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Florida Medical Marijuana Guide

Discussion in 'Medical Marijuana Usage and Applications' started by Sir_Chadwell_Heath, Oct 23, 2017.

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  1. #1 Sir_Chadwell_Heath, Oct 23, 2017
    Seeing how there is a startling lack of information out there about MMJ in FL, I will share my story along with some tips.

    I live in Tampa, and was able to find a doctor right down the street. I was able to get an appointment within a week and although the condition I am treating with MMJ is anxiety and stress, I had to use ADHD on paper because it is the only qualifying condition that I had proof of in the form of medical records. I was told it could take up to three weeks after the appointment to get the card and that once it was approved, I could use a temporary card via email to get medicine before the physical card arrived in the mail. This is where the story turns sour. A combination of negligence on the part of my primary care physician as well as poor planning by the state caused the process to take nearly three months from start to finish. The state has something like 7 part-time employees processing 100% of the applications being sent in. In addition, BayCare Medical Group ignored three separate requests to transfer my records to the doctor who approved my MMJ card. In the end, the records finally got sent the day my card arrived in the mail, a week after the state approved it. From start to finish, it took 11 weeks, $325 (250 for the doctor visit and 75 for the application), and a lot of stress and hassle to get the medicine I need.

    Hopefully these tips will help out those who still haven't been through this process yet:

    -Research your condition to see if it qualifies. Remember that a qualifying condition is anything that causes the same or similar symptoms to one of the approved conditions on the list. For instance, the reason why my ADHD qualifies under state law is because, according to the doctor, the symptoms are similar to the neurological effects of AIDS. Obviously I don't have AIDS, but the point is that just because your condition isn't on the list doesn't mean that you cannot qualify!

    -Make sure that your condition has been documented in your official medical records. Most MMJ doctors in FL give out recommendations based on existing conditions, they do not diagnose them. The doctor that give me my recommendation is a pediatrician who specializes in ADHD in adolescents, but he could not diagnose me himself and needed the records of my diagnosis from my own doctor.

    -Once you get a doctor's recommendation, do not hesitate to fill out any and all paperwork as soon as possible. This includes release forms, informed consent forms, and most importantly the card application itself. Once the doctor approves you they will immediately add you into the state's database, usually while you are at the appointment. You will get an email with a link to your application from the state a few days after and at that point you must submit some supplementary information.

    -The trickiest part of the application is the passport photo. It must be a perfect square with a plain white background. They rejected mine twice before finally approving it. I ended up taking a regular picture and using an app on my phone to crop myself out of it and put it on a plain white background, then use the phone's picture editor to make it a perfect square.

    -Nobody tells you this, but you can request that the $75 application fee be waived.

    -Once you finally have your card, you can take it to any dispensary and get medicine. Make sure the first time you go to bring your driver's license and your card.

    -If you have the approval but the card hasn't come in the mail yet, have the email and your patient number ready on your phone.

    -Keep in mind that every dispensary is different, and some do not have any high THC products, only CBD so make sure you research their products before you go.

    -I have only been to one dispensary, which is Trulieve Tampa. They are by far the biggest MMJ company in FL and have the most locations and the widest variety of products.

    -One thing to keep in mind is that some of the employees are cool and just give you what you ask for, while others tend to insist on going by your doctor's written regimen.

    -Remember, they can make suggestions but you are ultimately in charge of what medicine you choose to buy. My doctor was aware that I had experience with cannabis prior to getting my card, so he just copied and pasted the generic regimen into the system and put in orders for the max of everything. Basically this means that I have access to as much medicine as the state will allow within the 70 day dosage period. Unless your doctor only put in orders for CBD, you can get THC cannabis products regardless of what your recommendation says. Don't tell anyone it's your first visit, just go in and ask for what you want.

    -Look online beforehand to see the available products.

    -Trulieve does not advertise this, but they offer a $75 discount on your first purchase of $150 or more to offset the cost of the card application. They also offer a 15% discount to all first time buyers and 10% for military always.

    -The products here are measured by active ingredient, not total weight. This means that a vape cartridge that is 600mg contains that much THC. The amount of total oil is closer to a gram. This is important because in most other states products are measured by total weight and not weight of active ingredient alone. $74 for 600mg seems like a lot until you realize that 600mg is just the THC alone and you're actually getting more than a gram of oil for that price.

    I will update this list as I think of more tips. I have not dealt with any renewal processes yet so I don't have any experience with that. Please ask any questions you may have and I will do my best to answer them. I am doing anything I can do to help those in our state get their relief.
     
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  2. #2 Grizzly Tracks, Oct 23, 2017
    Great info!
     
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  3. #3 LogDog, Nov 21, 2017
    This is really good info.

    Couple questions:

    How long did it take for the state to process your card once you submitted the photo and paid the fee? I'm reading online that people are waiting 2-3 months to get their cards?

    Also have you tried any places other than Trulieve? I know they're the biggest right now in Florida but I'm curious ow they compare to Knox or Suterra or any of the newer places?

    Thanks!
     
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  4. #4 Sir_Chadwell_Heath, Nov 21, 2017
    It took them about 2 1/2 months to process my card application. The rumors are true they are taking forever. I have only been to truleive so far. There is a suterra nearby but they have a very limited selection of products. There is no Knox anywhere near me.
     
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  5. #5 LogDog, Nov 21, 2017
    That's what I was afraid of. I submitted everything to the department of health a couple weeks ago and the doctor told me it would take 2-4 weeks. Now I just hope I get my card before Christmas.
     
  6. #6 SupremeLeaderSnoke, Dec 14, 2017
    I was given 75mg as my starting dose. I told the doctor that I have a tolerance already and was told he can’t change once entered and same when I asked about CBD oil being added to my regiment. When I see him in 70 days do I get to talk about adjusting my dose as I can really use 100 or 125mg.
    If this guy doesn’t listen to my pain complaints and tolerance to marijuana and adjust my dose am I able to see a different doctor to renew my script and have a more competent doctor. I mean 75mg is kinda small for ibs with chronic pain most of the day. I was just curious what others were being prescribed and how things work for raising doses and adding cbd and all that.
     
  7. #7 SupremeLeaderSnoke, Dec 14, 2017
    Oh for me it was less than the month to get my approval email but I had to waste 15 on a walgreens passport photo to not get bitched at because my wall was not quite the white they wanted.
     
  8. #8 SupremeLeaderSnoke, Dec 14, 2017
    Went 9th of November and the 23rd of December so you should by Christmas to the above poster
     
  9. #9 Sir_Chadwell_Heath, Dec 14, 2017
    75mg for the whole 70 days? Or 75mg per dose 3 times a day?
     
  10. #10 SupremeLeaderSnoke, Dec 14, 2017
    The 25 x 3 a day=75.... Then 75 x 70= 70 days of MGs 5,250mg in those 70 days
     
  11. #11 SupremeLeaderSnoke, Dec 14, 2017
    A 250 cart is supposed to last like 3.3333 days and it’d last me if I smoked it as often as my IBS hurts or flairs it’s more like 2.33333 days would be a lot more optimal. Or 600mg 8 days is it’s supposed to last me at current script. That’s maybe 5-6 days to me comfortably. Do they just start you at a starting dose and see how it reacts with you etc and to see how it helped and if it needs to get raised or dropped. Like maybe it’s a test to make sure the first 70 days you don’t freak out or have trouble and if you aren’t arrested for selling it. LOL. After 70 days then they are like , ok this guy can go up some he’s not abusing or selling it.


    And the doctor is too ignorant to know any of these answers nor if he can add cbd oil once he’s already entered my mmj script (which he says he can’t raise or change once put in till the renewal date). It’s a bunch of uncertainties with no one to ask what’s what
     
  12. #12 Sir_Chadwell_Heath, Dec 14, 2017
    I have access to 21,000mg of THC and 21,000mg of CBD every 70 days.


    Sent from my iPhone using Grasscity Forum
     
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  13. #13 SupremeLeaderSnoke, Dec 14, 2017
    Jesus That way different. What’re you sick with? What doctor did you see or place did you go to cuz that’s 4x what I’m getting
     
  14. #14 SupremeLeaderSnoke, Dec 14, 2017
    Did you see a MMJ specialist doctor? Or? Cuz this guy was from a walk-in clinic
     
  15. #15 SupremeLeaderSnoke, Dec 14, 2017
    Was that you’re starting dose? Or did they raise you? Or what would be suggested I do. Like how do you switch to a different doctor?
    That’s 4x what I can get which is just ridiculous, I knew this doctor was a moron. What’s you’re condition? If you don’t mind me asking.

    Basically help me please with knowledge on how to get a better doctor and proper dosage vs a fourth of what others get. I told him I had a tolerance
     
  16. #16 SupremeLeaderSnoke, Dec 14, 2017
    Sir Chadwell was that your starting dose, or after 70 days he changed. What type of place did you go to. Sickness if you dont’mind me asking? Jesus i have to get rid of my doctor that’s 4x less I get
     
  17. #17 Sir_Chadwell_Heath, Dec 14, 2017
    Family Medical Cannabis Clinic in Tampa. I have ADHD. I was started at the maximum allowed dosage because I told the doctor I was experienced with cannabis.
     
  18. #18 SupremeLeaderSnoke, Dec 14, 2017
    I got adhd IBS with chronic pain hep c depression anxiety......... all my records about each, what i’m diagnosed with as far as type of adhd type of depression type of anxiety, papers on my IBS with chronic pain and a letter from my GI doctor recommending MMJ for me to help my IBS chronic pain and my hep C (which I’m on week 7 of 8 on harvoni so i’m most likely cured in a week so I haven’t included that as part of my symptoms but in the doctors note he mentiioned it’d help my hep c treatment and while having hep c). This guy must’ve very been an idiot trying to help my issues with such a pathetic dose no cbd oil offered either just asked do I want the inhalation kind or the drops, then that was it except telling me your dose will be more than enough don’t worry. I’m going to have to figure out if I can see another dr in 70 days without it costing 250 to start over again. But geez. Yea I had a good 2 g a day habit easily and I told him even that was just because I coudln’t afford more, I have a huge tolerance.
    Then get my card and he goes okay I’ll put your script in as soon as i’m free. I am like um how much do they allow you to get for my condition or whatever, I don’t know how this all works. He replied don’t worry it will be more than enough LOL.... Went through Hytek marijuana and was given a dr and it turns out he’s a freaking moron.
    If I even try to call his receptionist would say i told you this and hang out as she did to me last time. I can tell she speaks Spanish better than English, I think i’m having a communication problem and maybe i didn’t emphasize that I to the doctor how I dont’ want so much he thinks i’m Selling it or something but i sure as heck need a lot for a single person and i could use some cbd to help if i don’t feel like getting high o r to help the mmj usuage by having a cbd dose between doses. I’d be happy at 250mg a day, that’d be the max i’d reasonably need. 125mg a day would be not the end of the world and nearly doubles my intake so it should help.
    I need a doctor that i’m Not just a number too. This place reminded me of a pill mill but an mmj mill as far as how much he speaks to you, boom here’s your patient id, come by when you get your card email, collect 250 and on to the next person. I thought it’s part of Doctor’s Oath to assure their patient is not in pain and if something is more likely to cause more good than harm, it’s supposed to be in the patients favor.

    Thanks for the information. Now I need to know how to change to a different doctor if this guy doesn’t play ball in 70 days. I’ll tell him I ran out of mg points so I had to suffer and I’ll bring my “caregiver” along to help describe the pain they see I deal with etc. My other symptoms that should count towards my dosage too.
     
  19. #19 SupremeLeaderSnoke, Dec 14, 2017
    Thanks I know to look for specific medical cannabis places. Walk in dr that prescribes it doesn’t equal the same treatment or knowledge i’m sure they specialize in knowing about medical cannabis and it’s proper dosages.

    Thanks for your information bro
     
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  20. #20 Galaxy420, Dec 14, 2017
    if you are able to get thc and cbd go for that! you can alter what works for you with thc/cbd% mixes etc... and, tolerance. you can develop tolerance with thc... cbd does not develop tolerance as much... here is a great thread I recommend to everyone on how to make your dose last! the OP member has passed and left his words to guide others, hope it helps Cannabis Black Pepper.
     
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