Do you find yourself looking for a Maryland marijuana doctor near me? Let me ask you, if you have a problem with your tonsils would you go and see a foot doctor? So, if you are looking to have access to Maryland medical marijuana, why would you see anyone but a doctor or provider that specializes in getting patients access to their medical card? That is a question we see all the time and the answer is that if you are looking to get medical cannabis in Maryland the best and easiest way to do this is to go to a doctor or provider that specializes in this process and can easily and quickly get you through it.
How to Start Your Medical Cannabis Journey
Beginning the journey can seem daunting, especially if you do not have a primary doctor willing to talk to you about the process. Fortunately, there are many great resources to help you navigate becoming a medical cannabis patient. Below, discover how to easily start the process and ensure you are finding the right Maryland marijuana doctor near you.
Check The Maryland Medical Cannabis Provider Registry
Many people assume that simply because someone is a doctor or provider that they can certify you to get your Maryland medical cannabis card. This is in fact not true. To certify you as a Maryland medical cannabis patient a doctor or provider has had to go through the certification process with the state of Maryland. This often means that your primary care provider or other provider is unable to certify you for medical cannabis because they are not approved to do so with the state.
A good provider will have gone above and beyond, though, just working with the state to become a certifying medical cannabis doctor or provider. Many providers have completed additional training to learn about medical cannabis, how it works and ways it can help various medical conditions. You should ask any provider or doctor you are going to see if they have completed this kind of training. As you can imagine since marijuana is still treated as a Schedule 1 narcotic by the federal government most doctors and providers have little formal training in school about marijuana. That is why it is important to find a provider that really understands medical cannabis.
What Should You Expect From Your Maryland Marijuana Doctor?
The first question you should ask of your provider is what the process will be like as a patient and what to expect. You should ask what kind of dosage you will start with, how to adjust that dosage over time if it is needed, and what to look for at a dispensary. This process can be complex for many patients so you should fully understand it.
At Green Relief Health we believe cannabis physicians and providers should hold themselves to certain practice standards. The Society of Cannabis Clinicians has developed standards for clinical encounters, clinical decision making, documentation, and more—the full list of which can be found here. These can be useful guidelines for a patient to decide if their cannabis doctor or provider is providing them with the level of care they should expect.
What You Need For Your Maryland Marijuana Doctor
Once you have found a qualified, certifying provider there are some things you are going to need to ensure that your Maryland medical cannabis certification goes smoothly.
It is important that you understand the general conditions required to apply for (and use) medical marijuana in Maryland. Namely, these include:
- You must be a resident of the state of Maryland. To establish this, you must have valid proof of identification. Check out our article about this process to better understand what documents can be used to establish your residency.
- You must have a qualifying medical condition as defined by the state of Maryland. In a recent article we did for the top qualifying conditions, we listed the ailments that qualify for medical marijuana.
Medical Records
Before you even think about contacting one of these “medical marijuana doctors near me” that you found with an online search, it’s important to understand that the doctor will need to have access to your complete medical history.
Normally, this is as simple as contacting your general practitioner’s office and requesting that your records be released either to you or to the marijuana doctor who will be conducting your evaluation. At Green Relief Health we can walk you through the entire process including contacting your doctor for you to help gather these records.
Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission
The final step you need before vising a Maryland medical marijuana doctor near you is to apply with the Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission to get your state ID number. This ID number is crucial to the certification process. You will need this number to be able to have your doctor or provider certify you for medical cannabis. You can check out an article we put together recently to help you with this process.
Still confused by the whole ‘Maryland Marijuana Doctor Near Me’ Process?
If you have any additional questions pertaining to Maryland’s medical marijuana laws, qualifying conditions, do not hesitate to reach out to us directly for help. You can contact us either through our Contact Page or send us a direct message on our social media pages. We are here to help!
This process can be confusing and take a little bit of time to complete, but this is your health. You should not only expect, but demand that the provider you are visiting is able to provide you with the information you need and that they are well equipped to help you through the process. Unfortunately, this is not always the case and it is often worth checking to see the reputation of the provider you are visiting before you make an appointment. If you find less than stellar reviews or issues with the service other patients have received it may be time to head the other way and schedule an appointment with a true medical cannabis expert.
