- How
do I get a recommendation?
- According to California law, a patient can get a
recommendation or approval for the medical use of cannabis
from a licensed physician
-
- What
conditions are eligible to be treated with medical
marijuana?
- Patients with a wide variety of conditions may qualify for a
medical marijuana evaluation including, but not limited
to:
Other illnesses for which marijuana provides relief:
- What
do I need to bring to my visit?
1. Medical Records - Both, new
and renewal patients are asked to bring in either
medical records or documentation from their primary
health care provider describing their diagnosis
2. A
valid California Identification Card - Valid California I.D.
means a California Driver License or DMV issues I.D. We do not
accept temporary DMV paperwork, school I.D. cards, military
I.D.'s, out of state driver's licenses, passports, medical
marijuana cards, work I.D. cards, Social Security cards, lease
agreements, etc...
- How
do I get my records sent to you?
- You
will need to provide your treating physician with a
written authorization to release your records to us. When you request information from your doctor’s office to
document the medical condition that you are treating with
marijuana please be specific about which medical condition
you are requesting records about and for what time period.
It is important to include the most recent notes.
You can ask your primary health care professional
to write a letter which includes your diagnosis, its
duration and treatments you have tried or are still using,
and finally that you are under his/her care.
You can write a simple note
stating:
Please
release to me, (your
name here_) a copy of my medical records including progress notes, lab and
x-ray reports and treatments
regarding my condition: _________.
_____________
(Your
Signature)
The federal government passed a law in 2004 that
requires all physicians or health care providers, to provide a
copy of the medical records to a patient after they have made
a formal request. This
reproduction of the records must occur within 15 days of
having received the properly completed requisition form and
any fees that may be required for the copying
- Will my
medical visit and records be private and confidential?
- A
Your privacy is of the utmost importance to us. All
patient records and discussions are kept in the
strictest confidentiality.
-
- Who does the
medical evaluation?
- A All of
our evaluations are conducted by a California-licensed MD.
-
-
- How
old must I be to be evaluated
at your office fort medical marijuana?
- A
It is our policy to only evaluate patients for medical
marijuana who are at least 18 years or older.
-
- I know that I have a
qualifying medical condition but I do not have any
documentation to prove my condition. Can I A still obtain a physician's recommendation?
- If you have a valid medical condition, but you do not have
your documentation readily available, you may come in for
the evaluation and if you qualify receive a temporary
recommendation, which will be usually be valid for a
period of three months.
This recommendation will allow you to immediately
become a legal medical marijuana patient.
You must provide us with your supporting
documentation in order to be upgraded to a full one-year
recommendation. There is no additional charge for this
upgrade.
-
-
- What will a physician's recommendation
do for me?
- A physician's recommendation will allow you to
legally use marijuana for your medical condition within
the state of California. The
information provided does not replace legal advice given
by an attorney. If you have any concerns about personal
liability or legal risks, consult an attorney.
-
- What
happens if the doctor determines I am not qualified to
receive a recommendation?
- Your
fee is for an office visit and evaluation, not a
recommendation. However if you do not qualify there is no charge
Once
I get my recommendation from a physician what should I do
with it?
- You
must keep the original copy of your physician’s letter
of recommendation in a safe and secure place. You will
need the recommendation to help prove your legal status
following an encounter with law enforcement. You will also
need the recommendation to obtain membership or to enter a
California’ medical cannabis dispensary. You should
carry a photocopy of your recommendation whenever you
carry your medicinal marijuana. The information provided
does not replace legal advice given by an attorney. If you
have any concerns about personal liability or legal risks,
consult an attorney.
-
-
-
- Does
the federal government recognize medical
marijuana in California?
-
- The
federal government does not recognize California’
state laws regarding medical cannabis. Cannabis
possession, cultivation, and use are illegal under
federal law – even for qualified patients.
California’s state laws remain fully in force
regarding the use of medicinal marijuana. The information provided does not replace legal
advice given by an attorney. If you have any concerns
about personal liability or legal risks, consult an
attorney.
-
-
- What
is the online verification program do you offer?
-
- Patients can be
verified 24 hours a day, 365 days a year using our
online patient verification program. This online
verification program will allow law enforcement and
co-ops to verify your status. The online verification
program is a secure way for patients to be verified.
-
-
- What
happens if my status as a patient needs to be verified
after your office closes?
-
- We
offer online patient verification at any time, 365 days
a year. Our online patient verification program allows
for secure online patient verifications 24/7. If you
choose to get verified by phone our offices are usually
open until 8 pm everyday.
-
Where can I
find medical marijuana dispensaries?
-
- Due to State and Federal Law we cannot assist you with this.
-
-
- What
is the Voluntary Medical Marijuana Patient Verification
Card?
-
- The voluntary medical
marijuana patient verification card is helpful to serve
as photo verification for the patient. The card is small
enough to fit in a wallet or pocket. The card helps law
enforcement officers or personnel at dispensaries know
that the patient is a legal medical marijuana patient
under Prop 215. The voluntary medical marijuana patient
verification card is not same as the California state
medical marijuana card
-
-
- Can a
physician legally recommend marijuana in California?
-
- Yes.
Physicians are legally allowed to recommend, but not
prescribe, medicinal marijuana
to qualified patients, as specified under prop.215 and
SB 420
Can physicians provide medicinal
marijuana for patients?
Physicians may legally recommend medicinal marijuana for qualifying
patients, but they may not prescribe nor provide it.
Is a California physician's
recommendation legal in other states?
No.
However, certain other states have their own medicinal
marijuana laws.
Is a
physician's recommendation legal federally?
No. Under
federal law, possessing medicinal marijuana is a misdemeanor,
What do I get
for my fee?
You will receive an
evaluation by a California licensed physician and at the end
of the evaluation, if you qualify you will receive a
physician's recommendation which will allow you to use
marijuana legally for a medical condition for one year.
If you need a follow-up visit, there will be no extra
charge during the one-year period of time that you
recommendation is current.
When will I receive my physician's
recommendation?
If you qualify, you will receive a recommendation at the end
of your evaluation by the physician.
What happens at the end of the year
when my recommendation expires?
At the end of the year you will have to renew
your recommendation
What is the fee for the evaluation?
The evaluation fee for new patients is $90, which includes
the doctor's evaluation and a recommendation for a period of
one year.
Do I have to make an appointment, or
can I just walk in for an evaluation?
Although it is
preferable to make an appointment, we accept walk-ins.
Please call ahead to confirm the office date and time.
If you have any concerns about whether or not you
qualify, you should call 310-855-7504 for free
pre-qualification and an appointment.
Do you accept
medical insurance?
No. However,
upon request, we will provide you with a receipt that you may
submit to your insurance company so that you may obtain
reimbursement.
How long will it take for me to receive
a physician's recommendation and how will I get it?
You will personally receive a recommendation at the end of
your evaluation by the physician.
Do I have to tell my doctor that I have
a physician's recommendation for medical marijuana?
Does my doctor need to approve of this?
Our intention is not
to replace your primary care provider, but to maintain the
integrity of care necessary for our patients. It is important
to discuss with your medical provider about the pros and cons
of medical marijuana. We
recommend that you do inform your provider about this, so that
he or she, in addition to us, will be involved in monitoring
your progress with this treatment.
Your provider may need this information in order to
adapt his or her management of your medical condition.
It is important for all of your providers to have all
information that is pertinent to your condition, so that you
receive the best possible care.
What happens when I go to a dispensary
with my physician's recommendation for the first time?
When you go to a dispensary or club for the first time, you
must bring the original version of your physician's
recommendation. The
dispensary will then verify with us that you are indeed a
valid and current patient of our office.
They may do this by either checking on our secure
online verification system or by calling us directly to verify
your status.
Do you offer a 24-hour phone
verification?
We offer a 24 hour on line verification.
What happens if I lose my physician's
recommendation?
We will provide you with a replacement of your original at no
charge
Will you provide my personal
information to the government, or any other agency?
The information between you and our office, as with any
physician's practice, is completely confidential. The only time we would release any information about you is
if a dispensary or club calls to verify that you are a valid
patient of our office, or if a law enforcement agent calls to
verify that you are a valid patient.
In these instances, they would ask us if the
recommendation is valid, and what the expiration date of the
recommendation is. They
would not be provided with any other additional information
about you such as your actual diagnosis.
Do I need to carry my physician's
recommendation with me at all times?
You must carry either your original or a copy of your
physician's recommendation with you when ever you have
marijuana with you.
Are there any conditions and diseases
that would definitely prevent me from being eligible for a
physician's recommendation?
Yes, for example it is not recommended to use
medical marijuana in the presence of severe heart disease.
|
