At this point, you have accepted the potential risks associated with cannabis use. You have either been diagnosed with or believe you should be diagnosed with a qualifying condition. So, it’s time to talk to your doctor. But this can be a little scary. Cannabis, the so called “devil’s cabbage,” has a lot of stigma still associated with it. A lot of folks still look around awkwardly before whispering about medicinal cannabis in a public space. However, you are your best advocate and it’s high time to speak openly about this topic.
I will always recommend talking to your current physician first in regards to the topic of possible medicinal cannabis. They have known you and have worked with you to help treat many of your medical conditions. This bond is important since many doctors will be suspicious of ‘doctor hunters’ who are just looking to get high. Go ahead and make your appointment to discuss your condition(s). Do it soon because it can be a long process that I will explain in depth below.
Conversation starters:
“How do you feel about medical cannabis?”
“Does your practice have a policy about medical cannabis?”
“Are you open to recommending medical cannabis [for a condition like mine]?”
“Can I come back in a couple months so we can talk more seriously about medical cannabis?”
The process:
If you have taken cannabis to treat the symptoms of your condition, go ahead and share those experiences with your doctor. Provided no one (including yourself) is in danger, physicians are professionally and ethically bound to keep your secrets (patient-doctor confidentiality). As I mentioned, however, there is a process involved.
- Don’t forget to bring some materials with you to your visit. There is good information for your
qualifying condition that might help jump start your doctor’s research. - If you’re feeling a hard ‘no’ from your doctor and already have the diagnosis of a qualifying condition, you can stop here. However, if you don’t have a qualifying diagnosis, press forward until you do. It’ll make finding a new doctor for medical cannabis much easier.
- Your physician may not be comfortable with making a recommendation for medical cannabis yet, and that’s ok. You can pretty much bet that you have started a conversation in the office and they will need time to do research and confer with colleagues. Be direct and ask, “When should I make an appointment to discuss medical cannabis in more depth?”
- Be ready to discuss the current treatments you use for your symptoms. Your doctor will want to review these in depth.
- Be willing to adjust your current therapies. It is safe to assume that physicians will, when possible, want to treat your condition with known medicines first. Now is the time to be honest; if a prescribed drug makes you feel crappy as a side effect, or if it makes you unable to function properly, you won’t take it for that reason. What’s the point? Furthermore, you don’t have to get high using cannabis and your doctor needs to know that’s not what you’re after. You just want to be healthy.
- Be willing to make follow up visits to adjust your therapies. Remember, finding relief to your symptoms is often a process. It will be no different with medical cannabis. It is not a solution for everyone.
- Finally, please have patience. Unless you have the know-how, desire, and resources to grow your own, medical cannabis dispensaries won’t be opening until well into 2020. As such, there is ample time to work through this process.
Further reading:
Americans for Safe Access
Columbia Missourian