{"componentChunkName":"component---common-build-tags-template-js","path":"/tag/medical-recommendation/2","result":{"data":{"allArticle":{"edges":[{"node":{"id":"Article_2420-markdown","title":"Getting Your Medical Marijuana Recommendation","slug":"getting-your-medical-marijuana-recommendation","content":"If you’re [new to cannabis](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/59b1f46a1a5caf4406dd750f/is-marijuana-right-for-you) and have learned that [you can consume it legally where you are](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/59b9b2fdc0563f003c24f6dc/understanding-marijuana-laws-in-your-area), getting a recommendation from a doctor or other certified healthcare professional to use marijuana medicinally is often one of the first and most crucial steps in getting started. In most states that allow for the use of medical marijuana, this recommendation gives you the legal protection to use your medicine.\n\nWhile asking a doctor to recommend cannabis can seem intimidating for some, it can also be incredibly easy if you know how to approach the situation. In our third article of a multi-part series geared towards folks new to cannabis, we provide the tools to help you make your first recommendation experience smooth, easy and worry-free. \n\nFOLLOW US ON [FACEBOOK](https://www.facebook.com/pg/hellomdcompany/posts/) & [INSTAGRAM](https://www.instagram.com/hellomd_com/?hl=en)\n\n### Your GP & Marijuana Recommendations\n\nWhen I first decided to try out cannabis for my chronic pain, my first step was talking to my general practitioner. I had just moved to California for graduate school and thought that because medical cannabis was legal in the state, it was something that any doctor would recommend to me. I went in to talk to the general practitioner at my university’s health center; he’d been prescribing the pharmaceutical options I was taking at that time. I had done my research beforehand and knew that cannabis had worked well for others with my condition, but when I broached the subject, I was immediately shut down.\n\n“We don’t do that here,” the doctor said brusquely and shot me a look of annoyance and disapproval. “I thought it was legal for medical use here in California?” I replied. He waved off my question without a verbal response and quickly exited the room, ending our consultation. \n\nThat was the first, but certainly not the last, unpleasant conversation about cannabis I went through with other general practitioners. I wish someone had been there to tell me what I know now: Always go to a cannabis specialist when trying to obtain a cannabis recommendation. \n\nYour doctor may not be as opposed to cannabis as mine was. In fact, some studies suggest that the majority of doctors don’t see cannabis use as something to be concerned about. Still, it’s incredibly rare to find a GP who’s willing to actually recommend cannabis to their patients. \n\nRELATED: [MEDICAL MARIJUANA DOCTORS: WHERE ARE THEY?](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/5806c02b5bcbef00076268ad/medical-marijuana-doctors-where-are-they)\n\nDoctors are worried about their own liability when it comes to recommending cannabis to patients. Cannabis is still classified as a federally illegal Schedule 1 substance. Meanwhile, [medical licenses are federally regulated](http://healthaffairs.org/blog/2014/02/18/doctors-without-state-borders-practicing-across-state-lines/). What this means is that [doctors aren’t legally allowed to prescribe cannabis](https://www.managedcaremag.com/archives/1997/2/drug-dealing-doctors-office-or-whos-criminal-whos-victim) to their patients without risking their medical license, and potentially their freedom. \n\n![](https://hellomd-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/59bc2bb7077a4d000d4b3ffb/embedded_images/59bc2bb9077a4d000d4b3ffc/drsolomon.jpg)\nDr. Perry Solomon, HelloMD's Chief Medical Officer.\n\nWhat doctors are permitted to do is “recommend” cannabis to patients, but the line between prescribing and recommending can be blurry. Unfortunately, [doctors have been imprisoned and had their license to practice medicine taken away](http://www.sacbee.com/news/state/california/california-weed/article2573276.html) when recommending cannabis in unsanctioned ways. When you understand the potentially precarious position doctors could find themselves in, it’s easy to see why some of them might be unwilling to even consider recommending medical marijuana. \n\n### Look for a Cannabis Specialist  \n\nNot all doctors are opposed to recommending cannabis. In fact, a growing number have made it their life’s work to help qualified patients get access to medical marijuana. These practitioners, who often work for cannabis-specific practices, are not only willing to put themselves out there as cannabis doctors, they also tend to have more specialized knowledge on the latest research and legal landscape surrounding medical marijuana.\n\nSince most medical schools still don’t teach their students about cannabis or the endocannabinoid system (the system in the human body that interacts with cannabis), many doctors don’t know much about treating conditions with marijuana. Cannabis specialists are more likely to be able to answer your cannabis questions than your general practitioner can.\n\nIf you live in California or New York, HelloMD is a great place to find qualified cannabis doctors who can:\n\n>* review your situation.\n>* answer your questions.\n>* give you medical advice about using medical marijuana.\n\nBecause we work through telemedicine (live video), you can have your consultation done without leaving your house. \n\nIf you live in another state with medical cannabis laws, look for cannabis-specific practices in your area. Many states have registries of the local doctors that are licensed to recommend in cannabis. Take New Jersey for example; [the NJ Department of health offers on online portal where patients can search for doctors nearby.](http://www.nj.gov/health/medicalmarijuana/patients/find-doctor/) This can vary by state but is often available through the state’s medical marijuana program.\n\nAt your appointment, be sure to bring your medical records, and let your doctor know about any medications you’re on or health conditions you have. Cannabis is an incredibly safe medicine, but there are [certain conditions for which marijuana is contraindicated and a few medications that it shouldn’t be mixed with](http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-947-marijuana.aspx?activeingredientid=947&activeingredientname=marijuana). Make sure your doctor knows about your individual situation so she can give you the best advice possible. \n\n### Integrating Your Health Care\n\nOnce you’ve received a medical cannabis recommendation from a specialist, that’s when you’ll want to let your general practitioner—or any other doctors who treats you—know about your cannabis use. I’ve found GPs to be much more accepting of cannabis when you aren’t asking them to recommend it.\n\nRegardless of their stance, it’s important for all of your doctors to know that you’re using cannabis because they’ll need to take it into account when prescribing new medications. Not knowing about it could affect their ability to accurately evaluate and support your health. \n\nStay tuned for the next installment of our Cannabis for Newbies guide covering tips on how to talk to your general practitioner about cannabis, once you have your recommendation in hand. Need a medical marijuana recommendation? [Consult with one of HelloMD’s knowledgeable doctors](https://www.hellomd.com/); it's 100% online, private and easy.\n","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.3333333333333333,"src":"/static/70a102aecba950116e0e499ad20ef199/14b42/7997cced472079ca44ede309a9cd95bd.jpg","srcSet":"/static/70a102aecba950116e0e499ad20ef199/f836f/7997cced472079ca44ede309a9cd95bd.jpg 200w,\n/static/70a102aecba950116e0e499ad20ef199/2244e/7997cced472079ca44ede309a9cd95bd.jpg 400w,\n/static/70a102aecba950116e0e499ad20ef199/14b42/7997cced472079ca44ede309a9cd95bd.jpg 800w,\n/static/70a102aecba950116e0e499ad20ef199/47498/7997cced472079ca44ede309a9cd95bd.jpg 1200w,\n/static/70a102aecba950116e0e499ad20ef199/54ac5/7997cced472079ca44ede309a9cd95bd.jpg 1365w","srcWebp":"/static/70a102aecba950116e0e499ad20ef199/58556/7997cced472079ca44ede309a9cd95bd.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/70a102aecba950116e0e499ad20ef199/61e93/7997cced472079ca44ede309a9cd95bd.webp 200w,\n/static/70a102aecba950116e0e499ad20ef199/1f5c5/7997cced472079ca44ede309a9cd95bd.webp 400w,\n/static/70a102aecba950116e0e499ad20ef199/58556/7997cced472079ca44ede309a9cd95bd.webp 800w,\n/static/70a102aecba950116e0e499ad20ef199/99238/7997cced472079ca44ede309a9cd95bd.webp 1200w,\n/static/70a102aecba950116e0e499ad20ef199/5e0b8/7997cced472079ca44ede309a9cd95bd.webp 1365w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2384-markdown","title":"New York Attempts to Reduce Barriers to Medical Marijuana","slug":"new-york-attempts-to-reduce-barriers-to-medical-marijuana","content":"### Nurses Can Now Recommend Marijuana\n\nAs of November 30th, patients in New York are now able to receive medical marijuana recommendations not only from doctors, but from nurse practitioners as well. Nurse practitioners in New York can now register with the state Health Department to receive a certification in order to recommend medical marijuana to patients. This is a huge and potentially positive development for a state that has put up enormous hurdles for patients to obtain state issued medical recommendations for cannabis. \n\nNurses, just like doctors within NY, will be required to take an approved online course called “Medical Use of Marijuana” and submit their credentials of completion to the Health Department before being allowed to sign off on patient recommendations. The Health Department also started a 45-day comment period on another proposed amendment that would give Physician’s Assistants the ability to give medical marijuana recommendations to patients in addition to nurses. What is interesting in this development is that nurses, not doctors, are often more well informed regarding the efficacy of cannabis with patients.\n\n### An Incomplete Medical Program with Big Hurdles\n\nMedical marijuana has experienced mixed reviews in the state, particularly with patients who believe that the implementation of the medical marijuana program was incomplete, making it incredibly difficult and expensive to obtain marijuana as a medicine. HelloMD talked with a New York dispensary that confirmed that the impediments to doing business mostly centered around the lack of patients. This dispensary was quoted as saying “We have been prepared to do business in a difficult market as we believe the state will eventually ease requirements to getting a medical recommendation.  If this happens it will result in larger patient flow, increase overall business and ideally lower the costs reflected back to the patient.”\n\nOfficials from the New York Department of Health, however, have declared medical marijuana a success in the state. The health commissioner of the state, Dr. Howard Zucker, has expressed that adding nurses, and possibly physicians assistants, to the recommendation process will serve to help improve the program, especially in rural areas where doctors are limited. \n\nThe current program in the state involves roughly 10,500 patients and 740 doctors who have been approved to recommend medical marijuana to patients. The ratio of doctors to patients at about 14:1 isn't nearly as bad as the lack of dispensaries in the state. The state did not even reach its goal of having five dispensaries up and running by the time of medical marijuana roll out in the state. Still to this day, 27% of registered patients and caregivers have to travel one to five hours to reach a dispensary. \n\nRELATED: [WHY DOCTORS IN NEW YORK AREN'T RECOMMENDING MARIJUANA](https://hellomd.com/health-wellness/56eb327eed004d0008000011/why-doctors-in-new-york-arent-recommending-marijuana)\n\n### Medicine: Too Costly for Patients\n\nNot only are dispensaries costly to reach for over a quarter of the people enrolled in the program, but the cost of marijuana in the state is extremely expensive. In a survey of people enrolled in the medical cannabis program, 70% of respondents said that their monthly cost for medication would be $300 or more. All of these factors add to New York’s reputation as on of the hardest states to access medical marijuana. Previously, the state has also experienced some major problems within the Department of Health. The Department of Health previously mishandled regulations on how doctors could be certified, leaving many gravely ill patients unable to access medication that could have been truly life changing for them. \n\nAnother major problem was the faulty dispensary roll out, which is an issue that still has not been completely resolved. People having to drive over an hour to get their medication is a major problem that shows incomplete commitment to the program by the state. Medical marijuana should be viewed on the same plane as pharmaceutical medications, so accessing a dispensary should be as easy for patients as accessing a pharmacy. \n\n### Too Few Doctors & Not Enough Education\n\nNew York has also had some problems getting doctors interested in enrolling in the program to recommend medical marijuana. Many doctors in the state are fearful of federal retribution for being involved in the marijuana program because it is still considered a federally illegal substance. Doctors across the country must register with the DEA in order to handle prescription drugs and many are worried that their right to prescribe pharmaceuticals could be revoked if there is backlash against medical marijuana in the future. \n\nMany doctors in the state also feel under educated on cannabis, despite the fact that New York is one of the few states that requires doctors to take a course before being allowed to recommend medical marijuana. Unlike in other states, however, New York physicians are suppose to recommend doses to patients, rather than patients getting dosage information from dispensaries. \n\nMany Doctors who do recommend medical marijuana in the state feel overwhelmed by the sheer number of people interested in medical marijuana for their various conditions. One of the conditions where medical marijuana has the most efficacy, chronic pain, is still not an approved condition in the state, leaving many people who could greatly benefit from cannabis to resort to harsher, and often addictive, pharmaceuticals like opioids. \n\nNew York is starting to turn the tide and potentially change their reputation on medical marijuana by giving patients more access to recommendations through nurses, but these improvements do not take away from the large changes the state still has to make to provide their patients with a consistent and affordable source of medication. The bottom line is that New York needs to keep moving in this direction and quickly. The state must improve overall education for medical providers as well as patients, make a significant effort to help licensed dispensaries to lower overall costs and license more dispensaries for those in more rural areas.\n\n_______________________________________________________________________\n\nIf you are new to cannabis and want to learn more, take a look at our [Cannabis 101](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/cannabis-101-your-quick-guide-to-medical-marijuana) post. [HelloMD](https://www.hellomd.com/) can help you get your medical marijuana recommendation; it's 100% online, private and efficient.","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.3333333333333333,"src":"/static/665545d9a459d47d4c6c054a6148d81d/14b42/aece5705618c6bd11087574ace37b1c0.jpg","srcSet":"/static/665545d9a459d47d4c6c054a6148d81d/f836f/aece5705618c6bd11087574ace37b1c0.jpg 200w,\n/static/665545d9a459d47d4c6c054a6148d81d/2244e/aece5705618c6bd11087574ace37b1c0.jpg 400w,\n/static/665545d9a459d47d4c6c054a6148d81d/14b42/aece5705618c6bd11087574ace37b1c0.jpg 800w,\n/static/665545d9a459d47d4c6c054a6148d81d/47498/aece5705618c6bd11087574ace37b1c0.jpg 1200w,\n/static/665545d9a459d47d4c6c054a6148d81d/54ac5/aece5705618c6bd11087574ace37b1c0.jpg 1365w","srcWebp":"/static/665545d9a459d47d4c6c054a6148d81d/58556/aece5705618c6bd11087574ace37b1c0.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/665545d9a459d47d4c6c054a6148d81d/61e93/aece5705618c6bd11087574ace37b1c0.webp 200w,\n/static/665545d9a459d47d4c6c054a6148d81d/1f5c5/aece5705618c6bd11087574ace37b1c0.webp 400w,\n/static/665545d9a459d47d4c6c054a6148d81d/58556/aece5705618c6bd11087574ace37b1c0.webp 800w,\n/static/665545d9a459d47d4c6c054a6148d81d/99238/aece5705618c6bd11087574ace37b1c0.webp 1200w,\n/static/665545d9a459d47d4c6c054a6148d81d/5e0b8/aece5705618c6bd11087574ace37b1c0.webp 1365w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}}]}},"pageContext":{"limit":12,"skip":12,"numPages":2,"currentPage":2,"id":5493,"name":"Medical Recommendation","slug":"medical-recommendation","country":"US"}},"staticQueryHashes":["3949754563","4179947113","4202924991"]}