Letter to Doctors
Dear Dr.
The Medical Marijuana Caregivers of Maine, a statewide trade association dedicated to education and patient advocacy, invites you to take a simple step towards understanding the new climate in Maine surrounding the issue of medical marijuana.
Our office receives 10-30 phone calls per week from patients whose conditions qualify them under the medical marijuana law. These patients are calling in search of a physician who is willing to discuss medical marijuana as a potential treatment option. While many physicians are unwilling to discuss and recommend medical marijuana, simply because they lack scientific evidence and formal education around its clinical use, others have found it to be a safe, effective, and superior treatment in certain cases. The Medical Marijuana Caregivers of Maine would like to serve as a resource to help you obtain peer-reviewed information and expert opinions on this topic.
We are a state recognized, non-profit, trade association with over 160 Medical Marijuana Caregivers in Maine serving over 500 patients. We have compiled articles, laws, forms, and consultants available for you to better understand this medicine and its application. NORML_Clinical_Applications_for_Cannabis_and_Cannabinoids1.pdf
Amar_review_ther_potential1.pdf
Here, you will also find a copy of the sections from the DHHS “Rules Governing the Maine Medical Use of Marijuana Program” that pertain to physicians. We have also included the Maine Physician’s Certification Application from DHHS. This is the form that you can send to the state on behalf of qualifying patients.
There are currently thousands of patients in Maine that are safely using cannabis to treat debilitating diseases. Most of these patients are forced to risk arrest, fines, and incarceration due to a lack of education and understanding the medical community. Furthermore, most physicians realize that opiate abuse is a major problem in Maine and a bane to most primary care practices. Medical marijuana is a safe, effective, and sustainable alternative in the treatment of chronic pain.
We thank you for taking the time to learn more and stay up to date on the safest and most effective treatments for your patients. We hope after doing some research on this subject you will feel confident making medical marijuana recommendations to qualified patients.
If you decide you are willing to consider this option, please let us know by filling out and returning the “Physicians Consent” form. Our Office screens patients as they call, and will refer to your office only those patients who most likely qualify under the current medical marijuana law.