Talking To Doctors About Cannabis or CBD Use

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Honesty Is Truly The Best Policy:

We’d all like things to go smoothly in our doctor’s appointments and for this reason, many people will either omit information or nervously disclose more than they would have liked to. Although we pay for our insurances that pay doctors many are still very intimidated – especially if there are pharmaceuticals involved we’ve grown to count on our physician to provide. Personally, I took the bull by the horns and told doctors from the beginning back in 2013 that Cannabis and CBD had stopped the daily seizures and I was stopping most of my medication on my own. I don’t advise people to follow that example but of course, everyone will do what they feel best for their own unique situation. By taking that direct approach 6 years ago before the current rush of legalization, production of products, and lagging behind – patient and physician education, I exposed myself to a plethora of problems. From losing specialists that would no longer treat me after I said ‘no more’ to multiple seizure medications that didn’t work and refused to pick up prescriptions that were waiting at the pharmacy. I could have gone about that differently and possibly helped two specialists learn why their patient no longer was having severe refractory seizures almost daily.

Thankfully my primary care doctor who was nearly 70 years old knew about cannabis extracts and decided to take over prescribing the medications I was weaning from and he started the documenting of medical files with the use of CBD and Cannabis listed along with pharmaceuticals as my medicine. Now that’s what we want as an end result – not a pharmaceutical version of cannabis but the actual milligrams of extract I use or an approximation given to go right into the medical file just like any other drug, supplement, vitamin, you name it would go. After many years of working with cannabis compassion patients, providers, cannabinoid medicine doctors, and experts I’ve learned so much and would have handled things way differently. Here’s my own checklist I use for visits with doctors that are unfamiliar with me or cannabis:

DO:

If you were recommended to use medicinal cannabis by an MD, always carry a copy in your wallet or purse and always provide it to all healthcare individuals you encounter including the lab or imaging.

Why to imaging? Because it opens doors – now they have a cannabis patient they’re doing an MRI on, etc. The lab goes without saying that if a positive test comes a medical doctor has already recommended its use and your primary care is put in a professional position to accept it or not – there’s now no grey area.

Disclose it:

We don’t gain anything from not telling our doctors the truth. This doesn’t mean going into detail about the type but it’s good to let a doctor know you’re ingesting if that’s the case. Most are aware that ingestion of cannabis is medicinal and believe smoking and inhaling is recreational which isn’t true but take it slow. What you don’t want is a positive THC test coming up in labs when you’re not expecting it as some doctors will hold back pharmaceutical drugs due to that. Keep in mind the current knowledge we have about cannabis users quitting pharmaceuticals – they don’t all have that information nor may believe it. You’ll have to prove it. How I personally do this is in the next ‘Do’ – and that’s getting the nurse to list the introduction of the extract or use of cannabis as a medicine. Ingestion will make this way easier as supplements and vitamins are listed as well as your pharmaceuticals.

The nurse asks 'Have you started any new medications or supplements?':

The door is now open. This is when my response is “Yes, I’m using 125mg of CBD daily and 350mg of C.O. as well, please list those as medications – they’re natural supplements”. Then the door opens further and the response is something like “What’s that” or “Is that the oil the girl in Colorado used?”, which allows me to subtly answer yes and go into the benefits of ingestion and highlight the fact that with CBD I don’t feel the THC use that’s in the Cannabis Oil or ‘C.O.’ as I have the nurse list it. I tell them it’s easier to use the initials C.O., and they do. Am I tricking a doctor, well maybe? Am I helping them learn? Yes. So, then I ask for them to actually show me my records when I leave that list these as medicine under any pharmaceuticals I use. Now I have documented the file and as the pharmaceuticals weaned away there’s no way to argue that the increased doses and ongoing doses of Cannabis extracts were the reason. Now the road is paved for the next doctor or specialist I’ll see.

Engage in reasonable conversation:

Be prepared but try not to be nervous. Doctors will have some questions when you disclose use. Talk about it candidly and how it’s helping you. Let them know the intricate details because this is how you make your decision. As much as we want an ‘Ok’ from our doctors, most of us know the facts. We have to make a decision as to whether our healthcare provider is knowledgeable enough about cannabis before accepting their advice. Sure we’re aware they know way more than most of us in regards to so many things – but when it comes to cannabinoid medicine the experts that I know for the most part do not have the initials M.D. behind their name.

Get an email address and put your concerns in writing:

I don’t like verbal confrontations that go unresolved or leave me feeling uneasy. It’s always best to professionally document anything you feel should be – for this reason, I gain email addresses and correspond in that manner when the verbal discussion isn’t working too well with this.

The Do's are simple - they're the exact opposite of the number one Don't!

Don't argue or get into a heated debate:

If your doctor disagrees with you ask for their email address to send some information to them. I’ve asked the receptionist instead of the doctor as I don’t want to argue. I’ve found it’s more of a stress inducer than anything else as a doctor that’s yet to learn about cannabinoid medicine is like a mechanic that uses a crescent wrench for all repairs. I’m not going to go easy on doctors that got me hooked on opioids and talked poorly of cannabis. I’m not going to be nice about doctors that pushed seizure medication knowing it would not work and talked bad about cannabis. I certainly won’t defend an oncologist who reported me for noncompliance because I didn’t report the cannabis oil use and turned down the chemo treatment plan – that cost me a month’s worth of insurance coverage. So the lesson is learned. The heated debate or argument will not work. Instead, get that email address and make your point about Cannabis use in writing and not in a defensive position. Use nothing but scholarly articles written by MD’s – research. Base your decision on experts and do not argue. If your doctor wants to continue a debate against cannabis it’s a good idea to shop for a new one as we pay them. We pay our copay and we pay for our insurance. For some reason, most patients forget this fact but if we go into the employee/employer relationship mode it simply doesn’t pay. We need our doctors on our side, not pitted against us.

Don't lie:

Helping Someone with a Drug Addiction — If your doctor asks you a question – answer it. You want honesty from them right?

Don't defend yourself like you're using an illicit drug:

Remember you’re having a discussion with your healthcare provider and need them to understand. I’ve found that when I go into the defense mode over cannabinoid medicine use it only heats things up. Instead, revert back up to the ‘get the email address and put it in writing if you feel like you’re on the defense vs. having a discussion.

Don't try to be the know it all:

I know a little about a lot when it comes to cannabinoid medicine but I still do not divulge this to most healthcare providers. My own primary is aware and loves to book extra time to learn from me – but many other doctors I meet for the first time for my own care aren’t waiting for me to talk and talk about Cannabis as medicine. They haven’t seen the journey or records and for the most part, are interested in the specialty medicine I’ve been sent to them for. Does this mean I’m a quiet guy about things? No, instead I take it subtly. I give it the amount of time it deserves a discussion of any other medicine would and if I feel a doctor is cutting off the subject I know it’s time to stop talking about that and move on. It’s really easy to know when a doctor or healthcare specialist wants to learn more – they’ll tell you.

I could make a list a mile long of what I’d say or wouldn’t but with each person and their unique relationship with their healthcare providers, it’s a different scenario. Hopefully, this gives readers some insight into how I’ve handled things. After nearly 6 years there are nearly 20 different doctors, including specialists, that have documented cannabis/cannabis oil used as medicine including CBD along with any pharmaceuticals because I took that route and used the opportunity given when most will literally lie and say “No, nothing new” when asked if they’ve started any new medications or supplements – and it’s such an easy way in because it’s normally a nurse with a smile that loves to say hello that’s asking – and then it’s the same person you’re asking as you exit to show you your records that indicate the use of it. It’s a way to get it into medical records without the doctor even asking about it quite often! I can’t count the times a healthcare specialist has brought up cannabis use with me and I’ve been able to respond “It’s been in your files for months” – quite often the response back is “Oh”, and the subject is changed or they ask how it’s working.

The Cannabis Love Story: How Genevieve Created A Family

-Mike Robinson, Cannabis Patient and Founder, Global Cannabinoid Research Center. But, most of all, Genevieve’s Daddy

‘There are those that look at things the way they are, and ask why? I dream of things that never were, and ask why not? ‘

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