It is not easy to talk to your doctor about medical marijuana.
If you are really interested in using marijuana for medicinal purposes and wish to discuss the matter with your physician, check out the following tips. They will help you make the conversation lively.
Be serious
This seems a bit obvious; however, if you are going to talk to a medical expert about your wish to use weed for medical purposes, make sure you are serious about it. Do not try to use unnecessary justifications to get a recommendation so that you get high legally. Marijuana has some very genuine medical benefits, and should not be used as an excuse for puffing.
Do your homework
Prior to visiting your doctor, make sure you have the basic information about medical marijuana and the way it can be beneficial to your condition. A perfect place to start is to fully understand the condition you are suffering from and how it personally affects you.
For example, if you have a chronic inflammatory disorder like osteoarthritis, make sure you better understand how the condition affects your life and how you think marijuana could help. In short, take time to study the available literature about your condition and how cannabis relates to it.
This will help fire up the discussion between you and your physician. It will help you appear informed and interested, which is a perfect thing especially if your physician is a bit unconvinced about medical marijuana use.
Be transparent
Transparency is important in creating a good relationship with your physician. Be candid about why you feel cannabis might help, and also ensure you are honest about your earlier use of the plant. If you have used marijuana before and realized it helped you heal some aspects of your illness, make sure you tell your doctor. In addition, if you believe a specific type of marijuana or marijuana-derived product might be helpful to you, do not hesitate to let the doctor know why you believe so.
Alternatively, make sure you well know about other marijuana products (like concentrates, topicals, or edibles), and research which ones are ideal for you. Again, all of this is crucial since it paints a lucid picture about how you intend to use cannabis to remedy your condition.
Ask questions
This is the important part for any person who is intending to use medical marijuana. While it is imperative that you enlighten yourself about marijuana and its medical benefits, ensure you are not the only one talking when you visit the doctor. Instead, ensure you ask as many questions as possible.
For instance, ask the doctor about his view on medical marijuana, and whether he has ever recommended it again to other patients. If he has ever done that, try to ask him about the major experiences he has had with his patients, especially those who had a similar condition to yours. Remember though, the doctor will be confidential giving out some details concerning his patients. That said, make sure you clear all the doubts you had about marijuana and how it can affect you, and your current treatment plan.
Here are some vital questions to consider asking your physician:
- What type of marijuana would be ideal for my particular condition?
- Will medical marijuana work together with any of my other treatment or medications?
- Are you familiar with studies on marijuana relating to my condition?
- How do you advise that I consume marijuana?
- Where can I get more factual and reputable information about cannabis?
- What major side effects should I expect?
Know when to let off
Remember you are talking to a medical expert and that – at a minimum – he should be well informed about changes to modern treatments and medications. If you talk to your physician and he does not appear to be 100% convinced about recommending marijuana, respect their opinion. Regardless of how much you have researched about the topic, keep in mind you are speaking to a specialist and he knows why he has given you that kind of opinion.
If you are not contented with the outcome of your discussion, it is not the end of the world. Move on and seek a second opinion or advise from another doctor if you consider it necessary.
Conclusion
Generally, the perception of marijuana is changing, and that means that medical professionals are embracing its use than ever before. Therefore, next time you wish to speak to your physician about medical cannabis, ensure you follow the above tips to make the conversation as comfy as possible.
Source: Medical Marijuana Blog
View Original Post
