If you’ve decided to use medical marijuana to treat your health condition, the first thing to do is schedule the first evaluation with a doctor – not get your ID at the dispensary! This also seems to be the first thing that most first-timers find confusing.
Below you will find the exact steps that you have to follow to get your first medical marijuana evaluation done in Florida and all the things that are expected from you when you go for the evaluation, as well as how an online platform such as MMJ Medics makes your experience much more convenient.
What Is a First-Time Medical Marijuana Evaluation?
The first-time consultation is a private discussion with a licensed physician who works with the Office of Medical Marijuana Use (OMMU) in Florida. At this consultation, the physician analyzes the patient’s medical history and current conditions to decide whether he/she has any of the qualifying diseases, and whether medical marijuana will be an appropriate treatment for him/her.
This consultation will be the main element of the whole application process. All other steps, such as registering in the State Medical Marijuana Use Registry and receiving your card, are dependent on the successful completion of the first visit to the doctor. The visit is the key moment in this process and should be treated accordingly.
The One Rule First-Time Patients Need to Know: In-Person Is Required
This is something that often confuses the novice patient because of research into the medical marijuana programs offered in other states: your first evaluation at a clinic must be performed in person, according to Florida law. This isn’t the decision of a single clinic; it’s the law of Florida. In contrast to many other states in which a first evaluation takes place through telehealth only, Florida requires that this evaluation be performed face-to-face.
The upside is that once the first evaluation takes place and the patient becomes established, follow-up evaluations may be performed through telehealth, in which case the doctor will be the same as in the first case. It means that this requirement will be fulfilled only once, and not annually.
It will help the patient to understand everything before starting the procedure in order not to waste his time and energy.
Step-by-Step: How to Book Your First-Time Evaluation
Step 1: Confirm You Have a Potential Qualifying Condition
It would be beneficial to have a preliminary idea if the disorder that you are suffering from will fit the list of disorders. The program in Florida includes a great variety of disorders which are covered, such as cancer, epilepsy, glaucoma, HIV/AIDS, PTSD, ALS, Crohn’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, chronic non-malignant pain and terminal disorders, as well as a “comparable condition” provision allowing physicians to certify a lot of other chronic disorders, including anxiety and insomnia. However, if there is no certainty about fitting in the list, this is the very purpose of the evaluation process.
Step 2: Choose a Registered Physician or Clinic
It is here that most of the friction in the process takes place. Not all physicians are registered with OMMU, and trying to search for a physician yourself may take away the time you would have used to take care of yourself.
This is precisely what MMJ Medics seeks to overcome. Instead of wasting time identifying which physicians in the locality are registered with OMMU and are ready to accept new patients, MMJ Medics will provide you with a list of such physicians in Florida who know about your illness.
Step 3: Book Your Appointment Online
Generally, booking takes place within a short period of time; the patient selects a clinic or doctor to be seen by, picks up a suitable time slot, and fills out a simple intake form where the contact details and some general issues with one’s health condition are stated. Some clinics, like MMJ Medics, allow patients to fill out the intake form before the visit, which will help to make the consultation more efficient.
Step 4: Gather Your Documentation Before the Appointment
Be ready to provide:
- Documentation of Florida residency status (driver’s license or state identification card; special provisions apply for seasonal residents)
- A photograph in the style of a passport photo that is going to be submitted along with your application to the state registry
- Medical documents concerning your condition (diagnostic report, information about previous treatments, or even a letter from a specialist, if any exist)
It is not only a question of convenience but also the key point helping your doctor in making the right decision, and one of the main things differentiating a successful first examination from a failed one.
Step 5: Attend Your In-Person Evaluation
Your first evaluation generally lasts around 15 to 45 minutes, according to the intricacies of your medical record. In the consultation, your physician will:
- Go over your medical record and current symptoms thoroughly
- Talk about any previous treatment and how it fared for you
- Decide if your diagnosis fits Florida’s qualifications
- Tell you what using medical marijuana would entail in your treatment scheme
- Register your certification into the State’s Medical Marijuana Use Registry (MMUR) if possible
Make sure you are prepared to discuss your symptoms and treatment goals with your physician; the more background you provide, the better the physician can give you a certification decision.
Step 6: Complete Your State Registration
After being certified by your doctor, you will get an email from the OMMU with information about how to complete your state application, which requires you to submit your photograph, evidence of residency, and pay a processing fee of $75 (plus a convenience fee).
Step 7: Receive Your Temporary Card
The OMMU will process your completed application in roughly 5 to 10 business days. Upon completion, you will get a temporary electronic card by email that will be usable immediately at authorized Florida dispensaries.
What to Expect Cost-Wise for a First-Time Evaluation
An initial evaluation will always cost more than a renewed one because of the need for a detailed initial consultation and an in-person appointment. The prices are different depending on who provides the service, so it’s better to find out what your fee is before scheduling the appointment. Just remember that there is another $75 fee to apply to OMMU.
Tips for a Smooth First Evaluation
- State your symptoms explicitly. The more vague you are with the physician, the harder it will be for him or her to develop a proper certification. Your doctor will appreciate knowing details about how often you experience certain symptoms, their intensity, and the effect they have on your life.
- Have documentation if you have any; however, do not worry if you do not have it. In the absence of documentation, physicians may work with verbal information regarding your medical history.
- Use the appointment time to get answers to your questions. This is an opportunity for you to learn about the issues of dosages, drug interactions, and what is to come next.
- Consult an experienced physician. You should definitely try to find a doctor who evaluates people with your particular condition.
Why Booking Through a Dedicated MMJ Clinic Makes a Difference
The single largest factor behind whether your first evaluation will be a smooth one or not typically boils down to whom you chose to book with in the first place. Booking with a dedicated, experienced clinic makes the whole process from booking to getting certified and registering much easier than trying to do everything by yourself.
MMJ Medics specializes in doing just that: helping first-time Florida patients find OMMU-certified physicians and streamlining the whole booking and intake process until the point that you get your card. If you’re a first-timer booking your evaluation, a process which could otherwise be quite stressful, having everything handled in such a way becomes truly beneficial.
Final Thoughts
Making sure you get your first evaluation for medical marijuana in Florida is easy – all you have to do is four basic things: determine that your illness will probably pass the criteria, choose a doctor who will conduct the evaluation, make sure you have all the paperwork you need, and show up prepared for your appointment in person. After that, getting an approved card will not take too much time – just two weeks at most.
When using our dedicated services like MMJ Medics, the process of searching for the right doctor and handling all the paperwork will be easy, thus making your first evaluation appointment easy and informative.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my first medical marijuana evaluation in Florida be done via telehealth?
No. Florida law requires first-time evaluations to be conducted in person. Renewal evaluations can typically be done via telehealth with the same physician afterward.
How long does a first-time evaluation appointment take?
Most first-time evaluations take between 15 and 45 minutes, depending on the complexity of your medical history and how prepared you are with documentation.
What should I bring to my first evaluation?
Bring proof of Florida residency, a passport-style photo, and any existing medical records related to your condition to help your physician make an informed decision.
How much does a first-time evaluation cost?
The cost will vary depending on the provider, but it will be greater than the cost of renewing because of the thorough physical consultation that takes place. This excludes the state application fee of $75.
What happens if I’m not approved during my evaluation?
Many clinics offer a refund if your physician determines that you do not qualify for the medical marijuana card – make sure to ask about this beforehand.
How soon can I use my card after approval?
Once your physician qualifies you and your state application is approved, you get an electronic medical marijuana card via email.
