Pain, nausea, and anxiety treatments for those in hospice may reduce quality of life. Medical marijuana could help.
According to the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, more than half of Medicare recipients may spend their final days enrolled in hospice care. When the time comes to let go of more aggressive curative treatments, patients and their caregivers shift their focus to quality of life for a patient’s remaining time.
With a new focus on managing pain and nausea, the new treatment prerogative becomes to make sure patients are comfortable while minimizing medication-induced impairment. However, many anti-nausea medications and prescription painkillers cause unwanted side effects of their own.
One option that often gets overlooked in this process is medical marijuana. Patients who have been diagnosed with a terminal illness qualify to treat their symptoms with cannabis, which can be complementary to more traditional therapies.
Medical marijuana is now legal to purchase, possess and consume in Virginia. There is a wide variety of products available at Virginia dispensaries to suit any individual’s needs; and most patients live within at least one of the operating dispensary’s delivery zone.
Medical marijuana may reduce a patient’s need for opioids, enhancing the effects while reducing the more unpleasant side effects. And for some, medical marijuana is all they need in order to be able to keep food down and even enjoy it again.
What do I Need in Order to Get Medical Marijuana for Myself or a Loved One in Hospice?
If you are a patient in hospice and you want medical marijuana for yourself, you need to get a Virginia marijuana card. If you are someone who wants to get medical marijuana for your loved one who is in hospice, then they need to first have a Virginia marijuana card, and then you may register as a caregiver.
How do I Get a Virginia Marijuana Card While in Hospice Care?
Getting approved for a Virginia marijuana card is simple, but the agency in charge of processing and issuing your registration is running a bit slow. As of early July 2021, processing times for marijuana cards was about six weeks.
We recommend getting marijuana evaluation as soon as possible if you are suffering. With Virginia Marijuana Card, our doctors will enter your approval the same day you are seen, in order to expedite the process. After your appointment, you’ll get your card as soon as the Virginia Board of Pharmacy approves your application (about six weeks).
You never have to leave the comfort of your home in order to get your marijuana evaluation. Our telehealth services allow you to see our compassionate healthcare professionals from the comfort of wherever you may be, with the use of your smartphone, computer or tablet.
Call Virginia Marijuana Card at (888) 633-5808 to get all your questions answered, or schedule an online appointment today.
Can I Use Medical Marijuana While in Hospice in Virginia?
Generally, the answer is yes. Patients who are under hospice care usually have complete control over their symptom management. Some of this, however, will likely depend on whether or not you are in a facility like a nursing home or memory care center, and what that facility’s policies are.
However, most facilities recognize the importance of an individual and their family’s sense of agency during end of life care. Most hospice care programs and skilled nursing facilities won’t administer medical marijuana, but they allow family members to supply and administer as long as the products are in the form of edibles, suppositories, tinctures, or some other format that doesn’t produce smoke or vapor.
Get a Virginia Marijuana Card for Access to Compassionate Relief
Many hospice patients prefer medical marijuana as a supplement to painkillers, or even as a primary source of relief from pain, nausea and anxiety that can come with end of life complications. Medical marijuana often does not come with harsh side effects, and it is available in gentle formats that don’t require inhalation. You can even get medical marijuana suppositories if holding your medicine down is an issue.
Give our patient support representatives a call at (888) 633-5808 and we can answer all your questions to help you get started. If you are ready to take the next step, schedule an appointment with one of our compassionate doctors online or by phone! We offer convenient telehealth services, so you never have to leave your home to start getting the natural relief you deserve.
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 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. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to join the medical marijuana conversation in Virginia!
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