Pennsylvania, USA — Medical cannabis is a rapidly growing industry in Pennsylvania.
A medical cannabis card company called Elevate Holistics serves several states, including Pennsylvania. Its website includes topics such as:
The website offers advice on what people should say so doctors don’t “just want to get high.”
“Name one industry where people aren’t using the system,” says Steven Starman, director of Elevate Holistics. “It’s impossible. People are people. We try to take advantage of the opportunities that are in front of us.”
We also heard a different take from Dr. Steven Evans, a Pain Management Physician based in the Reading area.
Dr. Evans wants more oversight over doctors like him who approve the issuance of medical cannabis cards. He also wants continued education. He said he only had to take a four-hour course to become certified as a medical cannabis provider. That was about 4 years ago.
“As a health care provider serving accredited people, there is nothing to scrutinize me. So there is very little quality control over doctors. Say this is a true medical program and a medical program.” I think things like that need to be stepped up before.” It’s not like some sort of ruse that allows people who want to legally obtain marijuana to use it just for entertainment. ”
In Pennsylvania, you must meet one of these eligibility criteria to be eligible.
2019 added anxiety to that list.
Evans says about 40% of patients now want medical cannabis to treat anxiety. But he won’t approve them without seeing documentation from the psychiatrist.
But patients who see other doctors say that’s not always the case, not only for anxiety, but also for other conditions such as chronic pain.
This is especially true in the post-pandemic period, he says, because so many doctors are seeing their patients virtually.
“I think for a lot of people it’s just a money maker. You know, people aren’t very enthusiastic about this treatment, this alternative medicine, as a way to manage their problems more organically, rather than pharmacologically.”
Dr. Evans is passionate about this because he knows it works for his patients. He is always on the lookout for new research and information on medical cannabis.
“But no one forced me to do it,” he says.
Here is Steven Stearman’s opinion:
“In my mind, if someone is going to use cannabis for a diversion, who can say he doesn’t have it? Or they are going to use cannabis for recreation. and this is the problem.” How to protect yourself from legal plunder by the state. ”
“Doctors are responsible for what they prescribe and what they say to their patients. is responsible for,” he continued.
Learn more about Pennsylvania’s medical cannabis programs here.