Dr. D releases new patient resources guide

Patient Resources

Indica
A species of the Cannabis family known for pain relieving and anxiolytic qualities. Commonly used to treat insomnia.

Sativa
A species of the Cannabis family known for its uplifting and energetic properties. Suited for day use.

Both Sativa and Indica plants contain THC – Different physiologic effects of Sativa and Indica are caused by differences in production of other cannabinoids and terpenes within the species. In fact most experts now agree that Indica and Sativa are inappropriate to describe a plants effects by, and instead patients should be looking for the cannabinoid and terpene profiles of tested cannabis to evaluate what effect the medicine has.

CBD (Cannabidol) A cannabinoid being researched for its anti inflammatory, neuroprotective, anti seizure, anti tumor, anti anxiety, analgesic effect, and anti psychotic effects.

THCa The non-psychoactive precusur to THC. THCa turns to THC with the addition of heat. THCa has been shown to have anti inflammatory, neuroprotective, antiemetic, and anti tumor effects and further research is being conducted.

Methods of Cannabis Ingestion/Use
Inhalation – time of onset within 5-10 minutes
Smoking
Vaporizing via vaporizer or vape pen
Sublinguals – time of onset within 15-20 minutes
Tincture
Lozenge
Edibles and elixirs – time of onset variable – 1-2 hours
Infused drinks and foods
Topicals – usually not producing systemic psychoactivity
Creams, gels, lotions
Suppositories

Video tutorial on what the different routes of administration are when using medical Cannabis
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8FUETKkf0E

Video tutorial on how to use a Vape Pen
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sitq2um1_7s

How to use medical cannabis sublingually
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbq0CCplqjc

How to use Cannabis topically
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-WEiF_60bw

The Medical Cannabis Institute – Medical Cannabis Continuing Medical Education
https://themedicalcannabisinstitute.org/

General Medical Resources

If you are suicidal or a victim of domestic violence and need assistance:
http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org
http://www.thehotline.org

Need help finding a physician near you?
https://www.medicare.gov/physiciancompare/search.html

Need help obtaining Healthcare?
https://www.healthcare.gov/

Resources for Californians to obtain Health Insurance
http://www.coveredca.com/

Low income? Need help applying for Medi-Cal (California’s Medi-aid Program)
https://www.medi-cal.ca.gov/
http://www.dhcs.ca.gov/services/medi-cal/Pages/default.aspx
http://www.dhcs.ca.gov/services/medi-cal/Pages/ApplyforMedi-Cal.aspx

Need help with your insurance plan and coverage? Contact the Department of Managed Healthcare:
http://www.dmhc.ca.gov/Home.aspx#.VyrSyxUrKCQ

CA Medical Board Statement regarding Medical Cannabis
http://www.mbc.ca.gov/Licensees/Prescribing/Medical_Marijuana.aspx

Need Medi-care?
https://www.medicare.gov/index.html

Information on your protecting private health information via HIPPA
http://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/index.html

Patient resources for finding high quality research on Cannabis
https://clinicaltrials.gov/
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed
https://scholar.google.com/

California Mental Health Services Division
http://www.dhcs.ca.gov/services/Pages/MentalHealthPrograms-Svcs.aspx

California VA PTSD Program
http://www.va.gov/directory/guide/state_ptsd.cfm?STATE=CA

UCLA Sleep Medicine
http://sleepcenter.ucla.edu/

Los Angeles County Health Services
https://dhs.lacounty.gov/wps/portal/dhs

San Francisco Health Services
http://www.myhss.org/

Cannabis Evaluation Facts and Risks:

-In California marijuana is limited to patients that have conditions which affect major life activities include, but are not limited to, caring for oneself, performing manual tasks, seeing, hearing, eating, sleeping, walking, standing, lifting, bending, speaking, breathing, learning, reading, concentrating, thinking, communicating, and working.

-Medical Cannabis has a potent analgesic effect and can mask symptoms of serious illness. Make sure you know your diagnosis before starting on a treatment plan with medical Cannabis.

-Your physician should preform a Good Faith Exam including review of systems questions.

-You should be able to follow up with your cannabis physician should you desire and know what your treatment plan is

-By using the Eaze.MD platform you acknowledge the limits of telemedicine for your condition and consent to use telehealth for evaluation for the despite the limits of the exam.

-Your doctor can advise you on what strains or types of Cannabis we think may aid your condition

-What we DO NOT do is refer patients to specific providers, dispensaries or brands – as that would be collusion of doctors and producers, just as you would not want your primary care doctor pushing you towards a specific pharmaceutical company s/he would get financial compensation from!

-We cannot tell you an exact dose as all brands of products have different concentrations etc.

Risks of Cannabis Include:

– Smoke can exacerbate preexisting airway disease

– Addiction. That 9% of users become addicted

– Cannabis intoxication causes short term impairment in memory, problem solving, reaction time and should not be used while driving or operating heavy machinery.

– Cannabis can cause transient mood, anxiety and psychotic symptoms.

– Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease has been shown to be a greater risk to those that smoke both cigarettes and cannabis.

– Cannabis compounds cross the placenta and enter into breast milk and are associated with low birth weight and developmental delay and behavioral problems and should never be used by breast feeding or pregnant women.

– Cannabis can lower blood pressure and strain the heart at times by producing tachycardia and patients should consult their cardiologist if they have ischemic heart disease or low blood pressure.

-If you are immunosuppressed due to HIV, organ transplant, alcoholism, intravenous feeding you should not smoke or vaporize cannabis because it can have fungus in the marijuana which can cause sinus and lung infections.