You might be wondering how the doctors who make recommendations for medical marijuana are certified by the state. In Virginia, when you have a medical marijuana card, you first need to consult with a certified physician to receive a medical recommendation to get your products. These doctors become certified through a carefully vetted and supervised process.
The Virginia Board of Pharmacy
As you may or may not know, there is an entity in the Commonwealth that oversees the protocols associated with the administration of medical marijuana— the Board of Pharmacy. The Board of Pharmacy oversees pharmacists, of course, but it also now plays a role in regulating medical marijuana.
The Board of Pharmacy dispenses the certificates for both users and the physicians who make recommendations. The Board of Pharmacy also oversees the dispensaries themselves, making sure that safety and QA protocols are adhered to at all times. This is all done to ensure that medical marijuana in Virginia is high quality and as safe as possible.
The Registration Process
Any medical professional in the Commonwealth who wants to recommend patients for treatment with medical marijuana must register with the Board of Pharmacy.
To begin with, the Board of Pharmacy has specific regulations defining who can actually apply. Only current active medical practitioners, Physician Assistants (PAs), or nurse practitioners can register to recommend medical marijuana. Also, they all must have current and active medical licenses registered with the state.
Who Qualifies?
A medical practitioner that qualifies might be an MD, like your own doctor, or they might be a Doctor of Osteopathy. Nurse practitioners who wish to recommend medical marijuana must be licensed by the Board of Medicine and the Board of Nursing. PAs must be registered with the Board of Medicine. All applicants can use the same credentials when applying that they use to maintain their MD, DO, PA or NP licenses in the state.
Applying for Registration
In order to apply, medical professionals visit the Board of Pharmacy website and fill out the online application for a “Registered Practitioner for Cannabis Oil.” There is a registration fee and the entire process can take anywhere from 7 to 10 days. Once an application has been approved, the medical professional receives a written certification form that they can then use to make patient recommendations.
Which Patients Can Registrants Recommend?
Certified medical practitioners can recommend medical marijuana for a wide range of conditions. The state itself does not define a list of specific conditions a patient must have to qualify. Medical marijuana has been shown to impact positively many conditions, including but not limited to those listed below:
· ALS
· Alzheimer's Disease
· Anxiety
· Arthritis
· Autism
· Anorexia/Cachexia
· Cancer
· Chronic Pain
· Crohn’s Disease
· Depression
· Fibromyalgia
· Migraines
· Multiple Sclerosis
· Insomnia
· Lupus
· Parkinson’s Disease
· PTSD
· Seizures
· Severe Nausea
· Tourette’s Syndrome
· TBI
Again, this is not a comprehensive list. Doctors, PAs, and nurses in the Commonwealth who are registered to recommend medical marijuana can do it for any number of conditions or symptoms. By carefully reviewing an individual patient’s case, these certified professionals can make a recommendation based specifically on patient need and requirements, no matter the condition.
Sign Up For Your Medical Marijuana Card Today!
If you are interested in getting a recommendation for medical marijuana from a medical professional in Virginia, you can easily start the process today!
Schedule an appointment with an online VA medical marijuana doctor to start gaining access to safe and legal cannabis products, including tinctures, flower, concentrates and more for your loved one or patient!
Doctors Who Care.
Relief You Can Trust.
At Virginia Marijuana Card, our mission is helping everyone achieve wellness
safely and conveniently through increased access to MMJ. Our focus on
education, inclusion, and acceptance will reduce the stigma for our patients by
providing equal access to timely information and compassionate care.
Call us at (888) 633-5808, or simply book a medical marijuana evaluation to start getting relief you can trust today!
Check out Virginia Marijuana Card’s Blog to keep up to date on the latest medical marijuana news, tips, and information.
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