Speaking to your physician a couple of Missouri Medical Marijuana Card — Greenway Journal

“Patients have a right to all useful treatment and to deny them this right violates their basic human rights.”

This was a conclusion presented by a team of researchers who conducted a literature review in 2011 of medical marijuana scientific and legal publications in recent years.

The wording may feel a bit harsh, but it is true that patients have a right to quality health care that provides them with all the available and safe options to choose from when seeking relief from their ailments and symptoms. Includes a Missouri marijuana card.

Patients with a condition suitable for treating their symptoms with cannabis have a right to safe and legal access to natural medicines, and your doctor has a duty to provide you with a way to control your treatment plan.

Then why are most of us so afraid to talk to our doctors about “alternative” forms of treatment?

Almost as bad as public speaking: Talking to your doctor about medical marijuana

Imagine this: it’s the annual exam day, and you’re ready to talk to your doctor about medical marijuana. You know it would help your knee pain because you’ve tried it and want to avoid more prescription pain relievers. They also know you qualify for a Missouri marijuana card.

The opportunity finally presents itself and you hear Doc ask if you have any more questions. You shake your head “no” and then the door closes before you can change your mind.

If this sounds like a familiar scenario, you are not alone. Most of us are afraid to speak to our doctors about our health-related habits unless we started Zumba or stopped eating so many donuts.

Why can’t we talk to our doctors about cannabis?

There are many reasons that prevent us from speaking to our doctors about what is really going on in our body. Sometimes we don’t want to hear the inevitable answer that we have a serious illness or that we need to change our lifestyle. Sometimes it’s just that doctors intimidate no matter how crazy their ties or socks are.

Fear of judgment

Doctors often seem to be the most judgmental people in the world. They tell you when to eat fewer carbohydrates, when to get up from the couch, and when to slow down at work so as not to have a heart attack.

Feeling rushed

Doctors spend less and less time with their patients. General practitioners spend between 13 and 28 minutes with their patients, and one in four spends less than 12 minutes on an exam. There are usually ten more waiting for each patient a doctor visits.

This means that you don’t have a lot of time to develop a relationship with your doctor. A visit to the doctor may feel less like visiting a partner for your wellbeing and more like walking past an assembly line QC inspector.

Doctors, too, are embarrassed when talking unpleasant … And talking about cannabis is embarrassing

It may not always seem like that, but doctors are people too. That means there are topics they are uncomfortable talking about and it doesn’t help making them feel uncomfortable.

Since cannabis has only recently returned to the health sector spotlight (it has been regularly recommended) before the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937), your doctor may not understand the benefits of adding medical marijuana to your treatment plan.

Additionally, even if they want to, your doctor may not be able to recommend medical marijuana as it is banned by a regulatory agency. For example, Veterans Affairs doctors cannot recommend medical marijuana to their patients, but must advise and work with patients who are already using medical marijuana as part of their treatment plan.

Do’s and Don’ts to Talk to Your Doctor About Cannabis

DO: Prepare, prepare, prepare

Preparation is usually key to having a successful conversation with your doctor about anything, and especially something they may not be familiar with.

NOT: Be another doctor in the room (unless you actually are)

Doctors generally don’t appreciate patients flashing their WebMD PhD. You don’t have to be impressed with your knowledge of the biophysics of cannabis, which works with your CB1 receptors to reduce your body’s pain response to the arthritis in your knee.

DO: Be an expert on who qualifies in medical marijuana and how you plan to use it

Be sure you qualify in medical marijuana before going to your doctor. If you are unsure, our Missouri Marijuana Card staff can help you understand the qualifying terms and conditions and whether you are likely a candidate for cannabis treatment. Call us at (877) 303-3117 and our staff will be happy to answer your questions.

DO NOT come without a written (or typed on your phone) list of questions and talking points

Even after you’ve rehearsed what to say to your doctor in due course, you may forget when the nerves get out of hand. Be ready for your brain to go blank with a list to get your memory started.

DO: Ask for extra time in your appointment

Losing the weight of a rushed appointment can help you relax and feel more comfortable and confident about your decisions. Make sure you have enough time to discuss your options with your doctor.

DO: Remember you have a right to quality health care and natural help

Some doctors can be in a difficult position when working for a medical group that bans the recommendation of medical marijuana, but that doesn’t mean they don’t want to help their patients get the relief they deserve. Other doctors may be strongly against using medical marijuana to treat disease because they don’t understand how it works and choose to stick to outdated ways of thinking.

You are entitled to treatments that are beneficial for your symptoms, and medical marijuana is becoming more recognized as a legitimate medicine.

Missouri Marijuana Card is here to help!

If you’re having trouble understanding your doctor about how cannabis can help you take control of your health, then it may be time to call Missouri Marijuana Card at (877) 303-3117.

Our dedicated patient caregivers will answer all of your medical marijuana questions and empower you to find your own path to wellbeing. When you’re ready, you can schedule an appointment online for a telemedicine marijuana assessment.

Our practitioners are here to guide you as you get started with medical marijuana and to advise you on how to speak to your other health care professionals to coordinate a care plan that’s right for you.

Get a marijuana card and take back control of your health!

Doctors who take care. Relief that you can trust.

At Missouri Marijuana Card, our mission is to help everyone achieve wellbeing safely and conveniently through improved access to medical marijuana. Our focus on education, inclusion and acceptance will reduce the stigma of our patients by providing equal access to timely information and empathic care.

Call us at (877) 303-3117 or simply book a medical marijuana evaluation for relief you can trust today!

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