What to Do When Your Doctor Isn’t Supportive of Cannabis

December 16, 2019

Today’s medical field is expanding rapidly with new therapies and pharmaceuticals. In today’s medical landscape you may have three different options where you only had one 20 years ago.

But what if your doctor isn’t fully on board with one or more of the recent developments? What many patients are finding today, especially as it relates to medical marijuana, is that some physicians might seem less than receptive to the idea of their patients looking to cannabis as a possible treatment option for their ailments. If you’ve gone to your doctor and suggested the idea of medical marijuana but received a less-than-enthusiastic response, what’s next?

Before we go to that next step, we should consider why your doctor might not offer a hearty endorsement of medical marijuana. The most common reason might have to do with information, or a lack thereof. As with all medical innovations, research is a must. Rock-solid, peer-reviewed, thoroughly tested research is what takes something from “promising” to “now in a store near you!” Because marijuana is still classified as a Schedule 1 drug (a product deemed to have no medicinal properties and to be a danger to public health) by the federal government, it’s difficult to use in the kind of studies that generate the body of research doctors look to for guidance. Your doctor may not be against medical marijuana per se, they may just be erring on the side of caution until they feel convincingly swayed by the medical literature. They are in the business of doing no harm, after all, so you can’t really fault them for being cautious.

Ask for a referral – Referrals are very common in medical practices, and chances are that your doctor has already made a half-dozen of them this week, sending other patients to physicians who specialize in certain areas of medicine or treatments. If your doctor doesn’t seem supportive of medical marijuana to treat your condition, then it’s your right to ask them if they can recommend someone else. It’s very likely that your doctor knows another professional who can get you the help you need, or that can at least make the calls necessary to find one. This is your care you’re dealing with, so asking for a referral isn’t asking for a favor or pushing the boundary of doctor/patient relationship, it’s simply taking charge of your health.

Know the standards in your state – When it comes to the states that have provisions for medical marijuana, each state has different standards for what they consider to be qualified conditions. It’s important that you familiarize yourself with your state’s laws and see if your condition allows for cannabis-related treatment. This isn’t a difficult process, and often can be completed with a simple internet search.

Try Elevate Holistics – Your primary care doctor is an important part of your medical support system, but if you think medical marijuana might be a way to get the relief you need, we can help put you in touch with a medical professional that is experienced in the field and ready to help. You can make an appointment to see them in person, or you can use our convenient tele-medicine platform to meet with them right from your home computer. We’ll only connect you with professionals of the highest qualification, so you can be sure that you’re getting skilled and effective consultation. 

Elevate Holistics is committed to providing you with all the options for effective relief that medical marijuana can provide. It doesn’t matter if you’re a first-time patient or returning client, because we’re always updating our information to make sure that you can find the best the market has to offer. Give us a chance and we’ll show you why medical marijuana is the fastest-growing segment of the wellness industry.