7 Gigantic Influences Of Michigan Medical Marijuana Certification.
Michigan Medical Marijuana Certification is when qualified practitioners certify that a patient has one or more debilitating medical conditions and might benefit from medical cannabis. There are many conditions for which doctors may prescribe medical marijuana. It is up to the doctor to certify that their patient has one of these conditions and might qualify for a Michigan medical marijuana card, allowing them to get it from dispensaries.
Michigan Medical Marijuana Certification: 7 Gigantic Influences
A: Michigan is one of 21 states that have passed laws allowing doctors to certify patients to use medical marijuana. This process is called “medical marijuana certification.” Here are seven gigantic influences on Michigan’s medical marijuana certification program:
1. Michigan’s Medical Marijuana Helpful For Thousands Of Citizens
The number of patients in Michigan with a medical marijuana card has grown yearly. In 2010, there were approximately 1,000 certified patients in the state; more than 33,000 now hold a medical marijuana card, with nearly 13,500 registered by new applications alone in 2015. The increase in users is a trend, as Michigan was ranked fifth in a list of states with the fastest-growing Michigan Medical Marijuana Certification programs. Additionally, 35 percent of all patients in Michigan are female, which is thought to be an unprecedented number in other states. More and more women are finding that medical marijuana is a safer and more effective option to treat certain ailments than most other drugs.
2. Doctors Give Michigan Medical Marijuana Certification To Patients
Physicians below the state level must refer patients who want to use medical marijuana to an approved specialist. This referral must be made in writing and cannot be made anonymously. Only certain specialists may prescribe medical marijuana, including neurologists, ophthalmologists, and oncologists. A specialist licensed by the state will check to ensure that the patient has one or more debilitating medical conditions and might benefit from Michigan Medical Marijuana Certification.
Doctors typically write a “certification of intractable pain” for patients suffering from severe, debilitating pain. Once the doctor has certified the patient, they will send it to the state registry, where it will be approved or denied within two weeks. After approval, patients may get their medical marijuana identification card from one of over 100 dispensaries statewide.
3. Medical Marijuana Certification Helps Patients Get Much-Needed Pain Relief
Since the Michigan Medical Marijuana Certification program started in 2008, those who suffer from debilitating pain have benefited greatly. Patients who suffer from chronic pain due to a serious injury or illness, such as cancer or multiple sclerosis, are eligible to use medical marijuana. In addition to pain relief, patients also use medical marijuana for other symptoms such as vomiting and nausea, loss of appetite, and muscle spasms.
Since the Michigan medical marijuana program is relatively recent, many patients consider it a safe alternative to addictive drugs that cause side effects such as nausea and vomiting. The only side effects of medical marijuana are those that patients experience when they first begin using it, including dry mouth and dizziness.
4. The Fourth Gigantic Influences Of Michigan Medical Marijuana Certification — Home-Grown Plants
The Michigan Medical Marijuana Act allows patients to grow up to 12 plants in their homes. This is a change from the original legislation, which prohibited home growth. Patients who want to grow their plants must register with the state and pay a $100 fee every three years. However, they are given the choice of how many plants they want to grow, unlike those who buy them from dispensaries.
For patients under 18 years old, parents or legal guardians must be registered and approved before a child may possess or use medical marijuana. Parents or guardians must also store it at home, out of reach and sight of children. The amount of medical marijuana allowed to be grown by patients is limited to 10 ounces total due to legislation passed in 2009.
5. Michigan Medical Marijuana Certification Helps Patients Get Access To The Legal Market
Some patients may experience benefits such as reduced nausea and insomnia that they cannot find in pharmaceutical drugs. Additionally, Michigan Medical Marijuana Certification is not covered by Medicaid. However, those under 19 can get it through other avenues, including a state-funded health plan through their parents or guardians.
The patient’s main concern is that the state will shut the program down. While legalizing marijuana for medical purposes has been passed in Michigan’s legislature and signed into law by the governor, it has not yet been implemented. Statewide implementation of the program will begin in 2018 if a bill approved by both chambers of the Michigan legislature is signed into law by Governor Rick Snyder.
6. Michigan Medical Marijuana Certification Helps Patients Get A Legal Defense
Patients charged with possession, delivery, or manufacturing of marijuana will have their case dismissed if they can prove that they have gotten a medical marijuana card through the certified process.
The patient must also not be eligible for another form of treatment, such as opioids or other prescription drugs, to get a dismissal of charges. This protects patients from being pressured into choosing one drug over another when they have not tried each option. Patients may also use the defense that marijuana is easier and more readily available than some prescribed drugs on the market.
7. Michigan Medical Marijuana Certification Helps Patients Improve Their Quality Of Life
Because medical marijuana patients can grow their plants, their quality of life and the overall condition improves. Patients who suffer from chronic pain or other symptoms may be able to lose all of their prescriptions through the use of medical marijuana. For those with an autoimmune disorder, the side effects of some drugs may improve over time, thanks to Michigan Medical Marijuana Certification.
The main side-effect is diminished appetite and weight loss, which can be dealt with by eating more balanced meals and exercising. Additionally, research has shown that some users report experiencing a glaucoma-like effect from marijuana, which has proven helpful for people suffering from this condition.
Conclusion
Michigan Medical Marijuana Certification is helping thousands of Michigan residents get safe, legal relief from pain, nausea, and seizures caused by various illnesses and injuries. If you or a loved one suffers from chronic pain or other symptoms, consider getting Michigan Medical Marijuana Certification. Contact us today for more information.
