Medical Marijuana: Getting A Card To Manage Your Pain

Pain can be as mentally debilitating as it is physically, causing sufferers to feel hopeless and at the mercy of their own bodies; life changes irrevocably when the only thing you can focus on is your own agony. There are a few ways to manage chronic pain, the two most obvious options being opioid painkillers (such as OxyContin, Vicodin, or Percocet) and medical marijuana.

Unfortunately, opioids have begun to scare people in recent years due to their highly addictive nature — nearly 10% of Americans that had a substance abuse disorder involved prescription pain relievers. This fear and resistance to such intense medication have led many people to choose medical marijuana instead. If you think medical marijuana may be the right treatment option for your pain management plan, here are the steps you’ll need to take to acquire a medical marijuana card in the state of Florida.

1. First and foremost, you must actually be a resident of Florida.
2. You must have a professional diagnosis from your primary care provider stating that medical marijuana is a viable treatment option for whatever your debilitating condition may be.
3. You must bring this documentation to your qualifying medical marijuana doctor during your marijuana evaluation appointment.
4. You must register your information with the Department of Health (DOH).
5. You will need to be re-certified every 30 weeks to maintain your marijuana card.

There are many medical marijuana doctors in Fort Lauderdale, and indeed in the whole of Florida, who are ready and willing to help you find the best pain management solution, and many resources available to you should you have any questions or concerns regarding the process.

It should be noted that medical marijuana is for serious illnesses where severe pain, nausea, or discomfort significantly impair day to day life. Marijuana has remarkable abilities to make these ailments tolerable, but it should not be abused.

Fortunately, the drug is non-addictive and is impossible to overdose on, so those with hesitations regarding opioids will be able to enjoy its benefits without any worry or fear. Don’t wait; call your doctor today if you think medical marijuana could be a viable solution to your chronic pain.