Medical Marijuana faq, Alternative Medicines

---

The Florida Department of Health, physicians, dispensing organizations, and patients are bound by Article X Section 29 of the Florida Constitution and 381.986 Florida Statutes.  Amendment 2, and the expanded qualifying medical conditions, became effective on January 3, 2017 for those seeking a medical marijuana card.

Under Florida Law the following are a "Debilitating Medical Condition" which would qualify:

• cancer
• epilepsy
• glaucoma
•  positive status for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) 
•  acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) 
•  post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
•  amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) 
•  Crohn’s disease 
•  Parkinson’s disease 
•  multiple sclerosis 
•  other  debilitating medical conditions of the same kind or class as or  comparable to those enumerated, and for which a physician believes that  the medical use of marijuana would likely outweigh the potential health  risks for a patient. 

Each individual is required to come into our office as a new patient for an evaluation to review their medical history, and substantiate a diagnosis that allows Dr. Rucker to recommend alternative medicines medical marijuana.  Medical Marijuana and IV Therapy can be used together, and are examples of alternative medicine we can use on some of our cancer patients (i.e. alternative medicine breast cancer and alternative medicine pancreatic cancer).

After establishing a relationship with our office, you will be required to send in an application to the State of Florida for a Compassionate Use Registry Card which requires a passport photo, proof of residency, and a $75 fee in order to to obtain your medical marijuana card.

Once your application has been approved by the State of Florida our office will provide a medical marijuana prescription and you can go to any of the licensed dispensing organizations to purchase your medical marijuana.

 Once approved our patients are required to see the Doctor and update the Medical Marijuana Consent Form every 210 days. 

We do not bill insurance for medical marijuana.

New Patient Consultation is $150.  Our patients can choose two options for their medical marijuana prescription: 

1. $150 - 70 day prescription that allows you to purchase medical marijuana from a licensed dispensary.  Once your prescription has expired you will need to make a follow up appointment to renew your prescription.
2. $375 - 210 day prescription that allows you to purchase medical marijuana from a licensed dispensary.  Once your prescription has expired you will need to make a follow up appointment to renew your prescription.

If our patients choose the 210 day prescription option they will save a total of $75 in comparison to purchasing three separate 70 day prescriptions ($450 less $375 equals $75).

Initial Consultation our patients will spend either $300 (New Consultation with 70 day prescription) or $575 (New Consultation with 210 day prescription).