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Medical Marijuana Authorizations

The Basics

I provide medical marijuana authorizations to patients with qualifying conditions like chronic pain and PTSD.

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Qualified patients can use their medical marijuana card to receive substantially discounted products from cannabis dispensaries state-wide, and are able to grow up to 15 plants at home.

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Highlights of the medical marijuana program:

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  • Visits are 30 minutes long and are $150

  • Insurance does not cover medical marijuana visits

  • You must provide proof of a qualifying condition in the form of a medical record/chart from another provider

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Interested? Read on!

What is medical marijuana?

Medical marijuana (cannabis) is now the same as recreational cannabis. Patients with certain qualifying conditions (see below) can have an authorization form signed by their doctor that attests to the usefulness of cannabis for their condition. This authorization allows the patient to purchase cannabis tax-free at qualified dispensaries (see below), to grow cannabis plants at their home, and to possess greater amounts of cannabis.

Benefits of a medical marijuana authorization

Patients that receive authorization for medical marijuana enjoy three major benefits:

  • Sales tax is waived for purchases of cannabis, equating to savings of up to 30-40%

  • You can purchase and possess increased amounts of cannabis:

    • One ounce of usable marijuana

    • Sixteen ounces of marijuana-infused product in solid form

    • Seventy-two ounces of marijuana-infused product in liquid form, or

    • Seven grams of marijuana concentrate

  • You can grow cannabis plants at your home

    • Six plants for personal medical use, and

    • Possess up to eight ounces of usable marijuana produced from their plants.

    • Note: patients determined by their physician to require additional amounts of cannabis may be qualified to:

      • Grow up to 15 plants for personal medical use, and

      • Possess 16 ounces of usable marijuana produced from their plants.

Qualifying for medical marijuana

To qualify for medical marijuana, you must be impacted by one of the following conditions or types of conditions:

  • Cancer, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), multiple sclerosis, epilepsy or other seizure disorder, or spasticity disorders.

  • Intractable (chronic) pain, limited for the purpose of this chapter to mean pain unrelieved by standard medical treatments and medications.

  • Glaucoma, either acute or chronic, limited for the purpose of this chapter to mean increased intraocular pressure unrelieved by standard treatments and medications.

  • Crohn's disease with debilitating symptoms unrelieved by standard treatments or medications.

  • Hepatitis C with debilitating nausea or intractable pain unrelieved by standard treatments or medications.

  • Diseases, including anorexia, which result in nausea, vomiting, wasting, appetite loss, cramping, seizures, muscle spasms, or spasticity, when these symptoms are unrelieved by standard treatments or medications.

  • Chronic renal (kidney) failure requiring hemodialysis.

  • Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

  • Traumatic brain injury (TBI)

Additionally, these conditions must have a significant negative impact on your day-to-day function, and be inadequately controlled with current treatment.

How it works

You can ask a doctor currently treating you to provide a medical marijuana authorization, or make an appointment with me to complete an authorization.

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Make sure to bring proof of your qualifying condition to your appointment:

  • Chart note or medical record that includes the specific diagnosis for which you are seeking medical authorization

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Appointments for authorization are 30 minutes long, and have the following elements:

  • A patient history detailing the nature of their qualifying condition, how it impacts their day to day function, past or current use of cannabis, current medications, etc.

  • A physical exam targeted to areas related to their condition

  • Counseling on the risks and benefits of cannabis use

  • Completion of the authorization form

  • Note that you must provide a medical record attesting to your qualifying condition

 

Once your visit is complete, there are a few additional steps:

  • Take your newly signed authorization form to a qualified dispensary (see list of local options below)

  • Ask the dispensary to create a medical marijuana card for you, and provide the authorization form

  • The dispensary will enter your information into a state database that tracks your authorizations status

  • They will provide you with a medical marijuana card that you can use at any dispensary to receive your medical marijuana tax discount

 

To schedule an appointment:

  • Call Kitsap Clinic of Natural Medicine at 360-475-0400 and ask to make an appointment for medical marijuana authorization

  • Visits are $150, cash-only, and are not covered by insurance

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