible, he will write you a recommendation.
In some cannabis-friendly states, like California, you can even go through an online evaluation process. That means you won’t have to even leave your bed. Doctor talks to you via video call. And if you qualify, you will get your recommendation via email, instantly. You’ll also get a hard copy of your 420 Cards within a day or two through the post.
Where Can You Apply for an MMJ Evaluation?
In states where medical cannabis is legal, you can find some dedicated MMJ evaluation centers very easily. There are many websites that allow you to search for MMJ evaluation centers near your location. And on some websites, you can even request an appointment by filling up a simple patient form.
Sadly, there are still many states where the availability of MMJ evaluation centers isn’t very extensive, especially if you are living in a recently legalized state. In some places, you may need to drive a long way to get to a doctor. And thus, we recommend you look for a place that has good reviews.
Contrary to this, there are many states where you can get your evaluations done even online. And unlike other usual evaluations, you need to pay only if you’re approved. But here too, you should look at the reviews before applying for evaluations. There are many scammers online waiting for you to fall into their trap. So, you need to be very careful.
Things You Must Carry to an Evaluation
When you are going for an MMJ evaluation, make sure you don’t forget any of the things mentioned below:
- Medical Records: Any recent medical documents, medicine prescriptions, X-rays, MRIs, etc.
- Valid Identity Proof: Passport, Driver’s license, Out-of-State ID, etc.
- Ways of Payment: Credit or debit card, check, money order, etc.
- Knowledge: Stay up-to-date about how cannabis may help you with your condition.
What Should you Expect During an MMJ Evaluation?
The first thing during an MMJ evaluation is filling up the necessary forms. After that, you’ll see the doctor. The doctor will examine your medical history and may ask you a few basic questions. He may ask you about your condition, any ongoing treatment, or your current lifestyle. And you should note that there is a chance he may reject your application if you haven’t tried any other treatment for your condition. He may recommend some other, more traditional medicines for your ailment and may ask you to come back after 30 days if it doesn’t work.
Apart from this, the doctor will discuss the treatment plan and tell you all the side-effects of cannabis. He may ask you if you have any questions. And in the end, if he finds you eligible, he’ll write you an MMJ recommendation.
What Should You Say during an Evaluation?
The first and foremost thing you need to do is relax and smile. Your attitude is a make or breaks thing here. Believe it or not, you have a lot higher probability of getting an approval if you are confident and easy-going.
MMJ evaluations can surely be tense. However, you can try to break the ice by telling your doctor why do you think cannabis can help you. You may talk about a friend who was benefited from cannabis. Or may tell him about watching a documentary or reading a book about this.
Be honest with your doctor while talking about the possibilities of cannabis as a medicine. Tell him if you’ve ever tried it before. Tell him about the strains you’ve tried and how your experience was. Some doctors hesitate to recommend cannabis to a new user. And thus, honesty may help you. However, you should avoid talking about using weed as a recreation. This may make your doctor think you are not serious about using it as a medicine.
Asking some good questions about cannabis may also improve your chances to get a recommendation. Here are a few questions you may ask your doctor :
- What things should I avoid if I’m on medical cannabis?
- Any side effects that I should know of?
- Can it interact with my current medications?
- Which strains will be good for my condition?
- Which consumption method should I use?
In the end, it depends on your doctor if he gives you the recommendation or not, but you should always say “thank you.” What if you have to go back to the same doctor again? You never know!
Got Your 420 Card? Great! Now, it’s time to sit back and enjoy your medical marijuana.
