What is a 420 Doctor? - May 29, 2020

Who is a 420 doctor and how do they help you?

Cannabis has come a long way from being treated as a taboo to evolving as a viable medication for managing multiple health issues. A large part of the credit goes to the legalization process that made cannabis available for prospective patients. Proposition 215 legalized medical cannabis in California as a part of the breakthrough decision that completely transformed the landscape of medicine. There has been a wave of positive changes and patients are increasingly benefiting from the effects that cannabis offers.

The fact that it’s legal means you have the right to use cannabis for your health. But for that, you need to have a valid 420 evaluation.

A certified cannabis doctor can evaluate and check if you are the right candidate for using cannabis. As per the law, you need to have a qualifying medical condition to get a recommendation. Well, you might possess some knowledge of cannabis, but only a 420 doctor can help you better.

420 doctor qualifications

Proposition 215 applies to physicians, surgeons, and osteopaths who hold the license to practice in the state. However, it does not apply to herbal therapists, chiropractors, etc. Typically a cannabis doctor holds experience in medical practice and is qualified to recommend medical cannabis to patients. These doctors have a thorough knowledge of the kind of effects cannabis can offer and all their efforts are guided by in-depth scientific research to recommend the best line of treatment for patients.

All doctors should be registered with the Medical Board of California and have to follow the guidelines issued by the Western Journal of Medicine. It’s also important to note that the Conant US court decision protects physicians against federal prosecution for recommending cannabis.

Guidelines for doctors by the board

The Medical Board of California has listed the following guidelines for recommending cannabis to patients:

Patient-physician relationship

The health of the patient depends largely on a collaborative effort between the patient and the physician. There should be a mutual understanding and the physician should take full responsibility for the patient’s health. The doctor should aim to develop a proper patient-physician relationship prior to authorizing cannabis to the patient. Consistent with the standards of care, physicians are not allowed to attest or recommend cannabis for themselves. In strict adherence to the Business and Professions Code, the physician cannot recommend cannabis to a patient unless he or she is the patient’s attending physician. Along with that, the physician should carry a thorough examination of the patient’s health history and should prescribe cannabis only if it is suited for the patient’s medical condition.

Patient Evaluation

The doctor should examine the patient and all the relevant data before recommending cannabis for medicinal use. The examination should include the patient’s medical history, social history, surgical history, family history, alcohol, substance use history, and documentation of therapy with inadequate response. The indication, safety, and appropriateness of the recommendation should be examined in accordance with the established standards of practice. In addition, it’s also important to note that the Business and Professions (B&P) code states doctors recommending cannabis to patients without a proper examination constitutes unprofessional conduct. The use of telemedicine should be in compliance with the B&P code and within the standard use of care.

Informed & Shared Decision Making

The decision to recommend medical cannabis should be mutual between the physician and the patient. The doctor should discuss all the benefits & risks of using cannabis with the patient. In addition, the physician should inform the patient that the effect of cannabis produces is unique to an individual. Patients should be informed that the use of cannabis results in a change of cognitive function and they shouldn’t do certain activities like drive under the influence, operate heavy machinery, or engage in any dangerous activity. In case the patient is a minor, the physician should inform the parent or guardian about the benefits and risks of cannabis use along with the consent to the minor’s use of cannabis.

Monitoring of the patient

The doctor should do a regular analysis of the patient’s response to medical cannabis and its effect on overall health. The assessment should also include any visible change in the medical condition, change in physical & psychological function, the goals of the treatment, and overall progress. The recommendation should be within the time frame that is necessary to bring a positive change in the patient’s health. If the trial of cannabis is successful and the patient is benefitting with its use, there might be an agreement to extend its use, the patient should still be monitored on a regular basis and a proper record should be maintained.

How to find the right 420 doctor for yourself?

To get effective treatment for managing your health issues, it’s important that you find the right doctor for yourself. Selecting a qualified doctor boils down to some basics. Here is what you can do:

Do some research

Search for the list of doctors in your area by going through some directories and websites. Most cannabis doctors work in established clinics that offer 420 evaluations to patients. So, look for similar clinics in your location. Pay attention to the reviews and ratings. These provide you with an insight into the working prowess of a particular doctor. Along with that, reviews help you in figuring out whether a particular doctor is trustworthy or not.

Get referrals

You might have someone in your immediate contact like a family member or friend who is currently using medical cannabis. They can introduce you to the doctor they sourced their recommendation from and inform you about their experience. Along with that, they can provide you with the necessary tips to get the most of a 420 evaluation. On the contrary, if they had a bad experience, they can list the red flags and help you avoid any inconvenience.

Look at the certifications

Certifications work as a token of trust that a particular doctor is trustworthy. Check if your doctor is licensed to practice in the state and holds the necessary licenses. These can help you in figuring out whether the doctor is worth the investment or not.

Verify the physical address

With the advent of telemedicine, seeking medical help became much easier for patients. They could access all the medical help they need from the comfort of their homes. Well, in spite of that, patients have the possibility of being duped. That’s because there are many fake doctors that use the telemedicine-based platform to dupe patients. So, it’s important to ensure that the doctor is real and qualified to recommend cannabis to patients. A good way to do that is by verifying the physical address of the clinic that employs the doctors. Pay attention to phone numbers and the address. Call and check if they have a physical presence in your locality. If the interaction leads you to believe that something is shady, it’s a red signal to consider your search elsewhere.

Compare

When you’re looking for your choice of doctor, make a list of prospective clinics that have high ratings. This provides you with a wider range of options to choose from. A good practice is to take a quote from each clinic. Analyze and compare them on the basis of experience, expertise, reputation, and affordability. Select the one that offers a healthy mix of quality and satisfaction.

As a reputed clinic, Online Medical Card checks all the pointers and provides you with complete care. We have years of experience in cannabis-based treatment and do everything in our capacity to present you with the best line of treatment. No matter what condition you have, our doctors will match you with the best approach towards using cannabis.

What to expect from your interaction with a 420 doctor?

If you are looking to get a 420 evaluation, you interact with a certified cannabis doctor. Most clinics accept telemedicine appointments which means that you can talk to a certified doctor from the comfort of your home. To make the most of your evaluation, it’s important that your discussion with the doctor heads in the right direction. The doctor will ask you relevant questions about your health to gain a better understanding of your medical condition. The main aim of this process is to ensure if you have a qualifying medical condition to use cannabis. For that, it’s necessary that you are completely transparent about your health condition.

If you are using cannabis for the first time, it’s natural that you’ll have a few questions about how it will affect you. So, feel free to clarify your doubts. The doctors have the expertise to educate you about the right dose and they’ll inform you about its effects in managing your health condition. Well, if you happen to have some prior knowledge about cannabis, make sure you respect the doctor’s opinion. It just contributes to better analysis. If the doctor detects that you have a qualifying medical condition, you are eligible to own an MMJ card. The clinic sends you a digital copy via email and you earn the right to access cannabis legally.

Your 420 Doctor Recommendation Will Include

It’s vital to understand that not all evaluations are equal. Some might give you a satisfactory impression, while others will leave you wondering about its eligibility and originality. Meanwhile, a fake recommendation can land you in trouble. So, getting a recommendation from a licensed 420 doctor and understanding the parameters associated with a valid doctor’s recommendation is quite important. These parameters will help you determine whether your recommendation is real or not.

420 Doctor License No.

Your recommendation must include the doctor’s license no. if you receive yours without a license no. or the physician’s information, it’s most likely that your recommendation is fake. To ensure the legitimacy and validity of your rec make sure that you either personally check the license no online or politely ask the doctor to reveal their license information. Rest assured, your recommendation will have the physician’s license no. mentioned on it.

Date of Issuance and Expiration

Your 420 doctors recommendation will also have the date of issuance and expiration mentioned on it. The date of issuance will mark from the day you receive your recommendation. Whereas, the expiration date will be marked one year from the date of issuance. So, make sure your recommendation has both the dates and keep track of it. Or else mark your calendar because you will be required to renew your MMJ card weeks prior to the arrival of the expiration date.

420 Doctors Letterhead

This is one of the vital aspects of a 420 doctor evaluation. If your doctor simply signed the rec for you or wrote the name of the strain on a piece of paper, the dispensaries will most likely reject your doctor’s recommendation. So, this means that your physician’s recommendation must be printed on the 420 doctors’ letterhead. This will ensure the eligibility and realness of your recommendation or medical marijuana card.