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How do I know if my pain qualifies me for medical marijuana?
Severe, chronic pain qualifies you under MMMP guidelines. Severity of pain is often difficult to quantify. As physicians, we are tasked with balancing benefits and risks of various treatments for our patients in a compassionate manner. Pain that interferes with daily activities such as mobility, work, family interaction and sleep can take a toll on patients and their families. Unrelenting chronic pain can color every aspect of a patient's life, and greatly reduce quality of life. If your pain is adversely affecting multiple aspects of your life on an ongoing basis, you may qualify.
I don't have a regular doctor. Can I still come to you for medical marijuana endorsement?
Yes. If you do not have an outside provider we can establish you in our office for the purposes of medical marijuana endorsement. We encourage older patients with clear physical signs of disease to utilize this service. You will need an outside primary care provider to manage your other medical needs.
Do you give need-based discounts?
Dr Dave plans to set aside some time for charitable exams and endorsements. These will be based on DEMONSTRABLE EXTREME MEDICAL AND FINANCIAL NEED and may be done as house calls. Contact us and describe your situation. Availability will be limited.
How long does this whole process take?
We will work with you to expedite this process. When you request information it will be sent out on the same or next business day. Exams will be scheduled as soon as medical records are procured. The State of Michigan - MMMP is currently experiencing a backlog of applications. They reportedly are ramping up and these delays should be resolving. Here are some ways to expedite your application:
1) Be sure you give us a valid way of contacting you when you request information.
2) Complete as much of your paperwork as possible before your appointment.
3) Complete your application checklist for MMMP prior to your appointment.
4) Incomplete applications will GREATLY DELAY processing by the MMMP.
5) We must have a signed medical record release before we can begin the process. You can also get the records yourself and send them to:
Michigan Holistic Health, PLLC
PO Box 2287
Kalamazoo, MI 49003
Fax: (269) 382-1197
How much does getting a MMMP card cost?
The state of Michigan charges $100 for the application and for yearly renewals. They offer a need-based discount which is discussed on the MMMP website . Our charges: $200 for initial qualification exam, $125 for yearly renewals. If you have already established a physician-patient relationship regarding your current medical issue your total cost should be $300 ($100 to state, $200 for qualifying exam).
Our payment policy: We accept only cash or money order on the day of service. No personal checks, no insurance billing, no credit cards, no exceptions. We can do a "lay-away" if you like.
What if I have marijuana-related legal issues pending?
We respectfully ask that you resolve any outstanding marijuana-related legal issues before seeking endorsement through our clinic.
Who is a typical patient?
Our patients have ranged from the late teens to the late eighties and continue to span social and economic boundaries. Most of our patients are 35 and over. Many have no insurance to cover the cost of prescription pain medication. We draw many of our patients from the local compassion clubs. These are grass-roots non-profit organizations which are largely populated by motivated and well-informed patients and caregivers. We also see many Veterans and many people of all ages suffering from debilitating injuries and diseases. We have seen many retirees suffering from the effects of severe arthritis. Many of our patients have had bad experiences with escalating doses of narcotic pain medications and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Marijuana has been an effective adjunct or replacement for chronic narcotic pain management. We have had quite a brisk response to the considerable and unanticipated brisk media response our opening has gotten. I'm glad to see patients from all walks of life have come to us through this exposure. We continue to discourage our younger citizens from seeking medical marijuana endorsements without clearly documented and demonstrable severe and chronic disease.
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