{"componentChunkName":"component---common-build-tags-template-js","path":"/tag/doctors/","result":{"data":{"allArticle":{"edges":[{"node":{"id":"Article_2385-markdown","title":"UC Davis to Teach Physiology of Cannabis Course","slug":"uc-davis-to-teach-physiology-of-cannabis-course","content":"### Cannabis Education at UC Davis\n\nUniversity of California at Davis is offering a new Physiology of Cannabis class that allows students to learn about cannabis, becoming one of the first universities in the state of California as well as the nation to offer formal education in this area. The new class offering is comes on the heels of the recent passage of Prop 64 which makes recreational marijuana legal in California. \n\nFOLLOW US ON [FACEBOOK](https://www.facebook.com/pg/hellomdcompany/posts/) & [INSTAGRAM](https://www.instagram.com/hellomd_com/?hl=en)\n\nThe instructor of the course, Yu-Fung Lin is an associate professor of physiology and membrane biology at the UC Davis School of Medicine. Lin expressed the importance of the new course saying, “We feel it is important at this moment to educate students about the physiology and medical indications of cannabis and cannabinoids.” The class will be offered to undergraduate students across UC Davis, fulfilling a general education requirement for science and engineering. \n\nThe course will cover the biology of cannabis and cannabinoids, as well as how they effect different systems in the body. The course will also delve into the potential medical benefits of cannabis and the history of cannabis use as a medication. A more advanced version of the class is being formulated for medical students to be also offered next year. UC Davis is also hoping to expand public knowledge of cannabis through a similar course offered to the general public.\n\n### Other Types of Cannabis Education\n\nThe course is the first of its kind to be offered in the UC system, making it an important step in the expansion of education on the benefits of marijuana. As many people involved in or interested in the marijuana industry know, the current lack of reputable education on the subject of cannabis is major problem. Only a handful of universities in the country offer classes on marijuana. The University of Vermont medical school and the Massachusetts Medical Society both offer limited courses on marijuana, as well as three different law schools in the country, including Harvard. \n\nThe United States does have one cannabis education dedicated campus, which is Oaksterdam University located in Oakland, California. Founded in 2007, Oaksterdam University was founded by Richard Lee as a trade school for people in the cannabis industry. The school was modeled on the Cannabis College in Amsterdam, though it has a far extended curriculum from the horticulture focused school in Europe. Oaksterdam University offers courses in business, culinary arts, history, horticulture, law, and sciences, all based around marijuana. \n\nThere are also a few online training programs for doctors that allow them to get more information on cannabis, including how to properly prescribe it for different conditions. Certain states require doctors to complete various online training programs before being authorized to prescribe medical marijuana.\n\nThe Medical Cannabis Institute is an online resources that provides courses ranging from Clinical Applications of Cannabis for Cancer Patients to Core Knowledge of the Endocannabinoid System. There are also a variety of patient resources, like HelloMD, that provide patients with information to help them understand the way cannabis can be used to aid a variety of medical conditions.\n\n### Doctor Education is Missing\n\nDespite the expanding amount of cannabis-oriented resources for doctors, patients, and curious public alike, there is still a lack of formal educational resources available to the general public. Doctors are possibly the most effected by the lack of educational opportunities, as they do not receive any formal training on cannabis in medical school like other pharmaceuticals they prescribe. Perry Solomon, the Chief Medical Officer at HelloMD, said this of the lack of available education for doctors;\n\n>“One the biggest obstacles in patients obtaining medicinal cannabis in legal states is the inability to find physicians who are familiar with cannabis. There is only one medical school in the country that actually teaches a course on cannabis and only 13% of the others mention it in various details. This, of course, results in an uninformed graduating physician population. \n\n>When a patient then goes to a doctor and wants to discuss cannabis as an alternative to traditional medication, the physician is unable to do so. What I have seen happen occasionally as well is, due to their ignorance and pre-determined bias regarding cannabis, the physician “fires” the patient who has been using cannabis!\n\n>As more and more states legalize medicinal cannabis, I have seen more physicians attending educational events all across the country. It is vital for more physicians to become educated about cannabis since they will be seeing more of their patients using it in the future, including states where “adult use” is permitted. What we have seen most at HelloMD is patients who had used cannabis to help with chronic pain, the number one reason that patients use cannabis. An educated physician population can encourage this use and hopefully decrease the 33,091 people who overdosed from opioids in 2015.\"\n\nAs cannabis is becoming more recognized as a viable medication, hopefully the educational opportunities will continue to expand for doctors. It is important that doctors are educated on how to prescribe cannabis, so patients can use cannabis more effectively and safely. \n\nIf you are new to cannabis and want to learn more, take a look at our [Cannabis 101](https://hellomd.com/articles/cannabis-101-your-quick-guide-to-medical-marijuana) post. [HelloMD](https://www.hellomd.com/) can help you get your medical marijuana recommendation; it's 100% online, private and efficient.\n","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/png;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.492537313432836,"src":"/static/6e716462c50a3c837f9fa69b6c392e67/ee604/05fa3bb660166ce41051671cabc34b40.png","srcSet":"/static/6e716462c50a3c837f9fa69b6c392e67/69585/05fa3bb660166ce41051671cabc34b40.png 200w,\n/static/6e716462c50a3c837f9fa69b6c392e67/497c6/05fa3bb660166ce41051671cabc34b40.png 400w,\n/static/6e716462c50a3c837f9fa69b6c392e67/ee604/05fa3bb660166ce41051671cabc34b40.png 800w,\n/static/6e716462c50a3c837f9fa69b6c392e67/f3583/05fa3bb660166ce41051671cabc34b40.png 1200w,\n/static/6e716462c50a3c837f9fa69b6c392e67/90ce3/05fa3bb660166ce41051671cabc34b40.png 1428w","srcWebp":"/static/6e716462c50a3c837f9fa69b6c392e67/58556/05fa3bb660166ce41051671cabc34b40.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/6e716462c50a3c837f9fa69b6c392e67/61e93/05fa3bb660166ce41051671cabc34b40.webp 200w,\n/static/6e716462c50a3c837f9fa69b6c392e67/1f5c5/05fa3bb660166ce41051671cabc34b40.webp 400w,\n/static/6e716462c50a3c837f9fa69b6c392e67/58556/05fa3bb660166ce41051671cabc34b40.webp 800w,\n/static/6e716462c50a3c837f9fa69b6c392e67/99238/05fa3bb660166ce41051671cabc34b40.webp 1200w,\n/static/6e716462c50a3c837f9fa69b6c392e67/cad8b/05fa3bb660166ce41051671cabc34b40.webp 1428w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2361-markdown","title":"Telehealth: The Future of Medicine","slug":"telehealth-the-future-of-medicine","content":"### Telehealth: The Future of Medicine\r\n\r\nTelemedicine has grown by leaps and bounds in recent years as more people have access to smart phones and a consistent internet connection. Patients love the convenience of being able to connect with a doctor quickly from the comfort of home. \r\n\r\n[ARE YOU A DOCTOR? JOIN US & BECOME A HELLOMD TELEHEALTH DOCTOR.](https://www.hellomd.com/our-doctors)\r\n\r\n###  Demand for Digital Medicine\r\n\r\nLast year, 15 million Americans received some kind of remote medical care, and the American Telemedicine Association expects the number of remote doctors visits to increase by 30% in the coming year. Only 15% of physicians surveyed currently use telemedicine, but according to an American Academy of Family Physicians survey, 78% of patients believe that telemedicine would improve their access to care, as well as the quality of the care.\r\n\r\n[![](https://hellomd-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/58a247031e9cce000fb47c5f/embedded_images/58a247051e9cce000fb47c60/Screen_Shot_2017-02-13_at_2.35.39_PM.png)](https://www.hellomd.com/our-doctors)\r\n[Join the HelloMD team of doctors and see patients from anywhere.](https://www.hellomd.com/our-doctors)\r\n\r\nTo respond to this patient demand, an increasing number of companies are adding telemedicine access to their list of employee benefits. In 2015, 48% of employers provided telemedicine benefits; in 2016 this increased to 74%. Hospitals are also investing in telemedicine technology; currently 72% of of them incorporate telemedicine into their practice in some form.\r\n\r\n### Becoming a Telehealth Doctor & Patient\r\n\r\nTelemedicine carries many of the same benefits for doctors as it does for patients. Because physical proximity to patients is no longer a concern, doctors gain the flexibility to work from home and to tailor their hours to best suit their lifestyles. For many, this can eliminate the need to maintain a separate office and result in significant financial savings. Have a private space and a reliable internet connection? You're ready to join the telemedicine revolution!\r\n\r\n[ARE YOU A DOCTOR? FIND OUT HOW TO JOIN OUR TEAM.](https://www.hellomd.com/our-doctors)\r\n","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,/9j/2wBDABALDA4MChAODQ4SERATGCgaGBYWGDEjJR0oOjM9PDkzODdASFxOQERXRTc4UG1RV19iZ2hnPk1xeXBkeFxlZ2P/2wBDARESEhgVGC8aGi9jQjhCY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2P/wgARCAAPABQDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAGAAAAwEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMFAQT/xAAWAQEBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQL/2gAMAwEAAhADEAAAAaGT+q5eJD//xAAZEAADAQEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQIREBL/2gAIAQEAAQUCFj5Nqnp6P//EABYRAQEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAASAf/aAAgBAwEBPwGU4//EABURAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAR/9oACAECAQE/Aar/xAAWEAEBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQEUH/2gAIAQEABj8CuMf/xAAbEAEAAgIDAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABABEQIVFhof/aAAgBAQABPyFoPSKFEQhvgNXCnWH/2gAMAwEAAgADAAAAEF8v/8QAFxEBAAMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARAhMf/aAAgBAwEBPxBY5UH/xAAXEQEAAwAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAREh/9oACAECAQE/EIyu/8QAGxABAAICAwAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQARIUFRYXH/2gAIAQEAAT8QbKWNDEvqrxJ1xcCwgcGmEaA5BGjP/9k=","aspectRatio":1.3333333333333333,"src":"/static/cbd72d5013ff8365defb3c00d6716ac0/14b42/c1b72f2ef587ddaacbbfef5faf17aed0.jpg","srcSet":"/static/cbd72d5013ff8365defb3c00d6716ac0/f836f/c1b72f2ef587ddaacbbfef5faf17aed0.jpg 200w,\n/static/cbd72d5013ff8365defb3c00d6716ac0/2244e/c1b72f2ef587ddaacbbfef5faf17aed0.jpg 400w,\n/static/cbd72d5013ff8365defb3c00d6716ac0/14b42/c1b72f2ef587ddaacbbfef5faf17aed0.jpg 800w,\n/static/cbd72d5013ff8365defb3c00d6716ac0/47498/c1b72f2ef587ddaacbbfef5faf17aed0.jpg 1200w,\n/static/cbd72d5013ff8365defb3c00d6716ac0/54ac5/c1b72f2ef587ddaacbbfef5faf17aed0.jpg 1365w","srcWebp":"/static/cbd72d5013ff8365defb3c00d6716ac0/58556/c1b72f2ef587ddaacbbfef5faf17aed0.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/cbd72d5013ff8365defb3c00d6716ac0/61e93/c1b72f2ef587ddaacbbfef5faf17aed0.webp 200w,\n/static/cbd72d5013ff8365defb3c00d6716ac0/1f5c5/c1b72f2ef587ddaacbbfef5faf17aed0.webp 400w,\n/static/cbd72d5013ff8365defb3c00d6716ac0/58556/c1b72f2ef587ddaacbbfef5faf17aed0.webp 800w,\n/static/cbd72d5013ff8365defb3c00d6716ac0/99238/c1b72f2ef587ddaacbbfef5faf17aed0.webp 1200w,\n/static/cbd72d5013ff8365defb3c00d6716ac0/5e0b8/c1b72f2ef587ddaacbbfef5faf17aed0.webp 1365w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2384-markdown","title":"New York Attempts to Reduce Barriers to Medical Marijuana","slug":"new-york-attempts-to-reduce-barriers-to-medical-marijuana","content":"### Nurses Can Now Recommend Marijuana\n\nAs of November 30th, patients in New York are now able to receive medical marijuana recommendations not only from doctors, but from nurse practitioners as well. Nurse practitioners in New York can now register with the state Health Department to receive a certification in order to recommend medical marijuana to patients. This is a huge and potentially positive development for a state that has put up enormous hurdles for patients to obtain state issued medical recommendations for cannabis. \n\nNurses, just like doctors within NY, will be required to take an approved online course called “Medical Use of Marijuana” and submit their credentials of completion to the Health Department before being allowed to sign off on patient recommendations. The Health Department also started a 45-day comment period on another proposed amendment that would give Physician’s Assistants the ability to give medical marijuana recommendations to patients in addition to nurses. What is interesting in this development is that nurses, not doctors, are often more well informed regarding the efficacy of cannabis with patients.\n\n### An Incomplete Medical Program with Big Hurdles\n\nMedical marijuana has experienced mixed reviews in the state, particularly with patients who believe that the implementation of the medical marijuana program was incomplete, making it incredibly difficult and expensive to obtain marijuana as a medicine. HelloMD talked with a New York dispensary that confirmed that the impediments to doing business mostly centered around the lack of patients. This dispensary was quoted as saying “We have been prepared to do business in a difficult market as we believe the state will eventually ease requirements to getting a medical recommendation.  If this happens it will result in larger patient flow, increase overall business and ideally lower the costs reflected back to the patient.”\n\nOfficials from the New York Department of Health, however, have declared medical marijuana a success in the state. The health commissioner of the state, Dr. Howard Zucker, has expressed that adding nurses, and possibly physicians assistants, to the recommendation process will serve to help improve the program, especially in rural areas where doctors are limited. \n\nThe current program in the state involves roughly 10,500 patients and 740 doctors who have been approved to recommend medical marijuana to patients. The ratio of doctors to patients at about 14:1 isn't nearly as bad as the lack of dispensaries in the state. The state did not even reach its goal of having five dispensaries up and running by the time of medical marijuana roll out in the state. Still to this day, 27% of registered patients and caregivers have to travel one to five hours to reach a dispensary. \n\nRELATED: [WHY DOCTORS IN NEW YORK AREN'T RECOMMENDING MARIJUANA](https://hellomd.com/health-wellness/56eb327eed004d0008000011/why-doctors-in-new-york-arent-recommending-marijuana)\n\n### Medicine: Too Costly for Patients\n\nNot only are dispensaries costly to reach for over a quarter of the people enrolled in the program, but the cost of marijuana in the state is extremely expensive. In a survey of people enrolled in the medical cannabis program, 70% of respondents said that their monthly cost for medication would be $300 or more. All of these factors add to New York’s reputation as on of the hardest states to access medical marijuana. Previously, the state has also experienced some major problems within the Department of Health. The Department of Health previously mishandled regulations on how doctors could be certified, leaving many gravely ill patients unable to access medication that could have been truly life changing for them. \n\nAnother major problem was the faulty dispensary roll out, which is an issue that still has not been completely resolved. People having to drive over an hour to get their medication is a major problem that shows incomplete commitment to the program by the state. Medical marijuana should be viewed on the same plane as pharmaceutical medications, so accessing a dispensary should be as easy for patients as accessing a pharmacy. \n\n### Too Few Doctors & Not Enough Education\n\nNew York has also had some problems getting doctors interested in enrolling in the program to recommend medical marijuana. Many doctors in the state are fearful of federal retribution for being involved in the marijuana program because it is still considered a federally illegal substance. Doctors across the country must register with the DEA in order to handle prescription drugs and many are worried that their right to prescribe pharmaceuticals could be revoked if there is backlash against medical marijuana in the future. \n\nMany doctors in the state also feel under educated on cannabis, despite the fact that New York is one of the few states that requires doctors to take a course before being allowed to recommend medical marijuana. Unlike in other states, however, New York physicians are suppose to recommend doses to patients, rather than patients getting dosage information from dispensaries. \n\nMany Doctors who do recommend medical marijuana in the state feel overwhelmed by the sheer number of people interested in medical marijuana for their various conditions. One of the conditions where medical marijuana has the most efficacy, chronic pain, is still not an approved condition in the state, leaving many people who could greatly benefit from cannabis to resort to harsher, and often addictive, pharmaceuticals like opioids. \n\nNew York is starting to turn the tide and potentially change their reputation on medical marijuana by giving patients more access to recommendations through nurses, but these improvements do not take away from the large changes the state still has to make to provide their patients with a consistent and affordable source of medication. The bottom line is that New York needs to keep moving in this direction and quickly. The state must improve overall education for medical providers as well as patients, make a significant effort to help licensed dispensaries to lower overall costs and license more dispensaries for those in more rural areas.\n\n_______________________________________________________________________\n\nIf you are new to cannabis and want to learn more, take a look at our [Cannabis 101](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/cannabis-101-your-quick-guide-to-medical-marijuana) post. [HelloMD](https://www.hellomd.com/) can help you get your medical marijuana recommendation; it's 100% online, private and efficient.","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.3333333333333333,"src":"/static/665545d9a459d47d4c6c054a6148d81d/14b42/aece5705618c6bd11087574ace37b1c0.jpg","srcSet":"/static/665545d9a459d47d4c6c054a6148d81d/f836f/aece5705618c6bd11087574ace37b1c0.jpg 200w,\n/static/665545d9a459d47d4c6c054a6148d81d/2244e/aece5705618c6bd11087574ace37b1c0.jpg 400w,\n/static/665545d9a459d47d4c6c054a6148d81d/14b42/aece5705618c6bd11087574ace37b1c0.jpg 800w,\n/static/665545d9a459d47d4c6c054a6148d81d/47498/aece5705618c6bd11087574ace37b1c0.jpg 1200w,\n/static/665545d9a459d47d4c6c054a6148d81d/54ac5/aece5705618c6bd11087574ace37b1c0.jpg 1365w","srcWebp":"/static/665545d9a459d47d4c6c054a6148d81d/58556/aece5705618c6bd11087574ace37b1c0.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/665545d9a459d47d4c6c054a6148d81d/61e93/aece5705618c6bd11087574ace37b1c0.webp 200w,\n/static/665545d9a459d47d4c6c054a6148d81d/1f5c5/aece5705618c6bd11087574ace37b1c0.webp 400w,\n/static/665545d9a459d47d4c6c054a6148d81d/58556/aece5705618c6bd11087574ace37b1c0.webp 800w,\n/static/665545d9a459d47d4c6c054a6148d81d/99238/aece5705618c6bd11087574ace37b1c0.webp 1200w,\n/static/665545d9a459d47d4c6c054a6148d81d/5e0b8/aece5705618c6bd11087574ace37b1c0.webp 1365w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2106-markdown","title":"MJ for MDs: Marijuana for Medical Professionals","slug":"mj-for-mds-marijuana-for-medical-professionals","content":"Medical marijuana education is often lacking for many [doctors](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/5806c02b5bcbef00076268ad/medical-marijuana-doctors-where-are-they), even in states where medical marijuana has been legal for over 20 years. Fewer than 5% of doctors in Colorado, where marijuana is medically and recreationally legal, recommend cannabis to their patients. This is due mostly because of their lack of knowledge on how cannabis effects patients and the different types of products available. Budtenders, who are often on the frontline of giving patients recommendations on specific products, often receive little to no training on medical marijuana, and usually give recommendations based on anecdotal evidence of what has worked for other patients. \n\n![](https://hellomd-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/580e6dd5b3a97600073e201c/embedded_images/580e6e98ab448f0007934fa7/Screen_Shot_2016-10-24_at_10.58.07_AM.png)\n \nThere are a limited number of programs for doctors to receive secondary education, but MJ for MDs is an organization that strives to provide doctors, other medical professionals, and people in the marijuana industry with the adequate information they need to properly guide patients on medical marijuana usage. Giving doctors, medical professionals, and budtenders access to adequate information on using medical marijuana for treatment of various medical conditions is crucial for cannabis to reach its true potential within the United States. \n\nMJ for MDs has organized a convention on November 14th through the 16th of 2016 in Denver, Colorado at the Westin Hotel Downtown Denver. The convention will feature various speakers including doctors and industry professionals, as well as keynote addresses by the likes of Mara Gordon of Aunt Zelda’s California and Guillermo Velasco PhD of Compultense Universidad de Madrid. [Dr. Perry Solomon, the Chief Medical Officer of HelloMD](https://www.hellomd.com/people/PerrySolomonMD), will also be speaking at the conference on the topic of telemedicine for cannabis. Various other topics will be covered, ranging from how cannabis can help with specific medical conditions to understanding pesticide use in the growth of cannabis.  The MJ for MDs conference is a great learning opportunity for medical professionals, cannabis industry professionals, and patients alike. \n\nRegister by October 31st with the discount code HELLO2016 and receive $100 off. For more information and a full schedule of speakers and events, go to [MJ for MDs](https://marijuanaformedicalprofessionals.com/). ","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.3333333333333333,"src":"/static/ec74b0be989cd73fd16fdfdf045b42ac/14b42/eebdcd108003891b46b7e2e0e963b670.jpg","srcSet":"/static/ec74b0be989cd73fd16fdfdf045b42ac/f836f/eebdcd108003891b46b7e2e0e963b670.jpg 200w,\n/static/ec74b0be989cd73fd16fdfdf045b42ac/2244e/eebdcd108003891b46b7e2e0e963b670.jpg 400w,\n/static/ec74b0be989cd73fd16fdfdf045b42ac/14b42/eebdcd108003891b46b7e2e0e963b670.jpg 800w,\n/static/ec74b0be989cd73fd16fdfdf045b42ac/47498/eebdcd108003891b46b7e2e0e963b670.jpg 1200w,\n/static/ec74b0be989cd73fd16fdfdf045b42ac/54ac5/eebdcd108003891b46b7e2e0e963b670.jpg 1365w","srcWebp":"/static/ec74b0be989cd73fd16fdfdf045b42ac/58556/eebdcd108003891b46b7e2e0e963b670.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/ec74b0be989cd73fd16fdfdf045b42ac/61e93/eebdcd108003891b46b7e2e0e963b670.webp 200w,\n/static/ec74b0be989cd73fd16fdfdf045b42ac/1f5c5/eebdcd108003891b46b7e2e0e963b670.webp 400w,\n/static/ec74b0be989cd73fd16fdfdf045b42ac/58556/eebdcd108003891b46b7e2e0e963b670.webp 800w,\n/static/ec74b0be989cd73fd16fdfdf045b42ac/99238/eebdcd108003891b46b7e2e0e963b670.webp 1200w,\n/static/ec74b0be989cd73fd16fdfdf045b42ac/5e0b8/eebdcd108003891b46b7e2e0e963b670.webp 1365w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2190-markdown","title":"Medical Marijuana Doctors: Where Are They?","slug":"medical-marijuana-doctors-where-are-they","content":"### Cannabis Use Does Not Worry Doctors\nA [recent study](https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2016/10/05/your-doctors-probably-more-worried-about-your-weight-than-your-marijuana-use-study-finds/) published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, also known as PNAS, found that doctors do not find cannabis use as a concerning behavior. \n\nThe 233 doctors involved in the study were presented with nine behaviors: tobacco use, depression, alcohol use, marijuana use, obesity, firearms in the house, previous abortions, marijuana use, having sex with a prostitute, and not wearing a helmet while riding a motorcycle. The doctors ranked each item on a ten point scale. \n\nDoctors ranked having sex with a prostitute and not wearing a helmet while riding a motorcycle as the most concerning behaviors, whereas marijuana use was ranked as the item of least concern out of the whole group. Alcohol and tobacco usage were also ranked as a higher concerns by doctors than cannabis use. \n\n### Doctors Favor Medical Marijuana\n\nThe findings of the [study](http://www.cbsnews.com/news/survey-76-percent-of-doctors-approve-of-medical-marijuana-use/) are not surprising seeing as a 2013 study found that 76% of doctors are in favor of medical marijuana. The study involved doctors from 72 different countries and 56 different states and provinces from the United States. Cannabis has not caused any reported deaths or overdoses in its thousands of years of use and a study from May of this year found that consistent marijuana use causes no major health problems. \n\nThe study, which was conducted by Arizona State University, looked at the cannabis use of 1,037 New Zealanders. Cannabis was found to cause no major health problems after a lifetime of use, except for the increased prevalence of gum disease. The study found no difference in metabolism or lung function in cannabis users compared to the control group. \n\n### Doctors Aren't Recommending Cannabis\n\nMany doctors think cannabis could be beneficial, but they are still aren’t recommending (doctors are not able to prescribe, they can only recommend) it regularly. [Many doctors are not adequately knowledgable](http://www.cnn.com/2016/08/23/health/medical-marijuana-doctor-knowledge/) about cannabis, so they are hesitant to recommend it to their patients. \n\n[READ HOW OPIOID MEDICATION IS KILLING AMERICA >>](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/illegal-opioid-prescriptions-kill-more-people)\n\nEven though medical cannabis has been legal in some states for twenty years, education has not caught up with the tide of legalization. Medical cannabis education is widely left out of medical schools. “Only 1 medical school out of the total of 140, University of Vermont, has a course teaching about the endocannabinoid system. Only 13% of the other 140 touch on it in various forms, though most hardly at all,” said Dr. Perry Solomon, Chief Medical Officer of HelloMD. The lack of education comes directly from the lack of access to education for doctors and medical students, which is something that needs to be changed.\n\n### More Education is Needed\n\nSome states have set up continued education programs for doctors in their state. Specific states, like New York, have even required doctors to take some sort of state sanctioned education before being allowed to recommend medical marijuana. New York doctors have benefited greatly from the program, 80% of the doctors who have taken the program said they changed their processes in regards to marijuana based on what they learned. \n\nMany doctors still do not have a grasp on dosage and how to properly choose between the different strains of cannabis to recommend to their patients. Many doctors feel that there is not adequate studies on medical marijuana because of the limits on research due to marijuana’s position as a schedule I substance. \n\nDoctors also still worry about the blurred lines between legality and illegality. Since marijuana is still a federally illegal substance, many doctors find it hard to write medical marijuana recommendations for fear of repercussions down the line. As the national opinion on marijuana has moved into favor of medical usage, it is important that doctors are educated on how patients can properly use cannabis to help treat their various conditions. \n\n\nDo you have questions about about cannabis? Ask a question on [HelloMD's new Answers](https://www.hellomd.com/answers). A doctor or member of our community will answer.\n\nIf you are new to cannabis and want to learn more, take a look at our [Cannabis 101](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/cannabis-101-your-quick-guide-to-medical-marijuana) post. [HelloMD](https://www.hellomd.com/) can help you get your medical marijuana recommendation; it's 100% online, private and efficient.","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.3333333333333333,"src":"/static/59d799459a662f829a9a0eb8f256f19d/14b42/6be97d764dca185f7ec75b80eb9610d7.jpg","srcSet":"/static/59d799459a662f829a9a0eb8f256f19d/f836f/6be97d764dca185f7ec75b80eb9610d7.jpg 200w,\n/static/59d799459a662f829a9a0eb8f256f19d/2244e/6be97d764dca185f7ec75b80eb9610d7.jpg 400w,\n/static/59d799459a662f829a9a0eb8f256f19d/14b42/6be97d764dca185f7ec75b80eb9610d7.jpg 800w,\n/static/59d799459a662f829a9a0eb8f256f19d/47498/6be97d764dca185f7ec75b80eb9610d7.jpg 1200w,\n/static/59d799459a662f829a9a0eb8f256f19d/54ac5/6be97d764dca185f7ec75b80eb9610d7.jpg 1365w","srcWebp":"/static/59d799459a662f829a9a0eb8f256f19d/58556/6be97d764dca185f7ec75b80eb9610d7.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/59d799459a662f829a9a0eb8f256f19d/61e93/6be97d764dca185f7ec75b80eb9610d7.webp 200w,\n/static/59d799459a662f829a9a0eb8f256f19d/1f5c5/6be97d764dca185f7ec75b80eb9610d7.webp 400w,\n/static/59d799459a662f829a9a0eb8f256f19d/58556/6be97d764dca185f7ec75b80eb9610d7.webp 800w,\n/static/59d799459a662f829a9a0eb8f256f19d/99238/6be97d764dca185f7ec75b80eb9610d7.webp 1200w,\n/static/59d799459a662f829a9a0eb8f256f19d/5e0b8/6be97d764dca185f7ec75b80eb9610d7.webp 1365w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2224-markdown","title":"Doctors Lack Proper Cannabis Education","slug":"doctors-lack-proper-cannabis-education","content":"### Doctors Need Additional Medical Training\r\n\r\nMarijuana sentiments have changed greatly in the United States over the past 20 years. California became the first state to legalize marijuana for medicinal purposes 20 years ago and today, 25 states and the District of Columbia now have legalized medical marijuana use. Despite that 50% of the states in the United States have some medical marijuana program in place, medical schools in the United States still do not include the benefits of medical marijuana in their curriculums. This lack of knowledge can leave doctors feeling ill equipped to make recommendations on medical marijuana.\r\n\r\nMarijuana is a complex plant, made up of many different cannabinoids and other qualities that make it very beneficial for patients experiencing a wide array of medical conditions. Marijuana also comes in many different strains and can be administered in a variety of ways, leaving many doctors feeling overwhelmed with the number of options and possibilities for treatment. In most states, doctors are simply required to verify that a patient has a condition that makes them eligible for medical marijuana use. Many doctors feel as if they should know more about the product and be able to guide their patients in the right direction as they start using medical marijuana, rather than just approving them for the program. A 2013 study out of Colorado showed that 80% of doctors surveyed said that physicians should receive medical training on marijuana before prescribing it to patients. \r\n\r\nDoctors who are well versed in cannabis are also alarmed by the lack of marijuana knowledge that many of their colleagues have. HelloMD’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Perry Solomon, has described the gap in marijuana education as something that needs to be urgently addressed, \r\n\r\n>“Education of physicians regarding cannabis is a vital link that is now, for the most part, missing from the cannabis ecosystem. The vast majority of medical schools do not teach anything regarding the endocannabinoid system or cannabis in general. They do, however, teach about the opioid epidemic in the United States and how to treat a person who appears in the ER with a heroin or prescription drug overdose. Yet they do not mention a word about cannabis, a viable alternative for pain control.”\r\n\r\n### Continuing Education\r\n\r\nSome states require continued education courses for doctors who desire to give marijuana recommendations, and many doctors are in favor of these moves. New York has a physician registration process for doctors, which requires a certification process. Doctors must attend a 4 hour class and pay $249 to be able to prescribe marijuana. This education is part of a larger registration process that 656 doctors in the state have completed. Other states are interested in following in the footsteps of New York to establish their own registration and education processes. In Massachusetts, doctors are required to take marijuana education courses offered by the American Medical Association. Other states are developing programs to educate their doctors on medical marijuana or recommending doctors seek alternate education from programs like the Medical Cannabis Commission. Dr. Perry Solomon expressed his concern that these current programs alone are not enough,  “This type of education is a good start, but physicians need to stay current since the number of strains that exist, as well as the amount of various products available, are constantly growing.”\r\n\r\n### Education Should Go Mainstream\r\n\r\nThis education gap that physicians experience highlights the lack of formal research available on medical marijuana. The extremely limited amount of studies on marijuana, due to its position as a Schedule I substance by the DEA, limits what doctors are taught. Doctors are also more wary of cannabis because of its Schedule I classification, “Doctors who have current practices don’t want to learn about cannabis because it is a Schedule I drug, and they think it may negatively impact their medical license. There are a few courses given to learn about cannabis, but unless you are able to recommend it to your patient, most physicians don’t want to bother,” expressed Dr. Perry Solomon. Despite its standing with the DEA, cannabis has shown to be extremely beneficial for a range of medical conditions. There are large amounts of the information available on the efficacy of cannabis, though it is mostly anecdotal. \r\n\r\nThere is some new hope, however, for bringing marijuana into the mainstream of doctors education. In February of 2016, a new textbook on medical marijuana was released called Medical Cannabis, Basic Science & Clinical Applications. The book, which is written by Dr. Gregory Smith, explains the different types of medical cannabis available and what is most effective at helping particular conditions. The book also details how the human body processes marijuana and the possible side effects. This new textbook could be a crucial aspect in educating both doctors and medical students alike. \r\n\r\nDo you have questions about this article? Ask a question in [HelloMD's new Answers](https://www.hellomd.com/) feature. A doctor or member of our community will answer.\r\n\r\nIf you are new to cannabis and want to learn more, take a look at our [Cannabis 101](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/cannabis-101-your-quick-guide-to-medical-marijuana) post. [HelloMD](https://www.hellomd.com/) can help you get your medical marijuana recommendation; it's 100% online, private and efficient.","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.3333333333333333,"src":"/static/aef0de66c5190963a04fe3c30ccbc29d/14b42/b22dd6e9ebc1ead19cb13eb3684a2cb3.jpg","srcSet":"/static/aef0de66c5190963a04fe3c30ccbc29d/f836f/b22dd6e9ebc1ead19cb13eb3684a2cb3.jpg 200w,\n/static/aef0de66c5190963a04fe3c30ccbc29d/2244e/b22dd6e9ebc1ead19cb13eb3684a2cb3.jpg 400w,\n/static/aef0de66c5190963a04fe3c30ccbc29d/14b42/b22dd6e9ebc1ead19cb13eb3684a2cb3.jpg 800w,\n/static/aef0de66c5190963a04fe3c30ccbc29d/47498/b22dd6e9ebc1ead19cb13eb3684a2cb3.jpg 1200w,\n/static/aef0de66c5190963a04fe3c30ccbc29d/54ac5/b22dd6e9ebc1ead19cb13eb3684a2cb3.jpg 1365w","srcWebp":"/static/aef0de66c5190963a04fe3c30ccbc29d/58556/b22dd6e9ebc1ead19cb13eb3684a2cb3.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/aef0de66c5190963a04fe3c30ccbc29d/61e93/b22dd6e9ebc1ead19cb13eb3684a2cb3.webp 200w,\n/static/aef0de66c5190963a04fe3c30ccbc29d/1f5c5/b22dd6e9ebc1ead19cb13eb3684a2cb3.webp 400w,\n/static/aef0de66c5190963a04fe3c30ccbc29d/58556/b22dd6e9ebc1ead19cb13eb3684a2cb3.webp 800w,\n/static/aef0de66c5190963a04fe3c30ccbc29d/99238/b22dd6e9ebc1ead19cb13eb3684a2cb3.webp 1200w,\n/static/aef0de66c5190963a04fe3c30ccbc29d/5e0b8/b22dd6e9ebc1ead19cb13eb3684a2cb3.webp 1365w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2214-markdown","title":"Why Doctors in New York Aren't Recommending Marijuana","slug":"why-doctors-in-new-york-arent-recommending-marijuana","content":"For patients across the country, it's getting easier and easier to\r\naccess medical marijuana. Patients in New York, however, aren't having\r\nthe same luck. According to an investigation conducted by The Journal\r\nNews, New York State agencies have mishandled dozens of regulations that\r\ncontrol how doctors grant medical marijuana to patients. These mistakes\r\nhave led to failed dispensary openings, inaccurate information and\r\nconflicts throughout the entire New York medical system, mistakes which\r\nI believe can only be counteracted by the implementation of a more\r\ncohesive Telehealth and medical marijuana strategy. Here's what\r\nconsumers need to know.\r\n\r\n**New York's Medical Marijuana Laws**\r\n\r\nWhile New York [legalized medical\r\nmarijuana](https://www.health.ny.gov/regulations/medical_marijuana/) in\r\n2014, the state's laws are currently incredibly restrictive. For\r\nexample, there are roughly [200,000\r\npatients](http://www.lohud.com/story/news/investigations/2016/02/24/medical-marijuana-new-york/79655424/)\r\nin the state waiting to be certified for medical marijuana, but only\r\n1,565 have achieved certification. Additionally, out of the 90,000\r\ndoctors in the state, only 455 have registered for the medical marijuana\r\nprogram. To make matters worse, the state refuses to release the names\r\nof these participating doctors in any publicly accessible format. This\r\nmakes it incredibly difficult for patients to access medical marijuana\r\ncare in New York.\r\n\r\nThe reason that doctors aren't registering doesn't come down to a\r\ndisinterest in doing so, however - it's the result of increasing\r\nconcerns about the potential for federal legal ramifications. Because\r\nNew York's medical marijuana laws are still residing in a legal gray\r\narea, many doctors refuse to certify patients in order to protect\r\nthemselves and their practices. Additionally, doctors who want to\r\nprovide medical marijuana are required to [carry additional malpractice\r\ninsurance](http://mjbizdaily.com/high-prices-dearth-of-doctors-hurting-ny-businesses/),\r\nwhich is a deterrent for many. As well as this the doctors are required\r\nto take an educational course as well as pay a \"enrollment fee\" to\r\nparticipate in the program. Many doctors also worry that participating\r\nin the medical marijuana program would impede their ability to prescribe\r\nother drugs, thus cutting down on their capacity to treat other patients\r\nadequately.\r\n\r\nAnd their fears aren't entirely unfounded. Even Kirsten Gillibrand, New\r\nYork's Democratic senator, states that doctors who prescribe marijuana\r\nin New York are \"putting themselves at risk.\" This is because New York\r\ndoctors are required by the Health Department to provide dosing\r\ninstructions for the medical marijuana patients they work with, a\r\nrequirement that is incredibly rare. In other states where medical\r\nmarijuana is legal, dosing recommendations are left up to medical\r\nmarijuana dispensaries rather than doctors. Because of this, it's\r\nobvious that New York's odd requirements place doctors at risk of facing\r\nfederal penalties if they get the dosing wrong on a medical marijuana\r\nproduct.\r\n\r\nWhile New York currently only allows non-smokable types of cannabis,\r\nsuch as oils and edibles, for use in therapy, the issues surrounding the\r\ncertification of patients in the state remains and consumers are\r\nsuffering as a result.\r\n\r\n**The Effect NY's Restrictive Laws Have on Patients**\r\n\r\nWhile New York lawmakers continue to fight about how, when and where\r\nmedical marijuana will be prescribed, a few pioneering clinics are\r\nattempting to cater to the needs of the state's consumers. One clinic\r\nlocated outside of Buffalo has ten participating doctors and receives\r\nmore than 100 phone calls each day from patients attempting to access\r\nmedical marijuana.\r\n\r\nThe clinic's lead physician, Dr. Laszlo Mechtler, realizes that the\r\nsmall number of providers and the ongoing legal ambiguity is only\r\nhurting patients. He says, \"While we wait for the politicians to make\r\ndecisions, what do we do for our suffering patients? I can't wait for a\r\n12-year-old that has less than four months to live… That is my duty, to\r\nrelieve that suffering.\" Dr. Mechtler isn't alone in these sentiments.\r\nThousands of patients across the state of New York want desperately to\r\naccess medical marijuana, but can't because of the state's restrictive\r\nlaws.\r\n\r\n**A Better Way: Why NY Should be Following CA's Model**\r\n\r\nThe fact that patients in New York are having such a difficult time\r\naccessing care is especially tragic when you take into account how\r\neffective medical marijuana can be as a treatment modality. Here at\r\nHelloMD, my team recently conducted [a patient response\r\nsurvey](https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/hellomd-news/HelloMD_Medical_Marijuana_Patient_Survey.pdf).\r\nThe survey collected answers from 1,400 medical marijuana consumers in a\r\nvariety of states. As far as I can tell, this survey is currently the\r\nmost comprehensive of its kind.\r\n\r\nThe results of the study go to show exactly how firmly medical marijuana\r\npatients believe in the effectiveness and importance of cannabis as a\r\ntreatment option: 84 percent of respondents reported that cannabis helps\r\nthem cope with their symptoms, while 66 percent reported using the herb\r\nas their primary treatment modality. 64 percent of respondents reported\r\nconsuming marijuana daily, and no respondents reported negative\r\nconsequences of marijuana use. This survey is proof of the importance\r\nand effectiveness of medical marijuana treatments and should be taken\r\ninto account as states like New York evaluate their medical marijuana\r\npolicies.\r\n\r\n**Conclusion**\r\n\r\nWhile access to medical marijuana has improved around the country, it's\r\nclear to me that residents of New York state are still struggling to get\r\nthe care they need. Thanks to low numbers of participating physicians,\r\nno way for the public to access lists of approved doctors and incredibly\r\nslow and restrictive patient certification processes, New York is\r\nlagging behind many other states in terms of their ability to offer\r\nconsumers unimpeded access to medical marijuana.\r\n\r\nUnfortunately, the only people suffering as a result of these failings\r\nare the consumers themselves. While the situation in New York looks\r\nbleak currently, I believe firmly that access to care would improve\r\ngreatly if the state would follow the leads of states like California,\r\nwhere medical marijuana access is a readily available to all patients. I\r\nbelieve that only when patients can access the cannabis-focused care\r\nthey need will New York begin to truly serve its residents.\r\n\r\n[Photo Credit](https://www.flickr.com/photos/thomashawk/10301380936/in/photolist-gGigE9-tgXSSB-dPr95W-a7fJFg-pfVCxj-eSTiRb-6VkKnw-cEdMrC-aashHE-ejT1nm-ftcNbQ-de9is3-iiA7ek-5MAJa8-t34ebZ-4GzqRr-qMu6ZH-Areaen-MEQQR-uCBodk-Bg4Df1-8KBmzX-hZYH6v-8UavLd-2RZoXU-bz76Vb-6m2G85-ejVE1u-u3Dsj-9Cry2t-dbmiQK-BY72nr-8vTJVq-pFHzg8-vVmrMz-8U7rDT-dburo5-aA7APE-daYWm9-rnFULV-dzwnbQ-ozKxXE-dRqWLo-89FSsM-dtTF5i-fKzgHo-dAVgoP-rdZd85-pWiGV4-fcHP6b)","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/png;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.4814814814814814,"src":"/static/6c3fecac3906a6babbbd1b4e2c39e17a/ee604/1e97a6f5d757ba260c66cf0d9e520162.png","srcSet":"/static/6c3fecac3906a6babbbd1b4e2c39e17a/69585/1e97a6f5d757ba260c66cf0d9e520162.png 200w,\n/static/6c3fecac3906a6babbbd1b4e2c39e17a/497c6/1e97a6f5d757ba260c66cf0d9e520162.png 400w,\n/static/6c3fecac3906a6babbbd1b4e2c39e17a/ee604/1e97a6f5d757ba260c66cf0d9e520162.png 800w,\n/static/6c3fecac3906a6babbbd1b4e2c39e17a/f3583/1e97a6f5d757ba260c66cf0d9e520162.png 1200w,\n/static/6c3fecac3906a6babbbd1b4e2c39e17a/3e83c/1e97a6f5d757ba260c66cf0d9e520162.png 1201w","srcWebp":"/static/6c3fecac3906a6babbbd1b4e2c39e17a/58556/1e97a6f5d757ba260c66cf0d9e520162.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/6c3fecac3906a6babbbd1b4e2c39e17a/61e93/1e97a6f5d757ba260c66cf0d9e520162.webp 200w,\n/static/6c3fecac3906a6babbbd1b4e2c39e17a/1f5c5/1e97a6f5d757ba260c66cf0d9e520162.webp 400w,\n/static/6c3fecac3906a6babbbd1b4e2c39e17a/58556/1e97a6f5d757ba260c66cf0d9e520162.webp 800w,\n/static/6c3fecac3906a6babbbd1b4e2c39e17a/99238/1e97a6f5d757ba260c66cf0d9e520162.webp 1200w,\n/static/6c3fecac3906a6babbbd1b4e2c39e17a/0c6f9/1e97a6f5d757ba260c66cf0d9e520162.webp 1201w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}}]}},"pageContext":{"limit":12,"skip":0,"numPages":1,"currentPage":1,"id":5201,"name":"Doctors","slug":"doctors","country":"US"}},"staticQueryHashes":["3949754563","4179947113","4202924991"]}