What is medical marijuana?
Medical marijuana is a natural herbal product that can help reduce chronic pain in patients whose condition is treatment-resistant. It contains delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), both of which have pain-relieving properties.
Products made from the marijuana or cannabis plant are illegal in the United States. Still, many individual states have their own legislation in place that permits the use of marijuana for medical purposes when there are no effective alternatives.
The Florida Department of Health’s Office of Medical Marijuana Use (OMMU) is responsible for the administration of the medical marijuana program in Florida.
What conditions can medical marijuana treat?
The OMMU regulations specify that licensed physicians can write prescriptions for medical marijuana only for conditions on the agency’s permitted list. Conditions on this list include:
- Cancer
- Epilepsy
- Glaucoma
- HIV/AIDS
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
- Crohn’s disease
- Parkinson’s disease
- Multiple sclerosis (MS)
You could also be eligible for medical marijuana if you have a condition that’s not on the list but is the same kind of ailment.
For example, Crohn’s disease, which is on the list, is an inflammatory bowel disease like ulcerative colitis, which isn’t on the list. The conditions are similar enough to make ulcerative colitis a qualifying condition.
You might also be able to get a medical marijuana prescription if you have a terminal condition or certain types of chronic nonmalignant pain.
How do I get my medical marijuana prescription?
Dr. Pohlman is licensed by the Florida Department of Health to provide medical marijuana prescriptions. If you have a condition on the OMMU list and no other treatments are giving you relief from pain, Dr. Pohlman may suggest medical marijuana.
He enters your details on the Medical Marijuana Use Registry and provides you with your patient ID number. You need your ID number to apply for your Medical Marijuana Use Registry identification card.
The OMMU needs to authorize your application. Then you can take your prescription and the ID card to a licensed dispensary to collect your medical marijuana. The medication is available in different forms, including:
- Pills
- Skin balm
- Oil
- Vaporizer liquid
- Dried plant material
Dr. Pohlman goes over the advantages and disadvantages of each before giving you a prescription, so you can select the form that’s right for you.
Learn more about medical marijuana and find out if it might be a viable treatment option for you by calling Pohlman Pain Associates today or booking an appointment online.
