If you’re a resident of Florida or Mississippi and have a condition that may improve with the use of medical marijuana, you could be entitled to a certification that allows you to legally purchase medical marijuana from a dispensary. Kaya Life offers medical marijuana to eligible patients when they would benefit from its use. To learn more, call the office nearest you in Miramar Beach, Marianna, Panama City, Pensacola, FL, or Gulfport, MS. You can also request an appointment online.
Medical marijuana is a medication extracted from the marijuana or cannabis plant. There are many forms of medical marijuana, and the one that is best for you depends upon your medical condition and lifestyle.
Need to change this a bit, discuss endocanabinoid system and routes of administration.
There's growing evidence that medical marijuana is useful for treating a range of medical conditions and may be helpful for patients who haven't responded to more conventional therapies.
In the strictest legal terms, marijuana is still illegal and is classified as a Schedule I drug under federal law. There are two FDA-approved medications that use synthetic versions of substances found in marijuana: dronabinol (Marinol, Syndros) and nabilone (Cesamet).
These drugs are helpful for patients undergoing chemotherapy when other treatments don't ease side effects like nausea and vomiting. Dronabinol is also approved for use in patients who have anorexia due to AIDS.
How can doctors prescribe medical marijuana if it's illegal?
Despite federal law maintaining the illegal status of marijuana, many states in the U.S. enacted their own regulations that allow medical professionals to prescribe marijuana. Florida and Mississippi are two of those states.
Under permitted use, a physician can prescribe marijuana for patients who are state residents. Anyone receiving a prescription for medical marijuana must have a medical need that's within the list of permitted conditions, which includes:
- Conditions that are similar or like to those below, such as anxiety, insomnia, depression, bipolar disorder, irritable bowel syndrome, ulcerative colitis, muscle spasms, restless leg syndrome, and arthritis.
- PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder)
- ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or Lou Gehrig's disease)
- Chronic non-malignant pain
- Cancer
- HIV/AIDS
- Crohn's disease
- Parkinson's disease
- Epilepsy or seizures
- Glaucoma
- Multiple sclerosis
- Side effects of cancer treatment
- Terminal illnesses
It's important to note that Florida and Mississippi have their own qualifying conditions list. Check out our qualifying conditions page for Florida and Mississippi to learn more.
If you're a resident of Florida or Mississippi and you have one of the conditions on the list, a qualified practitioner at Kaya Life can determine if you qualify and whether you will benefit from the use of medical marijuana.
To receive medical marijuana, you must sign the written consent form your practitioner gives you so they can enter your order into your state medical marijuana use registry.
You must also apply for a Medical Marijuana Use Registry Identification Card. When you receive your card, you can purchase your marijuana products from a state-approved medical marijuana dispensary.
Is medical marijuana safe?
Like any medication, there are certain risk factors to take into account before starting a course of medical marijuana. These risk factors include:
- Possible addiction
- Dizziness
- Impaired concentration and memory
- Increased heart rate
- Increased risk of heart attack or stroke
- Emotional problems and mental illness
- Negative drug interactions
- Slower reaction times
- Withdrawal symptoms
- Early labor and other complications in those who are pregnant
There's an increasing body of evidence to support the safety of using medical marijuana, but not enough to be sure of the extent of any negative effects.
To learn more about whether medical marijuana is right for you, call Kaya Life or request an appointment online today.
