WHO: PHYSICIANS AND MEDICINAL CANNABIS
Accessing medicinal cannabis for the treatment of a medical condition begins with a physician. Learn more about how patients can find a physician to consult about medicinal cannabis.
Which physicians can prescribe medicinal cannabis?
The laws regarding the prescribing of medicinal cannabis may be different in each country. For information about the laws regarding the prescribing of medicinal cannabis in certain countries, please follow the links below:
How does a patient approach a physician about medicinal cannabis?
A patient’s physician is the best healthcare professional to advise them about any treatment, as the physician is aware about the specific details involving their concrete medical condition. If a patient has questions about medicinal cannabis, they should seek advice from their physician.
The laws regarding the use of medicinal cannabis may be different in each country. For information about the laws regarding the use of medicinal cannabis in certain countries, please follow the links below:
What questions should a patient ask their physician about medicinal cannabis?
If a patient has questions about medicinal cannabis, their physician will be able to advise them whether medicinal cannabis is suitable. Their physician should be able to address some of the following questions:
- Does my medical condition qualify for medicinal cannabis?
- Is medicinal cannabis safe for me?
- Will medicinal cannabis affect my other medications?
- Do you have an opinion on the route of administration?
Does a physician need to do any tests before prescribing medicinal cannabis?
No. There are no formal tests to determine if a patient is suitable for medicinal cannabis. To learn more about people who should not take medicinal cannabis, please review the WHICH: RISKS OF MEDICINAL CANNABIS section.
How will a physician determine if medicinal cannabis is right for a patient?
A physician should be able to determine if it could be a suitable choice for a patient. Criteria that he or she could use in making that determination include a patient’s physical and mental health history, the severity of a patient’s symptoms, the evidence of medicinal cannabis treating a patient’s condition(s), a patient’s level of interest in medicinal cannabis, and other medications a patient is currently taking, or if they have a severe cardiovascular condition. To learn more about people who should not take medicinal cannabis, please review the WHICH: RISKS OF MEDICINAL CANNABIS section.
