It seems like we are all busier than ever. Fitting a doctor’s visit in your schedule can be a challenge, but it’s worthwhile to take the time to visit a qualified Florida cannabis doctor if you’re considering medical marijuana. To save time, and make the most of your visit, take the time to prepare for your appointment. Here are five things to do to ensure your visit goes smoothly.
1. Gather Your Medical Records
Although this step can be time-consuming, it’s critical to make sure you receive the appropriate medical marijuana recommendations. To gather your medical records, start by checking to see if any of your medical providers offer online access to your medical records. If they do, you can simply visit their websites, sign in, and print out your medical records.
If your medical records are not available online, you will need to get in touch with any providers you see regularly. Give them a call and ask them about the best way to access your medical records. They may have a form for you to fill out, or you may need to write a simple letter requesting a copy of your medical records.
2. Know What to Expect from a Truly Qualified Florida Cannabis Doctor
There are some medical cannabis providers who only care about issuing as many cards as possible in as short a time as possible. These providers are often part of a chain, and they set up their offices in strip malls, hotels, and other less-than-professional locations. You can expect better from a high-quality Florida cannabis doctor. A professional medical marijuana doctor will:
- Maintain a professional office.
- Have a professional, friendly staff.
- Review your medical records.
- Take their time during your appointment.
- Be listed on the Florida medical marijuana professional registry.
- Have patient care experience.
Visiting a qualified Florida cannabis doctor will be similar to visiting any other medical professional. You will receive the same high standard of care, that you receive when you visit any other doctor.
3. Gather as Much Information as Possible About Your Medical Condition and Medical Cannabis
As the saying goes, knowledge is power. The more you know about your medical condition, medical marijuana, and how medical marijuana can help your condition, the more confident you will be at your appointment.
Seek information through reputable sources, such as hospital and university websites, well-known news websites, doctor-reviewed medical websites, and the Neurology of Cannabis blog. If you have trusted friends or family members who use medical cannabis, ask them about their experiences. Support groups for your medical condition may also offer valuable insights.
4. Understand Your Workplace Rules Regarding Medical Marijuana
Florida does not offer protection at a state level for employees who use medical marijuana. In other words, your employer is not obligated to accommodate your medical marijuana use. However, some employers are willing to accommodate the use of medical marijuana. Find out your employer’s rules about medical marijuana. If they ban all marijuana use, consider talking to them about adopting a policy that allows for off-duty medical marijuana use. Let them know that you would be willing to sign an acknowledgment form regarding workplace safety and provide documentation of your medical marijuana recommendation.
5. Come with Questions About Medical Marijuana
Take the time to prepare a list of questions to ask your Florida cannabis doctor. Everyone has different questions, of course, but some common questions include:
- Will my condition be helped by using medical marijuana?
- What delivery method is best for me?
- What time of day should I use medical marijuana?
- What side effects will I experience?
- What should I do if I experience side effects?
- Who should I call if I need changes to my recommendations?
- What changes should I expect in my medical condition?
- How soon will I notice changes in my medical condition?
A well-qualified and experienced medical marijuana doctor will be happy to answer these questions and more. If you think of questions after your appointment, don’t hesitate to contact your cannabis doctor.
A Truly Qualified Florida Cannabis Doctor
Dr. Daniel P. Stein at Neurology of Cannabis is a Board Certified Neurologist. He has more than 25 years of medical practice experience and trained at prestigious institutions such as the National Institute of Health, the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, and the Mount Sinai Medical Center. Contact Neurology of Cannabis today to make an appointment with Dr. Stein.
