How to Talk to Your Doctor about Medical Cannabis
Medical cannabis has struggled with some issues in the past, but we are fortunately now moving in a positive direction. It was very difficult to approach physicians and talk about medical cannabis earlier, but now that many states in the US and several other countries have legalized cannabis, it has somewhat become easier.
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Slowly, more people are getting comfortable with the idea of using cannabis as an alternative medicine, and with some luck, people all over the world will have the freedom to use the herb whenever they please.
Today, you can find a plethora of information about medical cannabis, but it can be confusing to talk to talk to your doctor about it. Is he going to judge you? Is he going to stop seeing you? What if he alerts the authorities? You think of so many questions that the very idea suddenly intimidates you. However, you don’t have to worry.
Now that many people are enlightened about the benefits of cannabis, you’re more likely to find a physician who is willing to explore a path less traveled. Additionally, it’s not illegal to discuss or even admit that you are a regular user, and since they cannot divulge your information with anybody, you’re safe to continue.
In fact, there are more doctors who recommend cannabis than you can imagine. The next time you visit your doc, keep these suggestions in mind:
• Be clear about your needs
Don’t be shy about your illnesses with your doctor as he will be able to treat you only if you’re transparent with him. It’s okay to talk about cannabis since you’re the one who can determine what’s best for you. Sure, the doctor wants to see you doing great, but you have the final say in the matter since it’s your health in question.
As it is safe to discuss cannabis, go ahead and explain why you think it’s the best fit for you. For instance, some people suffering from seizures or other ailments often wonder why they can’t consume or smoke cannabis even when it’s helping them.
Some doctors might tell you to stop indulging in medical cannabis immediately, but if it’s already working for you, then it doesn’t make sense to rely on other drugs to complicate the problem further. Be clear about what you want and stand your ground if you’ve already experienced positive effects with cannabis. At the end of it all, you’re your own health advocate and you know why you want to continue using medical cannabis.
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• Switch if you need to
Dr. Sanjay Gupta who previously didn’t support medical cannabis admitted openly that he changed his mind later. Similarly, doctors all over the globe are slowly embracing the idea of using cannabis to treat a multitude of diseases. However, a few physicians may not alter their perspective no matter how hard you try.
Let’s say that cannabis is working for you already. You want to see how you can include CBD oil or edibles in your routine instead of smoking cannabis, and you think that the best individual to talk to you would be your doctor. After all, he is your caregiver and wouldn’t mind if something is already helping you, right? Well, not in all cases.
While some doctors may understand your point of view, others may not be so supportive. While the physician has the right to stop seeing you, you also have the right to decline and move on to another doctor. It’s best to switch to someone who is more understanding and compassionate about the problems you’re going through.
There are quite a few horror stories of doctors completely refusing to see patients who use or even talk about medical cannabis, and if you’re one of those few patients, you need to find another healthcare professional.
• Ask the right questions
Do not be afraid to ask the right questions because that’s the only way to determine how your doctor can help you. If you conceal information, your doctor will be clueless about what’s really troubling you. So, be bold and ask all the questions to ensure that you receive the best treatment possible. Ask questions such as:
- What strain of cannabis will help my condition?
- What side effects can I expect?
- What about the dosage of CBD oil?
- Will I get high?
- Will I experience any paranoia?
- Will this increase my appetite?
- Have you treated anyone with medical cannabis?
- How should I ingest cannabis?
- How can I find more information related to cannabis?
- When can I expect to recover?
- Is there anything I need to avoid while using cannabis?
These questions will give you a basic guideline about how to approach your doctor to talk about medical cannabis.
• Recommendation
Remember that you don’t necessarily need a prescription to use medical cannabis, but it’s important to get your doctor’s recommendation. This is because Cannabis is classified as a Schedule I drug, and your doctor will not prescribe it. You can purchase cannabis in any dispensary if you have the doctor’s recommendation.
The good news is that you can utilize the recommendation to also get a medical card for your own needs. A medical card ensures that you’re a legal cannabis user, and you prevent any untoward incidents with the authorities. It’s important to keep the effects of law enforcement in mind and that’s why a medical card should be on your to-do list right now.
Finally, even after you’ve tried every mantra, it can sometimes be tough to find a doctor who appreciates medical cannabis as much as you do. In such cases, your only hope is to do some research and join medical cannabis groups on social media for more exposure. You will certainly get more information that allows you to make an educated decision at the end. Lastly, don’t be intimidated to talk about cannabis since it can be your gateway to better health.
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