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Talking to Your Doctor about Pennsylvania Medical Marijuana

What you need to know before talking to your doctor

When talking to your physician, consider the following points:

  • Bring any available medical records you may have
  • Explain what you hope to gain from the use of medical marijuana
    • For example, do you want to restore appetite? 
    • Are you seeking to relieve pain, nausea, vomiting 
or other symptoms caused by your medical condition or the medications used to treat your medical condition?


  • Let your doctor know that you are aware of some
 of the side effects that may occur, such as dry mouth, dry or red eyes, headache, dizziness, drowsiness or anxiety
  • Be prepared to discuss with your doctor the benefits of medical marijuana versus the risks

  • Use professional language, such as “medical marijuana”, refrain from 
using slang terms such as “pot” or “weed”
  • Remind your doctor that he/she is not writing
 a prescription, but instead giving a written certification
  • This is a document dated and signed by a physician stating that there is a bona fide physician-patient relationship





What conditions qualify for medical marijuana use?

See what qualifies in Pennsylvania.

Qualifying Conditions

Ask your doctor if your use of the following medications should be adjusted with the use of medical marijuana:

  • Anticoagulants
  • Antiplatelets

  • Aspirin
  • Barbiturates
  • Benzodiazepines
  • Dronabinol
  • Narcotics
  • NSAIDS
  • Phenobarbital
  • Sedating anticholinergics

  • Sedative-hypnotics
  • SSRI
  • TCA
  • Theophylline

The Physician-Patient Relationship

Physicians are not “prescribing” medical marijuana. Instead, a physician is asked to certify that his or her patient has one of the qualifying medical conditions or symptoms of a qualifying condition and that a bona fide relationship has been established.

This information is not a referral by a physician to a specific dispensary. This information is being provided by the dispensary for the education and support of the qualifying patient or designated caregiver. The choice of a dispensary is the patient's alone. A dispensary may not accept the referral of patients from a physician. Neither may a physician refer a qualifying patient to a dispensary.

Physicians should have a bona fide physician-patient relationship with the qualifying patient.
A physician should be able to comfortably certify that the qualifying patient is under the physician’s care, either as the patient’s primary care physician or for his or her serious medical condition.

Physicians may accept payment from a qualifying patient for the fee associated with the examination required before recommending medical marijuana. 
However, physicians may not accept any remuneration for making a medical marijuana certification, nor can they accept any remuneration from any dispensary for such a recommendation. 

This information is not a referral by a physician to a specific dispensary.
This information is being provided by the dispensary for the education and support of the qualifying patient or designated caregiver. The choice of a dispensary is the patient's alone. A dispensary may not accept the referral of patients from a physician. Neither may a physician refer a qualifying patient to a dispensary.

Unlike other pharmaceuticals, physicians cannot “overprescribe” medical marijuana.
Physicians are not required to regulate dosage, strain or administration of medical marijuana. Under the law, qualifying patients are unable to procure unlimited amounts of medical marijuana.

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Have Questions? We’ve Got Answers

No matter your level of comfort or knowledge of medical marijuana, we can help answer your questions. Our friendly patient care representatives are happy to talk.

Our hours are 9 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. EST. 

888-493-6066

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