New Patient Medical Marijuana Recommendation

What should I expect?

For patients who have never had a California medical marijuana recommendation, New Patient Medical Marijuana Telemedicine Appointments are to determine eligibility for a California medical marijuana recommendation under Proposition 215, passed in 2016. Qualifying patients receive a one year, internet verifiable recommendation and free access to all Naturally Healing MD classes.

How should I schedule?

The New Patient Medical Marijuana Telemedicine Appointment can be scheduled on-line. If you do not see an appointment that meets your needs, please call the office at (510) 550-7500. 

What is the cost?

The New Patient Evaluation for Medical Marijuana Recommendations is $99. A valid credit card is required to schedule your appointment and will be charged upon completion of the appointment.

For those patients unable to pay by credit card, please contact the office at : (510) 550-7500 so we can make alternative arrangements.

Can Cannabis help me?

Many symptoms and medical conditions can be alleviated through medical marijuana, including pain, anxiety, depression, insomnia, nausea, loss of appetite, and a variety of mood disorders. Patients seen at Naturally Healing MD range from individuals suffering from occasional bouts of pain (such as headaches or menstrual cramps), to patients with chronic problems (such as arthritis, back pain, depression, insomnia, and anxiety disorders), to patients with life threatening diseases (such as cancer, AIDs, and advanced neurological disease). Often patients have two or more conditions – such as arthritis and intermittent insomnia – that are appropriately managed through therapeutic medical marijuana use.

How long will the appointment take?

The on-line intake form takes about 5 minutes. The telemedicine appointment includes up to 15 minutes with the physician.

What will I get?

You will receive a legal document that validates your rights as a medical marijuana patient in the state of California, under Proposition 215, the Compassionate Use Act, passed by the state of California in 1996. This groundbreaking law allows Californians with valid medical recommendations legal access to ALL legal dispensaries in the state of California, where marijuana is sold in compliance with the Bureau of Cannabis Control, California’s lead agency regulating commercial cannabis.

If you are seeking medical guidance or a personalized treatment plan to help you use cannabis for symptom treatment, this is NOT the right appointment for you. Instead, schedule an Initial Consultation (link) to begin this process.

Why Get a Medical Marijuana Recommendation

If access to any dispensary in California is your goal, a medical marijuana recommendation will insure you have access to all dispensaries in the state of California as well as those in a few other states with reciprocity (which may require display of a medical marijuana card – see below).

There are still several dispensaries in the Bay Area that are medical only – Patient Care Collective on Telegraph in Berkeley and Synergy Wellness. In addition, several Bay Area dispensaries offer discounts to patients with a medical marijuana recommendation – in some cases up to 15% off.

What about a Medical Marijuana Card?

Your written doctor’s recommendation is your legal document and, along with your California ID, all that is necessary to purchase medical marijuana products from a medical dispensary. Many patients think that they need a “card” from the physician providing the medical marijuana recommendation.  However, a physician-issued card is simply a convenient way to carry your medical marijuana recommendation around in a wallet. For those with a smart phone, you can take a picture of your recommendation, ensuring it is legible, and show it instead of the paper document to gain entry to medical-only dispensaries or receive a discount.

To access a dispensary in a state outside of California, you may need to display a medical marijuana patient card. The CaNORML website is the go-to resource for California’s legal framework for marijuana (www.CaNORML.org) and also has information on which states have reciprocal arrangements for medical cannabis cardholders. Since laws outside of California determine reciprocity and they are now changing more than in the past, it is best to check a state’s current laws if you are trying to use cannabis in that state.