Can Register Nurse Prescribe Medical Marijuana In California

A nurse practitioner (NP) is a principal care professional who can perform many of the same duties equally a physician, including assessing patient needs and conception of handling plans. Just can a nurse practitioner prescribe medical marijuana?

Learn about how medical marijuana is recommended rather than prescribed to sympathize how your nurse practitioner may be able to help you access the therapeutic benefits of the institute.

What Is a Nurse Practitioner?

A nurse practitioner (NP) is a healthcare professional with an advanced level of pedagogy. Similar to a physician assistant, a nurse practitioner is qualified to prescribe medications. In fact, NPs are permitted to perform most tasks that a physician would, with the exception of surgical procedures. Nurse practitioners may also exist classified as "advanced registered nurse practitioners" (ARNPs).

In some decorated medical practices, scheduling an engagement with a nurse practitioner rather than a physician may be more expedient. Some patients prefer to speak to a doctor, which is i reason why your NP may have more than open up date windows.

How Is Medical Marijuana Prescribed?

First and foremost, medical marijuana is not prescribed the way other drugs are. Rather, patients receive a recommendation from their healthcare provider. The reason that marijuana cannot be prescribed is its classification every bit a Schedule I controlled substance at the federal level.

Controlled substances like marijuana are not eligible for prescribing under current medical laws. Instead, your nurse practitioner may recommend medical marijuana as a suitable grade of treatment for you lot. Your nurse practitioner may also recommend a particular ingestion method (like topicals or sublingual tinctures) as well equally provide dosage guidelines. From in that location, you would use this recommendation when applying for a medical marijuana card in your land.

In guild to receive a certification for medical cannabis, patients more often than not need to nowadays with one or more qualifying conditions. These conditions vary from state to state, but some common ones include:

Alzheimer's Disease
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
Anxiety and Depression
Cancer
Chronic Pain
Epilepsy
Glaucoma
HIV/AIDS
Irritable Bowel Diseases (IBD) such as Crohn's
Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
Parkinson's Disease
PTSD

The above is just a sampling of conditions that authorize in many states for a medical marijuana recommendation. Check the latest laws and regulations in your home land for the most accurate and upward-to-appointment information.

closeup of medical practitioner's hand writing on a paper beside a cannabis container

Tin can I Get a Recommendation for Marijuana from a Nurse Practitioner?

In some states, you may be able to meet with a nurse practitioner and obtain a medical marijuana recommendation if you are diagnosed with a qualifying status. Some states will allow for telemedicine appointments to take place online, while others have not all the same approved this form of patient-to-provider interaction.

In most cases, medical professionals will kickoff need to complete specific coursework pertaining to medical marijuana before making such recommendations. Testing requirements are also in place for many healthcare providers, including nurse practitioners.

Be aware that not all nurse practitioners are qualified or willing to recommend medical marijuana for patients. It is best to seek out a medical practice that specializes in cannabis medicine or specifically states that they make marijuana recommendations.

Which States Allow for NPs to Certify Medical Marijuana Patients?

Some states let for patients to choose their ain provider, and have given nurse practitioners the ability to recommend cannabis to qualifying patients. These states include:

Colorado
Hawaii
Illinois
Iowa
Maine
Massachusetts
Maryland
Minnesota
New Hampshire
New Mexico
New York
North Dakota
Rhode Isle
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
Washington, D.C.

Who Can Prescribe Marijuana?

Again, marijuana is not prescribed per se, but rather recommended and so certified through an application process for a medical cannabis bill of fare. This application process and the associated rules vary from state to country. In full general physicians, and in some cases, physician assistants and nurse practitioners, may help you obtain your medical marijuana card depending on your diagnosis and your land of residence.

Most a dozen states are still "hold-outs" on legalizing medical marijuana, and you lot volition not be able to get cannabis from a nurse practitioner (or any other healthcare provider) until and unless laws change. As of 2022, states including Kansas, Nebraska and Idaho have no medical marijuana programs, but laws are constantly evolving as new bills come up to the legislative tabular array.

Meet with one of Leafwell's qualified medical professionals, including some Nurse Practitioners in some states, and apply online for your medical marijuana card. Our healthcare providers are here to consult with yous in our virtual clinic and guide you through the application procedure for an MMJ card.