Medical Marijuana Doctor and Medical Cannabis Basics

Sometimes information about medical marijuana card certifications can be confusing and we at Ozark MMJ Cards like things simple, so we wanted to walk through some of the basics of medical marijuana* including general cannabis-related definitions, medical marijuana doctors, qualifying conditions, MMJ Cards, and dispensaries. Within the article, there are several resources linked to help ensure your medical cannabis journey is more simplified. So, let’s dive into the world of medical marijuana doctors and navigating the process of becoming certified.

What is medical marijuana? What conditions are medical cannabis recommended for in Arkansas?

Part of understanding the cannabis basics is understanding what cannabis actually is. According to WebMD, “Medical marijuana uses the marijuana plant or chemicals in it to treat diseases or conditions. The marijuana plant contains more than 100 different chemicals called cannabinoids. Each one has a different effect on the body.” Medical Marijuana can be used in Arkansas for 18 Qualifying Conditions including:

• Cancer
• Glaucoma
• Positive status for human immunodeficiency virus/ acquired immune deficiency syndrome
• Hepatitis C
• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
• Tourette’s syndrome
• Crohn’s disease
• Ulcerative colitis
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Severe arthritis
• Fibromyalgia
• Alzheimer’s disease
• Cachexia or wasting syndrome
• Peripheral neuropathy
• Intractable pain which is pain that has not responded to ordinary medications, treatment or surgical measures for more than six (6) months
• Severe nausea
• Seizures including without limitation those characteristic of epilepsy
• Severe and persistent muscle spasms including without limitation those characteristic of multiple sclerosis
• And any other medical condition or its treatment approved by the Department of Health.

Continuing our journey in understanding cannabis basics, we need to understand what it actually helps treat. Medical cannabis is most often used for the treatment of pain, nausea, insomnia, mood disorders, and inflammation. According to Harvard Health, “the most common use for medical marijuana in the United States is for pain control. While marijuana isn’t strong enough for severe pain (for example, post-surgical pain or a broken bone), it is quite effective for the chronic pain that plagues millions of Americans, especially as they age. Part of its allure is that it is clearly safer than opiates (it is impossible to overdose on and far less addictive) and it can take the place of NSAIDs such as Advil or Aleve if people can’t take them due to problems with their kidneys or ulcers or GERD.”

What is a MMJ or Medical Marijuana Card?

When it comes to medical cannabis basics, it is important to know what a medical marijuana card is and does. According to Leafly, “a medical marijuana card (also known as “MMID” or “cannabis card”) is an identification card used by patients to enter medical dispensaries (or “cannabis clubs”) and purchase the plant to treat their corresponding health ailment or symptoms.” A qualifying patient in Arkansas uses a Medical Marijuana Card at a dispensary to purchase medical marijuana products. However, when it comes to being a qualifying patient for medical marijuana, doctor approval is necessary. To receive a medical marijuana card in the state of Arkansas, a patient must receive a medical marijuana card certification from a licensed Medical Marijuana Doctor. The patient will be age 18 or over (or have parental consent), be diagnosed with a qualifying condition (link to other question below), have written certification from a Medical Cannabis Doctor, be an Arkansas Resident, and not be a member of the Arkansas National Guard or the United States Military (due to state law regulations).  Once the patient receives medical marijuana card certification from an Arkansas Medical Marijuana Doctor, the patient can apply to the state to receive their dispensary card. For a detailed walk-through of how to apply to the State of Arkansas for your medical marijuana card, check out our video on YouTube. Arkansas does offer medical marijuana for visiting patients; there is an application that must be completed and approved. Visit the State of Arkansas’ FAQs page for the application for medical marijuana patients in other states who are visiting Arkansas. This FAQ can help refresh you on some basic cannabis facts, too.

What is a medical marijuana doctor? How do I qualify for a dispensary card? 

A medical marijuana doctor in the state of Arkansas is a licensed Medical Doctor (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathy (DO) with a current DEA number. At Ozark MMJ Cards, our founder is Dr. Daniel Whitelocke – an experienced medical doctor who has worked as a surgeon or in family medicine clinics prior to founding Ozark MMJ Cards. He passionately studies and researches information and data on cannabis to ensure he is educated about all aspects of medical marijuana and is able to provide accurate information to his patients. Some topics of his studies include qualifying conditions, medical marijuana benefits by condition, medical marijuana potency, possible side effects from cannabis, marijuana terpenes, cannabinoids, THC, and CBD. It is part of the cannabis basics to understand that medicinal marijuana is subject to legal and ethical standards. To read more of Dr. Daniel and the team’s blogs, check out Ozark MMJ Card’s Blog. Basic cannabis access requires you to work with a doctor. At Ozark MMJ Cards, we charge $125 for cannabis card certifications and $99 for renewals. For some locations, our certification appointments are handled in person, and for others, we use telemedicine. Telemedicine visits are completed virtually with a Medical Marijuana Doctor and patient. To see if a patient qualifies for a cannabis card certification, the patient will complete paperwork through a secure portal. The customer care team will reach out to patients that qualify to schedule an appointment with a doctor at Ozark MMJ Cards.  Patients only pay for visits where a medical marijuana certification is recommended! To start your cannabis certification with one of our card certification doctors, visit our site. Once certification has been received, a patient can apply to the state of Arkansas for their MMJ card. Certification is a basic medical cannabis step in any state where it is legal for medical purposes only.

What are medical marijuana dispensaries and how do I find one?

According to High Times, “Marijuana Dispensaries exist because federal law prohibits cannabis from being prescribed and filled at pharmacies. What is a dispensary without marijuana? A place that specializes in carrying and selling a specific type of product. So, a marijuana dispensary is where you want to go when you need any type of cannabis product.”  Dispensaries vary in their medical marijuana offerings but usually carry high-quality and lab-tested medical marijuana products including flower, vape cartridges, edibles, and wax concentrate. Part of building a basic cannabis legal knowledge base is recognizing why dispensaries are necessary to the process. The products have a label that lists THC and CBD strength, marijuana type (indica, sativa, or hybrid), strain name, price, and weight. Depending on a medical marijuana patient’s condition, specific terpenes, type, and strength of the cannabis product can impact a condition positively. When Dr. Whitelocke or another Medical Marijuana Doctor at Ozark MMJ Cards meets with a patient, the specifics will be discussed as to which basic cannabis strains or terpenes may be a good fit for the patient’s condition. At Ozark MMJ Cards, we are dedicated to helping patients and ensuring that marijuana medicine is a good fit – we aren’t your average Medical Cannabis Doctor (Read more about us)!  Ozark MMJ Cards has reviewed several Cannabis Dispensaries in the Arkansas area including The Releaf Center, Acanza, Purspirit, and others. To read our Medical Marijuana Dispensary Reviews, click here. For a full list of dispensaries, review the list on Arkansas.gov. Basic cannabis dispensary research goes a long way to empowering patients. Resources: For more information about the State of Arkansas and Medical Marijuana, make sure to check out their website – https://www.healthy.arkansas.gov/programs-services/topics/medical-marijuana For more information on MMJ card certification, medical marijuana doctors, and blogs related to cannabis, check out our site – www.ozarkmmjcards.com

*Cannabis as medicine is not right for all patients, please consult your medical marijuana doctor for more information to determine if medical marijuana is right for you.