How to Choose the Best Medical Marijuana Doctors and Clinic near Boca Raton, FL

When deciding to begin natural healing with medical marijuana, like most consumers, you’ll be entering a world of unknowns, which makes choosing the best MMJ Doctor in the area that much more important. Pot doctors are the top resource for medical marijuana patients to answer pertinent questions, provide guidance for purchasing, and make you feel comfortable with choosing dosages and product types.

So when browsing the plethora of medical marijuana doctors in Florida, how do you know who to choose? Here we’ve compiled an in-depth guide of the most important factors to consider when moving forward with legally using Florida medical weed. Including tips to discussing with your primary physician, how to conduct your own online research, and more. Without further adieu, here are the six things to do when choosing the best MMJ doctor in Florida.

Touch Base with Your Primary Physician
First things first, when seeking a pot doctor in Florida – check with your primary physician. If the physician supports your decision, they’ll be the first step to making the process from there go smoothly. It’s not only likely, but required, to have a qualifying condition to become legally approved for Florida medical cannabis. Meaning, a recommendation and qualifying exam report from your primary care doctor will start you off on the right foot.

What are Qualifying Conditions?

Currently, there’s a set list of conditions that will qualify patients for the use of Florida medical weed in the State. They include – 

• HIV/Aids
• Epilepsy
• Cancer
• Glaucoma
• PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) 
• Lou Gehrig’s disease 
• Chronic seizures
• Parkinson’s disease
• Crohn’s disease 
• MS (Multiple Sclerosis) 
• Chronic non-malignant pain
• Anxiety
• Uncontrolled muscle spasms
• Arthritis
• Or medical/terminal conditions that are classified similarly to any above.

Because your primary physician is the most in-tune with your current health condition, they can perform the necessary evaluations to submit to your prescribing MMJ Doctor. They’ll also be able to recommend the best option for you, depending on the pot doctor’s expertise or specialty.

Obtain your Medical Records

This also means the best medical marijuana doctors in Florida will require you to come along with your appropriate medical records. You can get these from your current primary care physician, or your MMJ Doctor will be able to gain access to them with the appropriate permissions.  

Conduct Online Research 

The growth of the world wide web has opened up the amount of online information you can research on your own. Most reputable and trusted MMJ doctors in Florida have websites that are chock-full of beneficial information, including their process, location, pricing, and online patient resources. This gives Florida medical marijuana patients the ability to research each Florida marijuana doctor themselves and choose which is best for them in the end. 

Of course, don’t forget about social media outlets, too. Many Florida medical marijuana doctors now keep up with social profiles to interact and communicate with current and potential patients. These pages not only serve as viable resources for education on medical marijuana, but allow you to better know your Florida marijuana doctors on a more personal level. Plus, you’ll see real-time interaction and comments from the patients they currently have. 

Double Check Reviews or Referrals

Speaking of current patients…the web has also increased the ability to connect with others to hear positive or negative reviews. So, in addition to conducting online research to see if the MMJ doctor’s practice is right for you, you can also hear what others have experienced too. As most medical marijuana doctors in Florida now have testimonials available from actual patients on their web site. 

Because some less professional pot doctors might not publish completely ‘authentic’ testimonials when building their site, you may want to seek other review sources too. Google is always ideal for checking truthful and real referrals or reviews, as long as the MMJ doctor has a listing there. Which they should if they are legitimate and well-visited by patients. When looking at reviews, here’s a few tips to pick out the best –

• Number of reviews – the more, the better! 
• Average rating of reviews – again, the higher the star count, the better. 
• Replies or interactions with negative reviews – most businesses, even MMJ doctors, will respond to negative reviews to try to sort any fixable issues out. 

Date of reviews – double-check the timing and the dates of good reviews versus not-so-good. If most of the good reviews are from the past, it’s likely management has changed or service for patients is declining.

Checking out social media profiles and pages is also a good way to gauge how current patients feel or interact with the MMJ doctor. Typically social media accounts will give you an idea of the ‘personality’ of the Florida medical weed clinic and if it best suits you and your unique needs. 

Lastly, good word of mouth is always the best recommendation for any business or brand. That includes pot doctors, too. So, it doesn’t hurt to ask those around you who have become medically qualified which doctor they’ve had a good experience with. Like friends, family, or those in any type of group therapy with you, or that you know, suffer from similar ailments. You can also visit your local dispensary, who will have insider knowledge of doctors in the area, or you may be able to speak to patients here directly. 

Consider Location 

It may go without saying, but the location is key when it comes to convenient care and qualifications for Florida medical weed. Of course, the ideal MMJ doctor will be close to your home, or even better, will have multiple locations to best serve a wide-range of Floridians. It’s also important to note that the more locations a pot doctor has, the more resources and staff they have to best serve your experience and process. 

Once you’re approved, location for dispensaries near you shouldn’t be an issue. While there are now a number of dispensaries across the State, if you’re immobile or unable to make it to the location with your preferred medical marijuana products, mailing is acceptable. This gives State residents wider accessibility to the types of marijuana that helps heal their condition best. 

Verify Processes 

Before you make an appointment with the MMJ doctor of your choice, be sure to verify their processes first. Many clinics and doctors will require different fees for qualification, may require certain documentation, and may or may not help you after the appointment with any process questions or inquiries. This includes double-checking what payments can be accepted, as they may be limited due to being a ‘marijuana’ type of transaction. 

Most pot doctors now typically only accept cash or credit/debit. But, keep in mind, because of card processing surcharges and fees, there’s likely to be an additional fee when using a card. These payment options will vary from office to office, so being prepared ahead of time is ideal. Also, don’t forget that the State of Florida also requires an additional $75 fee to receive your medical marijuana ID card. This amount will not be taken by your MMJ doctor and will be paid directly to the Florida Department of Health upon processing and approval. 

Because time is money for many patients with fast-paced lifestyles, checking the doctor or clinic’s estimated length of appointment is recommended. With all the proper documentation, you should expect the qualifying visit to take anywhere from 30-60 minutes. 

Ask Questions 

Last but not least – don’t be afraid to ask questions during your selection process. When choosing the best Florida medical marijuana doctor and clinic, their staff and resources should be well-equipped to ease any concerns you have from the start. Give their office a call with a list of concerns or questions you may have before visiting, and the best will be able to provide clear-cut answers and ease any worries.

Again, most superior MMJ doctors will have a plethora of resources available on their website for your perusement and questions. Including videos that walk you through the process, educational resources about medical marijuana use, and patient process information, too. From the website, you should also be able to contact with confidence for convenient answers via email, phone, or other methods of communication. 

Your Health Matters – Choose the Best 

Like choosing a primary care physician or specialist for your health, choosing the best MMJ doctor for your medical marijuana needs is crucial for having a positive experience all-around. Meeting with your pot doctor initially will not only be the beginning step to the qualifying process but also allows you to build a relationship with the doctor who will be helping you heal. 

Use these tips to browse and survey the medical marijuana doctors in Florida, and ultimately use your instincts and research to choose which is best for you. And, remember – At Medical Cannabis Clinics of Florida, we prioritize our patients’ health, lifestyles, needs, and privacy to gain convenient access to medical marijuana for healing.