How do I get a Medical Marijuana Prescription?

@Georgesplane: It's a pleasure to read your post. I just had major knee surgery and was prescribed Vicodin, which is highly addictive and, as you said, results in a far more detrimental addiction than medical marijuana. Unfortunately, insurance would cover this awful drug, which I discontinued using after 36 hours post surgery since, despite a high dietary fiber intake plus herbs, I strained for 30 minutes with feces stuck half outside my body! (taking the minimum dosage). I also couldn't sleep. I live in a state where they "threaten" to legalize medical marijuana. It makes no sense to torture people with prescription medications while insurance companies get paid.

Does the permit to use marijuana for chronic pain allow to me grow my own marijuana plants?

I have had chronic back pain in the thoracic region for four years and counting. It started with two compressed disks from football (2007) and intensified with a snowboarding injury (2010) causing temporary severe muscle spasms.

Since these two incidents occurred, the pain has been ongoing and has been treated by medications such as Naproxen 500mg and flexeril 10mg, as well as physical therapy and a few doctor's visits. Despite the legitimate history, I feel that my inconsistency in following up monthly may pose a problem in becoming certified. Any input?

@ Submariner- The Arizona laws will be some of the strictest in the country, but from the sounds of your ailment, you will qualify. Chronic and severe and one pre-requisite, and permanent TMJ would be considered both. If I remember correctly, the Arizona law also requires verified history of a diagnosis, which you also have covered.

If I were in your shoes, the one thing I would worry about is the need to be registered and monitored as if you were a convict or felon. They take your fingerprints and store your information in a database that is accessible to law enforcement (it may only be accessible for a limited time). In my opinion, it is a little crazy that they will be policing medical marijuana harder than they will be policing methamphetamine, especially considering the people who use medical marijuana are patients and the people using meth are dangerous junkies.

I live in Arizona, and my state just became the 15th state to pass medical marijuana legislation. Does anyone know the details about getting a medical marijuana card in my state? Do I seek out a medical marijuana clinic? I have permanent TMJ that has been diagnosed repeatedly over the past few years by doctors, dentists, and TMJ specialists. I would like to know if I qualify for medical marijuana under Arizona law, and what the procedure is to get my medical marijuana card.

If I am not approved, the only option I have is surgery (which does not fix the underlying causes of the jay disorder), physical therapy, and prescribed pain narcotics. The last option is of particular concern because I do not want to become dependent on these meds for the rest of my life. Thank you to anyone who can give me advice.

It is common that doctors will actually require medical records proving the patient has chronic pain. They may offer a three or six-month recommendation until a patient can get a doctor that their insurance covers to completely diagnose their symptoms, but in most places they will not simply give out longer recommendations because it does taint the system. This is even becoming common practice in some of the more liberal medical marijuana states like California.

Contrary to the beliefs of some, medical marijuana has a legitimate place in medicine and pain management. Often times the alternatives to medical marijuana, especially in the area of pain management, are far more detrimental to a person's health than the alternatives. Pain narcotics are highly addictive and pain medication abuse can lead to a person hitting rock bottom and no longer being a functioning member of society.