What is cannabis certification?
Cannabis certification is a requirement in Florida before anyone can get a recommendation for medical cannabis.
Cannabis comes from the marijuana plant. You can take it in pill or oil form or smoke it, and there’s a growing body of evidence to show cannabis can be helpful in treating a range of medical conditions.
Certification is a requirement for a cannabis recommendation because, under federal law, cannabis is a Schedule I drug and is illegal in Florida unless the required certification is provided.
How does certification work if cannabis is illegal?
Cannabis certification works in Florida because some US states have their own regulations about using the drug. Therefore, although marijuana is technically illegal under federal law, in some states passed laws decriminalizing marijuana under certain situations. In Florida, licensed medical professionals can prescribe the drug in certain cases.
If you’re a resident of the state of Florida, you can get a recommendation for cannabis from SWFL Integrative Medicine if you have a medical need that’s featured on the list of permitted conditions. These conditions include:
- PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder)
- ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or Lou Gehrig’s disease)
- Chronic non-malignant pain
- Anxiety
- Cancer
- HIV/AIDS
- Crohn's disease
- Parkinson's disease
- Epilepsy or seizures
- Glaucoma
- Multiple sclerosis (MS)
- Severe muscle spasms
- Side effects of cancer treatment
- Terminal illnesses
- Tourette syndrome
If you’re a resident of Florida, you can discuss your suitability for cannabis certification with a member of the team at SWFL Integrative Medicine. If your provider believes you would benefit from using medical cannabis, and there are no other viable treatments, you need to sign a written consent form.
Your provider enters this on the Florida State Medical Marijuana Use Registry. You need to apply for a Registry Identification Card. When the card arrives, you can go to a state-approved dispensary to collect your recommendation.
Is medical cannabis safe?
Like all medications, there are potential side effects involved in using cannabis. These could include:
- Possible addiction
- Dizziness
- Impaired concentration
- Poor memory
- Increased heart rate
- Emotional problems
- Mental illness
- Negative drug interactions
- Slower reaction times
- Withdrawal symptoms
There’s an ever-increasing body of evidence that supports the safety of using cannabis. Your provider at SWFL Integrative Medicine spends time discussing these issues with you and ensuring you understand the benefits and potential pitfalls of taking medical cannabis.
Find out more about cannabis certification by calling SWFL Integrative Medicine today or book an appointment online.
