Easy Steps to Becoming a Maine Medical Cannabis Patient
By Becky DeKeuster, M.Ed
accurate information can be the most daunting part of the process. Here, we outline the easy steps to becoming a Maine Medical Cannabis Patient.
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Step One: Identify your qualifying condition Maine’s list of conditions that qualify a person to use medici- nal cannabis is as follows: • Cancer • Glaucoma • Positive HIV/AIDS status • Hepatitis C • Post-traumatic stress disorder • Lou Gehrig’s Disease (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) • Agitation of Alzheimer’s Disease • Nail-patella syndrome • A chronic or debilitating disease or medical condition or its treatment that produces cachexia (vomiting), severe nausea, seizures (such as those characteristic of epilepsy) or severe and persistent muscle spasms (such as those characteristic of multiple sclerosis)
• Intractable pain (pain that has not responded to ordinary medi- cal or surgical measures for 6 months or more)
Step Two: Discuss your decision with your primary care physician and request a certifi cation In Maine, any M.D., D.O. or Nurse Practitioner may issue medical cannabis certifi cations. These certifi cations cannot be written on a regular prescription pad. Your provider will need to visit Maine Medical Use of Marijuana Program (MMMP) at www.
maine.gov/dhhs/mecdc/public-health-systems and read the “Medi- cal Marijuana Certifi cate Process” section. The state will send the doctor special forms to use for certifi cations and directions for accessing the online web portal through which the certifi cations are issued.
It is important to know that your primary health care provider
may work for an agency that does not allow them to issue certifi - cations for cannabis. In this case, you may decide to schedule an appointment with a cannabis specialist in private practice. A quick Google search will show several reputable options here in Maine.
26 Essential Living Maine ~ September/October 2016
s Maine’s medical cannabis program has grown over the last 17 years, program requirements have also evolved. For patients wanting to enter the legal medical program, fi nding
These specialists should ask to review your medical records and may want to be in communication with your primary care provid- er to coordinate your treatment plan. Appointments with cannabis specialist practices are typically paid out of pocket; some provid- ers offer a sliding scale and discounted rates for veterans and other populations.
Step Three: Choose a source for your medical cannabis products In Maine, patients can possess up to 2.5 ounces of “prepared” medical cannabis products every 15 days and can choose among three legal avenues to obtain medical cannabis products.
Dispensaries: There are eight state-licensed dispensaries in Maine, including four operated by Wellness Connection of Maine, in Brewer, Gardiner, Portland, and Thomaston (moving to Bath in late August). Others are located in Biddeford, Auburn, Ellsworth and Fort Kent.
Dispensaries are storefront facilities which are required by law
to grow and produce all the medicines they offer. They are inspect- ed by state regulators; provide seed-to-sale inventory controls; are forbidden by law to use unapproved pesticides; and have no legal limit on the number of patients they may serve.
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