Finding a certified doctor is the first step to getting your medical marijuana card. This guide outlines what to consider when selecting your medical cannabis practitioner.
What Does It Mean to Be a Certified Medical Marijuana Doctor?
Physicians of all types exist in many different facets of the healthcare industry. However, state-certified medical marijuana doctors are unique. These healthcare physicians have the ability to ‘recommend’ or ‘certify’ patients who have a qualifying medical condition based on their state’s list of qualifying conditions.
The term ‘prescribe’ isn’t used by licensed cannabis physicians because cannabis remains federally illegal and does not undergo Food & Drug Administration (FDA) review like other prescribed pharmaceuticals. Medical cannabis doctors in each state issue these ‘recommendations’ or ‘certifications’ to qualified patients who then apply for a medical marijuana card on their state’s MMJ website.
Medical marijuana certification doctors never dispense cannabis — only approved state-run dispensaries legally do so.
Why Should Patients Only See Certified Medical Marijuana Doctors?
Patients shouldn’t underestimate the importance of finding a trustworthy medical marijuana doctor. Certified medical marijuana doctors are the only health professionals who can make a recommendation or certification for you as a potential medical marijuana patient.
Any healthcare professional who has not completed these steps or lacks proper status cannot provide a valid recommendation to an MMJ patient. Save yourself the time, money, and aggravation of visiting with a doctor who isn’t a practicing and licensed marijuana doctor in your state.
How Do Doctors Become Licensed and Certified to Recommend Medical Marijuana?
States with medical marijuana programs all have their own rules, regulations, and other criteria regarding licensed marijuana doctors and their ability to recommend or certify patients within their respective borders.
The medical board of each state determines the status of medical professionals in a specific state. The governor-appointed board members establish and enforce the standards that certified medical marijuana doctors must uphold to be in good standing.
Every state’s medical board and cannabis commission has its own specific licensing and certification processes; however, many are similar in their approach. These standards are in addition to maintaining a good standing with the state’s medical board.
What Are the Qualifications and Training of Certified Marijuana Doctors?
The main requirements for a medical cannabis doctor to be certified in most states with MMJ programs usually follow the criteria below. Additional training and requirements according to each MMJ-legal state vary.
- Qualified marijuana doctors must be licensed as a Doctor of Medicine (MD), Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO), Physician Assistant (PA), or Nurse Practitioner (NP), depending on the specific state. These practitioners must be licensed in the same state where the patient is seeking an MMJ card.
- Certified medical marijuana doctors must be in good standing with the state’s medical board. The medical board registers these health professionals with an updated status for recommending medical marijuana.
- Approved marijuana doctors also register with the state’s MMJ agency or supervisory board.
- Some states require certified medical marijuana doctors to complete continuing education related to cannabis.
- Other medical states require a ‘bona fide’ doctor–patient relationship before a doctor can make any medical card recommendation. This requirement means the doctor must have already examined the patient for other health concerns or check-ups before making a recommendation specifically for medical marijuana.
How Can Patients Verify if a Medical Marijuana Doctor is Legitimate?
Some potential patients may wonder how to verify that certified marijuana doctors in their state are legitimate. Patients should be able to easily find all approved marijuana doctors in the state database, confirm current licenses and training, and identify any red flags during research.
Each state’s official medical cannabis website contains a page where trustworthy medical cannabis doctors are searchable. The state’s medical cannabis commission or department lists all licensed marijuana doctors registered with it.
Official state-specific medical board websites also have a section containing a database of active medical license holders and practices. These databases list any malpractice or disciplinary issues. Patients can also access DocInfo.org for a nationwide search of all medical board information specific to a particular physician or practice.
Any trustworthy medical marijuana certification doctor will be transparent in their interactions with patients regarding fees and registration. They will also thoroughly evaluate patients according to their specific medical needs in conjunction with your state’s qualifying condition requirements.
Veriheal only works with doctors who are licensed to issue medical cannabis certifications. To find a doctor in your state, start by taking our assessment: Do I Qualify For A Medical Marijuana Card?. This assessment will help you determine if your unique health condition qualifies for medical cannabis use in your state and help you schedule an appointment with a certified practitioner.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who certifies medical marijuana doctors in the United States?
State-run medical boards license and certify doctors in each respective state. The governing agency, commission, or department in charge of medical marijuana for each state where it’s legal ultimately approves medical marijuana certification doctors to practice. Licensed cannabis physicians must meet all requirements and maintain good standing regarding any disciplinary history.
Do certified marijuana doctors need special medical training or state approval?
Certified medical marijuana doctors are healthcare physicians who are in good standing with the state medical board, approved by the state medical marijuana agency, and have the ability to legally recommend medical cannabis for MMJ card-holding patients.
Some states, such as New York and Florida, require licensed medical marijuana doctors to complete education courses, training, and sometimes an exam before recommending medical marijuana. Training courses focus on different aspects of state-specific cannabis laws, cannabinoid bioavailability, products, and more.
How can I check if my marijuana doctor is officially certified and registered?
Patients verify medical marijuana doctor credentials through official state-run medical board and cannabis agency websites and database lists. Other databases like DocInfo.org verify all information concerning all medical professionals nationally.
Are certified doctors allowed to recommend medical marijuana in every state?
Yes, some medical marijuana certification doctors or practices are multi-state providers, which means they can certify MMJ for patients in multiple states. Medical cannabis doctors are allowed to recommend marijuana in states in which they are board-certified, in good standing, and have met all requirements by that state’s medical cannabis commission.
Many patients use the telehealth option for certification to be seen by a licensed marijuana doctor or practice authorized anywhere in their state versus travelling to an in-person evaluation at a doctor’s office.
What should I expect during a consultation with a certified marijuana doctor?
Consultations with certified marijuana doctors involve a review of several factors:
- Medical history
- Reasons for wanting a certification for MMJ
- Determination of qualifying conditions as per the specific state’s list
- Qualifying condition management goals
- Previous experience with cannabis
- Cannabis education
Licensed medical cannabis doctors advise patients to bring medical records and any pertinent health information to their consultation. The appointment should be a discussion between doctor and patient, so be prepared to ask any questions you may have. A licensed medical cannabis doctor either certifies or not once the evaluation concludes.
Can certified marijuana doctors offer telemedicine evaluations online?
Many states allow patients to access telehealth appointments, however not all states allow them by law. Veriheal remains one of the country’s top sources for finding certified marijuana doctors in your area who also offer telemedicine.
Do certified doctors provide renewal consultations for medical marijuana cards?
The same medical marijuana certification doctors who recommend patients for MMJ cards can also provide renewals for patients after the state-determined validity of a medical card expires anywhere from several months to a year or two after the original recommendation.
Renewal doctors don’t have to be the same physicians that originally recommended MMJ for the patient, however, the state applies the same certifications, standards, and educational requirements to the medical cannabis doctor doing the renewal as well.
Is there a difference between a licensed doctor and a certified marijuana doctor?
Licensed doctors can also be certified marijuana doctors. State law may require licensed doctors in good standing to complete training before the state certifies and registers them with its medical marijuana agency. Another important point for patients—licensed doctors ‘prescribe’ FDA-approved drugs; certified marijuana doctors ‘recommend’ medical marijuana.
Can I trust online certified marijuana doctors for safe and legal consultations?
It’s important to always do your due diligence regarding information and research concerning medical cannabis, including finding trustworthy medical marijuana doctors. Read online reviews of the doctor by other patients, or review their status on state-specific medical board and national medical board websites.
Patients can search these databases for issues, complaints, and infractions, while also being able to find a trustworthy medical marijuana doctor in their state’s specific medical marijuana directory website or page.
How does seeing a certified marijuana doctor improve my treatment experience?
A certified marijuana doctor evaluates the needs of the patient in relation to the standards and rules that each state establishes for its medical marijuana program.
Trustworthy medical marijuana doctors not only certify patients and recommend MMJ to them, but they also educate patients on what products, cannabinoids, strains, etc, could work best to potentially manage symptoms and provide an improved quality of life.
