Cannabis Certification

SWFL Integrative Medicine

Board Certified Gynecologists & Integrative Medicine Specialists located in Fort Myers, FL

Medical cannabis is available to Florida residents providing they have a recommendation from an approved medical facility. If you think you might benefit from cannabis treatment, highly experienced integrative specialist Heather Auld, MD, at SWFL Integrative Medicine in Fort Myers, Florida, can help. Dr. Auld and her team have considerable expertise in successfully treating patients using cannabis and welcome patients who might benefit from cannabis certification. To find out more, call SWFL Integrative Medicine today or book an appointment online.

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Cannabis Certification Q&A

What is cannabis certification?

Cannabis certification is a requirement in Florida before anyone can get a recommendation for medical cannabis.

Cannabis comes from the marijuana plant. You can take it in pill or oil form or smoke it, and there’s a growing body of evidence to show cannabis can be helpful in treating a range of medical conditions.

Certification is a requirement for a cannabis recommendation because, under federal law, cannabis is a Schedule I drug and is illegal in Florida unless the required certification is provided.

How does certification work if cannabis is illegal?

Cannabis certification works in Florida because some US states have their own regulations about using the drug. Therefore, although marijuana is technically illegal under federal law, in some states passed laws decriminalizing marijuana under certain situations. In Florida, licensed medical professionals can prescribe the drug in certain cases.

If you’re a resident of the state of Florida, you can get a recommendation for cannabis from SWFL Integrative Medicine if you have a medical need that’s featured on the list of permitted conditions. These conditions include:

PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder)
ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or Lou Gehrig’s disease)
Chronic non-malignant pain
Anxiety
Cancer
HIV/AIDS
Crohn's disease
Parkinson's disease
Epilepsy or seizures
Glaucoma
Multiple sclerosis (MS)
Severe muscle spasms
Side effects of cancer treatment
Terminal illnesses
Tourette syndrome

If you’re a resident of Florida, you can discuss your suitability for cannabis certification with a member of the team at SWFL Integrative Medicine. If your provider believes you would benefit from using medical cannabis, and there are no other viable treatments, you need to sign a written consent form.

Your provider enters this on the Florida State Medical Marijuana Use Registry. You need to apply for a Registry Identification Card. When the card arrives, you can go to a state-approved dispensary to collect your recommendation.

Is medical cannabis safe?

Like all medications, there are potential side effects involved in using cannabis. These could include:

Possible addiction
Dizziness
Impaired concentration
Poor memory
Increased heart rate
Emotional problems
Mental illness
Negative drug interactions
Slower reaction times
Withdrawal symptoms

There’s an ever-increasing body of evidence that supports the safety of using cannabis. Your provider at SWFL Integrative Medicine spends time discussing these issues with you and ensuring you understand the benefits and potential pitfalls of taking medical cannabis.

Find out more about cannabis certification by calling SWFL Integrative Medicine today or book an appointment online.