Medical Marijuana Q & A

What’s the process for obtaining medical marijuana?

First, you need to make an appointment with a physician who is registered with the New York Medical Marijuana Program, such as Dr. Allen. At your first evaluation, you discuss your condition and symptoms with Dr. Allen, and he determines whether or not medicinal marijuana is appropriate for your situation.
If Dr. Allen thinks medical marijuana might help with your pain or other symptoms, he may issue you a certification for it. The certification must state:
The form or brand of marijuana he approves for you
How the marijuana needs to be administered
The limitations of use
Dosage recommendations (optional)

At your appointment, you receive a paper copy of your certificate. From there, you must register with the New York State Department of Health website and pay the registration fee.
The health department sends your registration card through the mail. Once you get the registration card, you can take it to a certified dispensary to fill your prescription.

What conditions can you treat with medicinal marijuana?

The New York State health department allows medicinal marijuana for certain severe, debilitating, or life-threatening conditions. Qualifying conditions for the Medical Marijuana Program that Dr. Allen treats include:

• Chronic pain conditions
• Cancer
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Crohn’s disease
• Ulcerative colitis
• Fibromyalgia
• Diabetic neuropathy

The conditions must also be accompanied by severe or chronic pain, nausea, seizures, or muscle spasms to qualify.

What form of medicinal marijuana can I take?

In New York, your doctor can prescribe marijuana in the following forms:

• Liquid or oil for vaporization
• Liquid or oil for an inhaler
• Oral spray
• Oral pills

Smoking and taking edibles are not approved methods of administration.

How does medical marijuana work?

Marijuana contains numerous substances that affect the body’s central nervous and immune systems. Cannabis and cannabinoids such as cannabidiol, dronabinol, and nabilone seem to relieve some of the side effects of cancer treatment and pain.
Some evidence shows medicinal marijuana may help:

• Relieve pain
• Lower inflammation
• Reduce anxiety
• Ease nausea and vomiting
• Increase appetite

To see if you’re a candidate for medicinal marijuana, schedule an evaluation with Dr. Allen online or over the phone.