For many people with debilitating medical conditions, such as PTSD, epilepsy, cancer, Parkinson’s disease and more, medical marijuana offers the hope of relief. Unfortunately, the process to get approved to receive the therapeutic drug can be confusing, causing many to have to wait longer than necessary, or to pay more than required, to take advantage of its beneficial effects.
CBD-DOCS, which serves Palm Beach, Broward, Dade and Naples counties, tries to make it easier for patients to find out if they qualify for medical cannabis, and to receive a doctor’s recommendation.
“We have a very simple, easy process for patients,” explained Chris Capece, clinical coordinator, CBD-DOCS. “A person goes to our website and fills out a pre-qualification form. Once we’ve reviewed it, we call to let them know if they qualify for medical cannabis. If they do, we then schedule them at one of our multiple locations to meet with independent physicians who will help them fill out the necessary forms for the state.
“A lot of doctors have patients fill out the forms at home, but we do it at the same time as their appointment,” he continued. “That way, we can upload that information directly into the registry for them, which saves them time and frustration.”
By pre-qualifying patients, CBD-DOCS saves patients visits to the doctor only to be turned down. “We don’t book appointments unless we know that they will qualify,” said Capece, adding that the company also consults with patients about everything from how the process works, to what it will cost, to what to expect at a dispensary.
Once the forms are received by the state, patients receive an approval email that lets them know that they are eligible to purchase medical cannabis. “The sooner that they get their approval letter, the quicker they can go to a dispensary,” said Capece. “This is also why we offer same-day prescription service; the doctor uploads the patient’s prescription on the same day that they see them so that when the patient receives their approval from the state, they don’t need to call us again for a prescription. They can go right to the dispensary and order what they need.
“A lot of other doctors wait until patients receive that notification before writing the prescription, which adds an extra step,” he continued.
The independent physicians, who are well-versed in medical cannabis, also focus on educating their patients. “Most patients and physicians have no idea how to use these products; we’ve heard stories of patients who were told by their doctors to go to a dispensary, ask them what they should be taking, and then the doctor would write that recommendation,” said Capece. “And for that, they were charged $250!”
In addition to providing medical cannabis recommendations, CBD-DOCS also carries CBD (cannabidiol) extracts in their locations in Lake Worth, Deerfield, North Miami, Coconut Creek, and Coral Springs, as well as on their website, Vapor-Docs, which can be reached through the CBD-Doc website.
“We’re one of the few companies in Florida carrying the Charlotte’s Web label, which is a well-known, world-renowned CBD hemp product, and we also carry products from Colorado-based companies like Functional Remedies and Mary’s Nutritionals,” said Capece. “We stock very extensive CBD lines, including oils, tinctures, edibles, patches, gum, gummy bears, chocolate, pain creams, vapeable CBD, capsules, and even dog treats.
“It’s important to go to a company with experience,” Capece continued, adding that he has been providing CBD hemp products since the passage of the Compassionate Medical Cannabis Act in 2014. “Talk to someone who can answer your questions.”
