Florida Medical Marijuana Doctors Providing MMJ Cards to Patients with Qualifying Conditions

1. Medical Marijuana Use In Florida There is enough evidence to support Medical Marijuana as a potent treatment option for many different conditions. Some potent Cannabinoids (chemicals in the marijuana plant) do not have any psycho-active properties. This means that it is now possible to use MMJ as a treatment option without experiencing a euphoric high. Euphoria associated with Marijuana has always been a concern, which is why it has remained an illegal substance at the federal level. However, cannabidiol (CBD) is a potent and non-psychoactive derivative of Marijuana. It can be used safely even while operating heavy machinery in the workplace. The psychoactivity of marijuana is the single most prominent property cited by MMJ opponents. All that may soon change. Non-psychoactive Cannabinoids, like Cannabidiol (CBD), are so safe, they are used to treat children and senior citizens. The field of MMJ is, however, fairly new. In Florida, for example, Medical Marijuana was only accepted for the treatment of epilepsy and chronic seizures, by 2014. A massive voter support for MMJ in 2016 expanded the number of conditions treatable by medical marijuana and it’s now widely available. There are, however, still a lot of gray areas. This is where Florida medical marijuana doctors come in. The FMA (Florida Medical Association) and FOMA (Florida Osteopathic Medical Association) are mandated to train Marijuana doctors by the Florida DOH (Department Of Health). MMJ physicians assess the applicability of marijuana based treatments for their patients. Once they recommend a patient for MMJ, the recommendation is evaluated. The evaluation results in either a termination or qualification for a Florida medical marijuana card. Below is a list of conditions eligible for MMJ under Florida law: Note that it is still under the physician’s discretion whether a specific condition can be

2. treated with medical marijuana. If alternative treatments have already been explored, such as prescription medications, most Florida MMJ doctors see great value in cannabis as a treatment option and are open to letting their patients explore its benefits. i. Epilepsy And Chronic Seizures. ii. Cancer. iii. Epilepsy. iv. Glaucoma. v. Chronic Muscle Spasms. vi. HIV/AIDS. vii. PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder). viii. ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis)/ Lou Gehrig’s Disease. ix. Parkinson’s Disease. x. MS (Multiple Sclerosis). Patients suffering from other degenerative or wasting diseases also qualify for MMJ. Terminally ill patients are also allowed to use medical marijuana to ease their pain. The ten conditions above are, almost always, severe. They also involve continued medication. Tolerance to the treating drug is, therefore, a reality for most patients. Marijuana-based treatment is potent, like conventional medicine, but boasts of near- zero occurrences of drug tolerance. Most prescription medications also trigger unwanted side-effects and reactions from patients. MMJ helps alleviate the symptoms of the disease and the side effects of medications that must be taken. Below are other applications of MMJ in the treatment of these ten conditions. How Marijuana Treatment Helps Chronic And Severe Cases

3. i. Epilepsy And Chronic Seizures. Patients who have epilepsy and chronic seizures take Anti-Epileptic Drugs (AED) consistently. The overexposure has resulted in a third of epilepsy patients developing a tolerance to AEDs. MMJ is a potent option for drug-resistant cases. It is documented to lower the magnitude and frequency of seizures. ii. Cancer. MMJ has been documented to reduce the size of cancerous tumors. Medical Marijuana also mitigates the adverse side effects of cancer therapy. Furthermore, MMJ improves the appetite, moods, and sleep patterns of cancer patients. Finally, Cannabis oil alleviates the chronic pain associated with cancer treatment. iii. Crohn’s Disease. Crohn’s disease is a painful Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). It is characterized by inflammations in the alimentary canal that usually result in bloody stools. Inflammation is sometimes severe enough to cause blockages. Cannabinoids mimic the workings of endocannabinoids. Endocannabinoids are naturally occurring compounds that mitigate inflammations in the alimentary canal. Cannabis also alleviates the pain caused by the disease. iv. Glaucoma. The onset of Glaucoma is triggered by intraocular pressure (IOP). IOP is the buildup of pressure within the eye’s fluids. The pressure usually damages the optic nerve, causing blindness, if the condition is unchecked. MMJ has been shown to reduce IOP by up to 30%. Controlling intraocular pressure minimizes the risk of full-blown Glaucoma by 78.6%. v. Chronic Muscle Spasms. Muscle spasms involve involuntary muscle twitches and movements. They are caused by electrolyte loss, dehydration, or muscle strains. In chronic and drug-resistant cases, MMJ reduces overall spasticity. Marijuana based treatments also alleviate the pain

4. associated with the spasms. vi. HIV/AIDS. HIV/AIDS therapy induces neuropathic pain. Antiretroviral therapy also causes nausea, loss of appetite, vomiting, and loss of weight. These side effects leave patients weak and susceptible to opportunistic diseases. MMJ restores appetite and mitigates nausea and vomiting in HIV/AIDS patients. The patients are, therefore, able to maintain essential minerals and nutrients boosting their immunity. vii. PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder). PTSD is an anxiety disorder caused by traumatic experiences. PTSD is associated with irrational fear and avoidances. Many patients even re-live the causative experience. PTSD eventually alters brain chemistry resulting in some endocannabinoid deficiencies. Endocannabinoids are the body’s cannabinoids. MMJ replenishes the cannabinoids alleviating the symptoms of PTSD. viii. ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis)/ Lou Gehrig’s Disease. ALS is a neurodegenerative disease. It causes paralysis, weakness, and wasting away of muscles. Cannabis oil alleviates the day to day symptoms of ALS. Evidence also suggests that the oil slows down the progression of the disease. This results in an extended lifespan for the patient. ix. Parkinson’s Disease. Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder. It begins with slight involuntary tremors which then grow in frequency and severity. Further progression of the disease causes slurred speech, reduced motor functions, and overall motion impairment. MMJ has been proven to mitigate the tremors caused by Parkinson’s disease. Research also suggests that non-psychoactive components of Marijuana can mitigate the onset of the disease.

5. x. MS (Multiple Sclerosis). MS is a degenerative condition that causes muscle spasms, abdominal pains, depression, loss of motor control, and insomnia. MMJ mitigates all these symptoms. It improves the patient’s sleep patterns, improves his/ her moods, and slows down the progression of Multiple Sclerosis. Medical Marijuana, therefore, improves the overall quality of life of MS patients. Medical Marijuana Intake – How Should you Use It? MMJ administration differs with treatment and personal preferences. Modes of MMJ intake are as vast as the companies making them. Here, we will only look at the six most popular methods of MMJ intake. 1. Smoking. Smoking is arguably the most popular MMJ intake method. Here, a cured and dried Hemp portion is rolled into a ‘joint’ and smoked. It can also be taken through a pipe or bong. Advantages It delivers the quickest relief. Processing is minimal. Inexpensive (for lack of extra processing costs). Dosage regulation is relatively easy. Disadvantages Not advisable for patients with breathing conditions. The research to determine whether Marijuana smoke causes lung damage is still inconclusive. Smoking gives the impression of recreational use. It can lead to prejudice. 2. Vaping/ Vaporizing MMJ Vaporizers heat cured Hemp to temperatures just below combustion point. The Hemp is brought to a temperature hot enough to release active compounds without smoking it up. The compounds, now called vape, are then inhaled from the vaporizer. The smell of

6. hemp on your breath, though present, will not be as pronounced as if you had smoked your MMJ directly. Advantages Vape is not as harsh on the lungs as regular Marijuana smoke. It provides the same instantaneous relief associated with smoking. Vaping is not as prejudiced as smoking. Disadvantages The vaporizer must be warmed up before use. This means that you might not be able to use the vaporizer to address an urgent medical need like pain relief in the case of chronic pain. Vaporizers can be quite expensive. Battery-powered vaporizers need constant recharging. 3. MMJ Edibles And Beverages Here, food is cooked with MMJ additives. It is now possible to create edibles without the distinct taste of Marijuana. Edibles are excellent for kids. Smoking and vaping would be considered a little too extreme for a child’s treatment. Advantages Effects obtained from culinary MMJ lasts longer than both vaping and smoking. It is excellent for kids. It is excellent for patients with breathing conditions that may not allow vaping or smoking. It is very easy to regulate dosages. Disadvantages Effects of the MMJ take very long to kick in. Edibles must fast pass through the digestive system before moving into the blood stream. Edibles run the risk of falling into the wrong hands. Pets are especially troublesome.

7. 4. Sub-Lingual Sprays/ Tinctures. Here, Cannabinoids are dissolved to form highly-absorbable solutions. The solutions are then used to make sublingual sprays which are then sprayed under the tongue. The MMJ solution will then be absorbed into the bloodstream through the thin skin under the tongue. Advantages Dosage control is possible even for very small doses. Excellent for patients with breathing conditions. Safe enough for use by kids. ‘Weedy’ taste is very mild if at all present. Disadvantages Effects of MMJ do not kick in as fast as they do when MMJ is inhaled. They are expensive and, therefore, disadvantageous for patients that require high Cannabinoid doses. 5. MMJ Topicals Here, Cannabinoids are extracted in oil form. The topicals are, however, only used for external use. The oils are excellent for inflammations. Advantages Patients do not react adversely to MMJ oils. They are excellent for the treatment of localized skin issues. Topicals do not have psychoactive effects. Disadvantages They do not handle internal conditions. 6. MMJ Patches. Medical Marijuana patches are attached to clean, hairless skin patches. They are rich in Cannabinoids that enter the bloodstream through the skin. Advantages

8. Excellent for patients with adverse breathing conditions. Dosage can be regulated. Disadvantages Some patients develop allergic reactions to the patches. Hairy people have to shave before they can use the patches. Legalities Controlling Medical Marijuana In Florida A Florida MMJ card gives a patient the rights to access Medical Marijuana in Florida. There are, however, strict legal requirements that have to be met before an MMJ card is issued. Legalities regulate both physicians and patients. Let us have a quick overview of the MMJ legal process in Florida. Legal Requirements For Physicians Florida Medical Marijuana Doctors must satisfy the following legal requirements. Failure to comply with any of the governing Florida Laws nullifies their power to recommend patients for Medical Marijuana. 1. Must be a practicing physician with a valid license as described by Florida Law. 2. Must be registered with the Florida Compassionate Use Registry. 3. Physicians must register their patients with the Compassionate Use Patient Registry. 4. They must make quarterly submissions of all their patient treatment plans to the University Of Florida College Of Pharmacy. 5. Physicians may recommend no more than a forty-five day supply of Medical Marijuana. 6. Under-age, MMJ recommendation must be confirmed by at least one more physician. Legal Requirements For Patients 1. Patients must be Florida residents.

9. 2. Must be registered with the Florida DOH (Department Of Health). 3. Patient must have a documented condition treatable by Medical Marijuana as defined under the Compassionate Act. 4. The patient’s condition must be unresponsive to conventional treatments. Once the law is satisfied and one of many Florida Medical Marijuana Doctors has handed you an MMJ card, you need to find your way to MMJ dispensary. Below is a list of MMJ dispensaries in the state of Florida. Florida Medical Marijuana Dispensaries By City 1. Trulieve 24761 US Highway 19 North 630 Clearwater, FL 33763 2. Trulieve 8701 North Dale Mabry Highway Tampa, FL 33614 3. Surterra Therapeutics 2558 E Fowler AVE, Tampa FL 33612 4. Trulieve 800 Capital Circle SE Tallahassee, FL 32301 5. Surterra Therapeutics 1639 Village Square Blvd Tallahassee, FL 32309 6. Trulieve 3119 North Davis Highway Pensacola, FL 32503 7. Trulieve 4020 Northwest 26th Street

10. Miami, FL 33142 8. Knox Medical 1901N. Orange Ave Orlando, Florida, 32804 9. Trulieve 4020 Northwest 26th Street Miami, FL 3314 10. Modern Health Concepts 19000 SW 192nd Street Miami, FL 33187 11. Knox Medical 3400 SW34th Street Gainesville, Florida, 32608 Medical Marijuana Doctors The search for a Florida MMJ card begins and ends with a good Medical Marijuana doctor but searching for one can be a daunting task. Green Health (GreenHealth.org) has assembled a competent team of medical doctors to save you the trouble. They assess your qualifications for MMJ online and, process your Florida MMJ card in record times. They even process the MMJ card to be wallet-sized for your convenience. Green Health also offers time-tested strategies to help you get the best out of your medication. Their offices are located all over Florida and they welcome you to consultations or a casual meet-up. Green Health is there through every step of your recovery. To schedule an appointment, just click on ‘SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT’ on the homepage at GreenHealth.org. Florida Medical Marijuana Doctors Providing MMJ Cards to Patients with Qualifying Conditions