Medical Info | Van Isle Medical Marijuana

Talk to Your Doctor

In order to successfully become licensed by Health Canada and sign up with VIMM, you will need support and assistance from your doctor. It’s therefore very important that you present your case for receiving medical marijuana clearly and thoroughly.

Some doctors may frown upon marijuana use in general or might be concerned about the negative health effects of smoking marijuana. However, most doctors are at least aware of the therapeutic use of marijuana. If you can explain how marijuana helps you deal with your symptoms, they should be willing to work with you.

Preparation Checklist

Here is a checklist to help you prepare to approach your doctor about medical marijuana.

• Bring Form B1 or B2, depending on your condition, for your doctor to fill out and sign.
• Bring two copies of a standard passport photo of yourself for your doctor to sign.
• Bring any printed material about medical marijuana to help you refer to useful facts or information.
• Prepare a list of medications and/or therapies you have tried to deal with your sympoms. Indicate which ones have worked better for you, and which ones didn’t work.
• If you are concerned and/or nervous about approaching your doctor, bring a friend or family member for moral support.
• Be prepared to talk about how marijuana helps you with your condition.

Talking Tips

Here are some tips for talking to your doctor about medical marijuana.

• Clearly identify the symptoms that marijuana can help you to manage. Some examples would include severe pain, muscle spasms, anorexia, weight loss, severe nausea, etc.
• Explain how you will you use marijuana to deal with your symptoms. Will you smoke it, eat it, make tea, use a vaporizor, etc.?
• If you have already been using marijuana, explain how it relieves your symptoms and how much you usually use per day (in grams).
• Talk about other drugs and therapies, and explain how marijuana works better for you.
• Ask your doctor to consider signing the Release Form For a Medical Practitioner from the Canadian Medical Protective Association (CMPA). (*)

(*) This form is available on the CMPA website. The CMPA insures medical professionals, so signing this form may address your doctor’s concerns about liability. This is NOT a Health Canada form and is NOT required to obtain an authorization to use medical marijuana. However, it might be helpful in getting your doctor to support your application. Note: Not valid in Quebec.

via vimm.ca