Information About Medical Marijuana

What Is Medical Marijuana?

Medical marijuana is a legal designation which separates it from non-medical marijuana use or "recreational marijuana use". It has been well established in medical literature that there are specific medical therapeutic effects of marijuana on certain diseases. Currently, sixteen individual states including the District of Columbia have medical marijuana laws, (Washington, Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, DC, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont) . These states have passed laws making it legal for medicinal use of marijuana, under specific qualifying conditions. For a comprehensive summary of the states and their laws, go to: medicalmarijuana.procon.org.

What are Medical Marijuana Dispensaries?

Medical Marijuana Dispensaries are locations that provide patients the ability to attain marijuana. Each state has its own individual laws concerning medical marijuana dispensaries and my comments are specifically about the state of Washington. There's a variety of terms utilized for medical marijuana dispensaries based on state law. Medical marijuana dispensaries are also called collectives, and cooperatives in the attempt to remain on the legal side of state law. Within Washington State where Northwest Healthy Options operates, it is illegal to buy and sell marijuana. If you operate a "collective or cooperative" (a nonprofit organization) you can accept donations from a registered member and provide marijuana to a member of your group in exchange for their donation. Medical marijuana dispensaries accept you as a member of their cooperative if you provide legal proof. This "legal proof" comes in the form of a signed authorization on tamper-resistant paper which is then verbally verified by the health care provider's officer whom has authorized you based on your medical history to have greater benefit than risk in the use of marijuana as medicine.

How to get medical marijuana. How does someone legally qualify and obtain medical marijuana?

Step One:

Under Washington state law you have to receive written authorization from a healthcare provider (medical Doctor, naturopathic Doctor, physician' s assistant, or an advanced registered nurse practitioner) who has reviewed your medical records.

The healthcare provider believes your medical condition qualifies (has a terminal or debilitating condition unresponsive to standard therapy) under state law and accepts the fact that the benefits outweigh the risks of utilizing marijuana for your medical condition.

Dr. Michael Stern and Northwest Healthy Options are an integral part of legally qualifying to obtain medical marijuana. Dr. Stern is a Board Certified Authorizing Physician. He reviews medical records, confirms diagnoses, and authorizes patients in the legal use of medicinal marijuana. Dr. Stern is qualified to obtain your medical records from your existing physician (Your physician sends your medical records via fax at 206 707 8495). Dr. Stern's registered nurse, Becca will review your records, and if we records are adequate, she will set up an appointment within a two-week period.

Step Two (Option A):

After completing step one, you can legally grow marijuana for your personal use limited quantity of 24 ounces or fifteen plants.

Step Two (Option B):

Once you have received authorization, if you do not desire to grow your own marijuana, you will register with a dispensary/cooperative/collective to make a donation and receive marijuana in exchange for the donation. The dispensary/cooperative/collective will call our office and verify that you are a legal patient of ours and have received authorization from Doctor Stern.

Step Three:

Once a year you will return to see Doctor Stern for a renewal of your authorization, an update on any new medical records that you have received in the last twelve months, and a review of any questions that may have arisen in the last year.

 

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