Free Patient Resources. Guides to State Laws, Talking with Your Doctor.

In this episode of "Grandma and Her Gummies," host Steve introduces Debbie Churgai, Executive Director at Americans for Safe Access (ASA). Debbie shares free patient resources such as guides for traveling with cannabis, how to have a conversation with your doctor, as well as condition-specific guides to inform and educate patients. She also talks about the State of the State’s report, which grades and analyzes each US state for their medical cannabis program. Through the conversation, listeners will learn what to know, where to go, what to look for, and what to ask to make informed decisions about cannabis use.

Navigating and Understanding State Laws on Cannabis

The episode stresses the importance of understanding the laws and regulations regarding cannabis in different states. It is emphasized that just because someone lives in a state where medical or recreational cannabis is legal, it does not mean they can travel to another state and use or purchase cannabis there. Each state has different laws and regulations regarding cannabis, including possession and purchase laws. Therefore, it is crucial to research and understand these laws before traveling. Debbie provides resources, such as the Medical Patients Guide for US Travel and an interactive map on the ASA website, to help individuals understand the laws in different states. Additionally, the episode provides tips for patients who need to travel without their medicine, such as calling ahead to dispensaries to see if they have the specific medicine they use. Overall, the episode stresses the importance of knowing the rules and laws regarding cannabis in different states to have a worry-free journey.

Cannabis Education for Your Doctor

Debbie and Steve discuss the fact that many doctors are not educated about medical cannabis and the endocannabinoid system. Only around 10% of medical schools in the US teach about these topics. Therefore, patients should not assume that their doctors know about the therapeutic benefits, current research, and application for medical cannabis. The episode recommends that patients use patient resources, such as the Patients Guide to Medical Cannabis, and the Guide to CBD, to educate themselves and communicate with their doctors. The Patients Guide to Medical Cannabis even provides a letter that patients can complete and bring with them to their doctor appointments. It is emphasized that patients should talk to their doctors about any drug-to-drug interactions, as many patients are using other medications in addition to cannabis. Overall, the episode stresses the importance of sharing the most up-to-date information and improving medical professional education to ensure that patients have access to cannabis as a medicine.

At key points in this episode, you will learn about:

03:33 The mission of Americans for Safe Access.
05:23 Multiple patient and condition-specific guides (Cancer, MS, COAs, etc.)
06:59 Know your rights when traveling with cannabis.
10:41 Tips and resources for talking with your doctor.
14:23 Interactive map and resources for patients and doctors.
19:55 How to find Americans for Safe Access.

Resources:

Americans for Safe Access: https://www.safeaccessnow.org/
Guides for Medical Use of Cannabis
Resources for Patients
Medical Professional Resources
State by State Medical Cannabis Laws