How to Easily Get Your Medical Marijuana Prescription
Medical marijuana has been available in Canada for over a decade, and a growing body of research backs its remarkable health benefits.
In the USA, medical marijuana was legalized in California in 1996, and now MMJ is legalized in 40 States as well as the District of Columbia.
So, why does it still seem so confusing and controversial to get a medical marijuana prescription?
If you want to explore cannabis treatment, don’t let the intimidating application process stop you.
With the right information and guidance, you’ll quickly realize the process is much easier than you think. In fact, you can easily get a medical marijuana prescription and access legal cannabis by following the four steps outlined below.
From consultation to purchasing cannabis, this guide to getting a medical cannabis prescription will give you a better understanding of exactly what’s involved in the medical marijuana application process.
Advertising For Medical Marijuana Cards
If you are a medical marijuana card clinic or MMJ physician in the USA and are interested in Google advertising for your medical cannabis clinic, our medical marijuana dispensary marketing agency can help you with your search engine marketing to help increase leads.
Thousands of people in the USA are searching online daily to learn how to get a medical marijuana card in their State, and you want to make sure your MMJ clinic is on page one of their search results.
We recommend implementing a solid medical marijuana card SEO strategy in order to increase your online presence, search rankings, website traffic and leads.
In addition, using Google advertising for your medical marijuana card business is another excellent digital marketing tactic to increase leads.
Check out this MMJ case study and learn how we helped a MMJ card provider in Utah generate a 5:1 ROAS (return on ad spend) and a 16% conversion rate in just 3-months using medical marijuana card SEO and Google advertising.
Now let’s get to how to get a medical marijuana licence!
Understanding the ACMPR
Before we dive into the application process, it’s important to understand the Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations (ACMPR).
Announced in 2016, these regulations were introduced by Health Canada to grant safe access to medical marijuana for patients seeking alternative health products.
Essentially, these regulations allow you to buy quality-controlled cannabis from government-regulated producers – but you must be authorized by a nurse practitioner or licensed physician first.
A wide range of health conditions can qualify you for medical marijuana treatment under the ACMPR, including (but not limited to) the following:
- Chronic pain
- Sleep disorders
- Anxiety
- Arthritis
- Cancer
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- ADD/ADHD
- Epilepsy
In terms of quality, medical marijuana differs greatly from the recreational variety. Cannabis sold by legal producers is subject to stringent quality controls and must be free of contaminants and residues such as moulds, heavy metals, and pesticides. Each crop is carefully tested and thoroughly inspected before it is made available to patients.
How To Get a Prescription For Medical Cannabis in Canada
So now that we’re clear on the regulations on medical marijuana in Canada and the range of health conditions in which medical cannabis can help you, we’re ready to understand how to get a medical marijuana prescription.
Step 1: Consult With Your Family Doctor
The first step is simple: book an appointment with your family doctor. Consulting with a physician who is already familiar with your medical history will be the quickest way to determine if cannabis is the right treatment for you.
Many doctors still have a negative attitude about cannabis or they may be unfamiliar with the research supporting medical marijuana, so you should be prepared to receive some resistance from your physician.
If you experience this situation, don’t be afraid to speak up. Clearly outline the medications and therapies you’ve already tried that have failed to effectively treat your condition.
It might also be a good idea to print out any relevant information or research to back up your appeal. The more information you provide, the better your chance of being approved for medical marijuana treatment.
Step 2: Get the Necessary Medical Documentation
Once your practitioner decides marijuana is the right treatment for you, they must provide a medical document to authorize the use of cannabis for medical purposes. (It may be this Health Canada form or something similar.)
The form will contain the following information:
- Your full name
- Your date of birth
- The address where you consulted with your practitioner
- The daily quantity of cannabis you’re authorized to use (expressed in grams) and the period of use
Your doctor will also provide their name, administrative information, license number, and signature.
There’s no need to send this form to Health Canada – it must be completed and submitted directly to the licensed producer (as outlined in step 3).
Step 3: Register as a Patient With a Licensed Producer (LP)
After you receive the appropriate documentation, you can register with a licensed producer to legally order your prescription.
Licensed producers are private companies who are licensed by the government to grow, harvest, process, and sell medical cannabis. They must meet a specific set of requirements and undergo a strict application process before being approved by Health Canada.
To register with a licensed producer, you must:
- Provide your original medical document
- Complete a registration form (which can be found on the LP’s website or by contacting them directly)
You have the option to register with any LP of your choice (a list of legal producers in Canada can be found [here]).
This step can seem incredibly confusing, especially if you’re new to marijuana. Your doctor may recommend a specific LP, but oftentimes they’ll only provide a prescription without any further advice or direction.
To help simplify the decision-making process, here are a few key factors to consider when choosing a licensed producer:
Pricing. Check your prescription and consider the price per gram. Does the cost align with what you’re willing to pay? (On average, most strains range between $6 and $15 per gram.)
Policies. Be sure to check the LP’s shipping policy, delivery times, and return policy.
Discounted pricing programs. Licensed producers may offer a discount or compassionate pricing option for veterans and those on low income.
Customer support. LP’s will have a list of FAQ’s on their website, but calling their customer support team can help you make an informed decision.
Payment options. The most common form of payment is by credit card, but you may want to check if other payment methods are available.
The good folks at Lift.co have a list of licensed producers for medical cannabis in Canada.
Step 4: Buying Medical Marijuana
The fourth and final step is to purchase your medical cannabis.
Authorized producers offer a range of medical cannabis strains with different levels of CBD (the non-psychoactive component) and THC (the main psychoactive component).
To experience the health benefits without the high, you may want to consider a strain with a high CBD, low THC ratio. CBD is regarded for its ability to alleviate the symptoms of conditions like epilepsy, anxiety, and arthritis without any mind-altering effects.
These therapeutic strains are available in various forms, such as edibles, pills, and oils, so there’s no need to inhale harmful smoke or carcinogens.
Each licensed producer has a list of products, prices, and strain availability on their individual websites so you can compare them before making a purchase.
If you don’t feel comfortable choosing a strain, consult with a practitioner to determine which variety is best suited to treat your condition. You can also contact your LP directly for more detailed information and advice.
Once you’ve chosen your preferred product, simply place your order online or by phone. Then you can sit back, relax, and wait for your medication to be delivered to your doorstep.
Life is good, right!?
So What About SEO and Advertising for Medical Marijuana Card Providers and MMJ Clinics?
If you work for a company in the medical cannabis and recreational marijuana space, we want to talk to you about Google advertising for medical marijuana cards and SEO for medical marijuana clinics!
ColaDigital is Canada’s most experienced digital marketing agency dedicated to marketing recreational marijuana and medical cannabis.
We partner with marijuana companies who share our vision of de-stigmatizing cannabis and breaking new ground in this dynamic industry.
Our team has been involved in the cannabis digital marketing space since 2004, we believe our experience speaks for itself.
We’ve served over 100 clients in a wide variety of B2B and B2C sectors, including companies in the medical cannabis space. We know what works and what doesn’t.
Compliant Advertising Options For MMJ Physicians and Clinics
Our cannabis digital marketing agency can assist medical marijuana card doctors and clinics in expanding their business through Google advertising in the following 9 ways:
1. Targeted Campaigns:
- Our MMJ advertising experts can create highly targeted Google Ads campaigns that focus on specific keywords related to medical marijuana cards and related services.
This ensures that the ads are shown to individuals actively searching for such services, increasing the chances of attracting qualified leads.
2. Ad Copy and Landing Pages:
- Our team can craft compelling ad copy that highlights the benefits of obtaining a medical marijuana card from the specific doctors or clinics.
Additionally, we can design optimized landing pages that provide relevant information and encourage visitors to take action, such as scheduling an appointment or contacting the clinic.
3. Geographic Targeting:
- Since medical marijuana laws vary by location, our agency can use geotargeting to display ads only to users in areas where medical marijuana is legal.
This ensures that the ads reach the right audience and comply with local regulations.
4. Ad Extensions:
- Utilizing ad extensions helps us add additional information like clinic location, contact details, and links to relevant sections of the website.
This helps users access important information directly from the ad and increases the chances of conversion.
5. Data Analysis and Optimization:
- Our medical marijuana marketing experts can continuously monitor the performance of the ads using Google Analytics and other tracking tools.
They can identify which keywords and ads are generating the most clicks and conversions, allowing them to refine and optimize the campaigns over time.
6. Budget Management:
- Our MMJ digital marketing agency can manage the budget effectively to maximize the return on investment.
We can adjust bidding strategies, allocate funds to high-performing campaigns, and pause or adjust underperforming ones.
7. Remarketing:
- Through Google’s remarketing features, we can retarget users who have previously visited the website but didn’t convert.
This can remind them of the medical marijuana card services and encourage them to revisit the site and complete their desired action.
8. Ad Compliance:
- Given the sensitive nature of medical marijuana advertising, our cannabis marketing agency can ensure that the ads comply with Google’s advertising policies and any relevant regulations.
This prevents potential issues and ensures a smooth campaign experience.
9. Testing and Experimentation:
- We can conduct A/B testing on different ad elements such as headlines, images, and calls to action to identify which variations resonate best with the target audience, leading to higher conversion rates.
By implementing these strategies, our digital marketing agency can effectively promote your medical marijuana card services for doctors and clinics through Google advertising, helping you attract more qualified leads, increase conversions, and grow your business.
SEO For Medical Marijuana Cards
SEO for medical marijuana is an essential digital marketing tactic for medical marijuana physicians and clinics offering medical marijuana cards due to several key reasons:
1. Visibility and Credibility:
- Many individuals searching for medical marijuana information or services start their journey on search engines like Google.
By optimizing their websites for relevant keywords, medical marijuana physicians and clinics can appear higher in search results, increasing their visibility and establishing credibility as reputable sources for medical marijuana services.
2. Targeted Traffic:
- SEO allows businesses to target specific keywords and phrases that potential patients are likely to search for.
This means that the traffic directed to their websites is more likely to be composed of individuals actively seeking the services they offer, leading to higher conversion rates.
3. Competitive Advantage:
- The medical marijuana industry is growing, and the competition can be fierce.
Effective medical marijuana card SEO can help physicians and clinics stand out in a crowded market by securing higher rankings than competitors, attracting more organic traffic, and potentially capturing a larger share of the market.
4. Cost-Effectiveness:
- Compared to other digital marketing strategies like paid advertising, SEO can offer a higher return on investment over the long term.
While it might require an initial investment, ranking well in search results can continue to drive traffic without ongoing advertising expenses.
5. Building Trust:
- When a medical marijuana physician or clinic consistently appears in top search results, it can build trust among potential patients.
Being listed prominently indicates that the business is established, reliable, and authoritative in the medical marijuana field.
6. Local SEO for Clinics:
- For medical marijuana card clinics, local SEO is particularly crucial.
Optimizing for local keywords helps these clinics appear in local searches, making it easier for nearby patients to find and access their services.
7. Educational Resource:
- Medical marijuana is a topic that requires education and information.
By integrating informative content into their websites and optimizing it for search engines, physicians and clinics can position themselves as valuable educational resources, attracting patients seeking information along with their services.
In summary, SEO is a vital digital marketing strategy for medical marijuana physicians and clinics because it enhances their online visibility, credibility, and competitive edge, while effectively targeting potential patients and building a trustworthy online presence.
If you have questions or are ready to work with us, please contact us or use the form below. We’re ready to help you grow!