Medical marijuana can be a great tool for many people who are experiencing debilitating medical synonyms. If you’re trying to get your medical card in Jacksonville, you’ll need to stick to the laws and regulations of Florida to do so. The good news is that getting approved medical marijuana in Florida is possible, albeit a little more difficult than in some states. Here’s how you can get a medical marijuana card in Jacksonville in the easiest way possible.
1. Get a Diagnosis of a Qualifying Condition
First, you need a diagnosis of a qualifying condition in Florida. Florida has a number of conditions specifically listed, including:
- Cancer
- Epilepsy
- Glaucoma
- HIV/AIDS
- PTSD
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
- Crohn’s disease
- Parkinson’s disease
- Multiple sclerosis
However, doctors are also allowed to provide a recommendation for medical marijuana in Florida if a patient has a similarly serious medical condition, a terminal condition, or chronic pain caused by a qualifying condition. If you’re not sure whether you would qualify, you may want to talk to your primary care physician.
2. Find a Doctor With the Required Training
In Florida, only doctors with specific training can provide a medical marijuana recommendation. Physicians need to complete a two-hour CME course and examination, upon which they can complete a diagnostic screening for patients and recommend them medical marijuana. You’ll need to find a doctor in Jacksonville that has gone through this training to get your medical marijuana recommendation.
3. Get a Recommendation for Medical Marijuana
Next, you’ll get the actual recommendation for medical marijuana. In Florida, telemedicine appointments are not allowed to establish care and get your medical marijuana card, so you’ll need to find a doctor in Jacksonville that has openings for establishing care. An online resource can be extremely helpful, as doctors can list themselves on these resources when they’re accepting new clients.
4. Apply for Your Card With an Online or Paper Form
Once you have a recommendation from your doctor for medical marijuana, it’s possible to apply for a card either by submitting your application online or submitting it on paper. If you submit your application online, it may take up to 10 business days for it to be renewed; application submissions with a paper application will likely take much longer. You can apply either way, but if you’re able to, it’s typically best to apply online, as the wait time will be lessened.
Conclusion
Getting a medical marijuana card in Jacksonville shouldn’t be that difficult; it’s possible to find plenty of doctors with openings for patients if you have a qualifying diagnosis. If you want to start the process of getting a medical marijuana card, you should start looking for doctors as soon as you can. The earlier you get started on the process of looking for doctors, the easier it will likely be for you to get through the process, especially because in Florida, only certain doctors can legally give you a medical marijuana recommendation.