Medical marijuana is safe and effective. If you suffer from a debilitating medical condition, or the treatment of your condition causes chronic conditions, you will qualify for medical marijuana.
Our physicians require that each patient have current medical records that document the existence of one of the conditions for which medical marijuana is authorized under their state law. You must either obtain your medical records yourself (which may involve a fee) and bring them in to us, or you may authorize that your medical records be faxed or mailed to one of our offices.
Since our doctors are consulting with patients solely about their qualification for medicinal cannabis, and can not act as a patient's primary physician, we require that all of our patients have at least one other current physician.
Three Keys to Setting an Appointment
Step 1: If you are a NEW PATIENT, in order to schedule an appointment you must first have:
A) CHART NOTES (The notes your doctor keeps in your medical file.) The records need to be current within the past three years and must pertain to your qualifying condition. We only need chart notes from 2-3 recent visits on your condition. These can be UP TO three years old. For example, if you saw the doctor in September of 2006, those records could be used until September of 2009. Please do not send older documents unless requested.
B) CHART NOTES must be from an MD (medical doctor) or a DO (doctor of osteopathy). Oregon patients may be able to use records from a NP (nurse practitioner). In other states, our doctors cannot use records from a NP or PA.
C) Any recent MRI or x-ray REPORTS (not required, but desirable if applicable). Please don't send the film, just the report.
Step 2: You can have your doctor's office fax or mail your medical records to us directly, or send them in yourself. In either case, we need the documents and YOUR telephone number. Note: Please BE SURE to clarify with the doctor's office that you only need 2-3 visits of chart notes pertaining to your qualifying condition, NOT your entire medical record. We love trees and don't want to kill any more than necessary. Also ask your doctor's office to include your phone # with the fax.
Please fax medical records to: 503.235.0120 or deliver/mail them to your local THCF clinic.
Step 3: Wait for several days for us to review your records and contact you. If you don't hear from us after that time, contact us by phone:
Call Us Toll-Free - 1.800.723.0188
Detroit/Southfield, Michigan - 248.351.1746
What to Expect at Your Appointment or
The Eight-Fold Path of the Medical Marijuana Permit-Holder
1. Check in when you arrive for your appointment. We must copy your state identification card for our file, pull your medical records, and create our THCF medical file.
2. You will fill out an extensive seven-page questionnaire if you are a new patient or a two-page questionnaire if you are a returning patient. Then, write your name, info and current date on top of several forms that are your medical records, and fill in any applicable state forms.
3. We have 20 minutes of video to orient you to your state's medical marijuana law, its program, and the use and cultivation of medical marijuana, including alternatives to smoking, such as vaporization. This video will answer most of your questions and is accompanied with printed support material and notes. Prior permit-holders/returning patients may skip this step.
4. You will then meet with our staff person, who will answer any remaining questions you have about medical marijuana. You pay our clinic's fee here. You also receive information about medical marijuana resources in your community.
5. Next, you see a Nurse Practitioner, or Registered Nurse, who conducts a non-invasive physical exam. No bodily fluids are taken. The nurse documents the results of the exam.
6. You will then meet a Medical Doctor who specializes in cannabis, cannabinoids and their medical efficacy. The doctor must review the physical exam, read your medical records, determine your qualifying condition(s), and write several pages of medical records, then fill in all necessary state forms for your medical marijuana permit.
7. We must make copies of all these forms and medical records for you and for your file at our office.
8. You will receive your originals and copies of your state medical marijuana permit forms and your medical records. We have an informational form we call the "Now What?" form, which explains what you must do when you leave and how to renew your permit next year. There is a brief exit interview and you will be ready to go.
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New Phone Numbers for Southfield, MI
THCF has a new office opened in Southfield, with all the technology to schedule patients right here in-state. So please, give us a call at
(248)353-2337
Note: this is a DIFFERENT number than the one posted at the top and bottom of this blog.
For the moment, we are still receiving faxes at: (248)351-2699.
Medical Records
My current family practice changed physicians in the last year or two. The new doctor just continued my current drug protocol and his main concern was treating me for high blood pressure. He admits he knows nothing about post polio syndrome and I don't know if he addresses my complaints in his clinic notes. I know the past doctor has made such notes because we adressed the drug regimen together and he has seen me through some pain crisis episodes. How can I make sure the medical records the current doctor sends are appropriate for filing for a permit without paying for three years worth of notes that I must filter myself? The current doctor said he would give me the records I need, but I don't know if he will filter to find the appropriate ones. He stated he is against the program and will not participate in any way. Any advice?
Doctor Advice
Hello Sue, I hope today is a good day for you and maybe you already figured this out by now, but I would highly suggest you simply find a new doctor. You don't have a super long relationship with him and he admits to knowing nothing about your condition and apparently nothing about Medical Marijuana. He's not working in your best interest. Fire him and remember to tell him why. If we all did that I believe that would start to make an impact.
As far as your records go, you are allowed at any time to request to examine your medical records. It's the Law. Do not even be squeamish. It's your right. I just went to my doctor and got them for free, maybe I was lucky. My Neurologist said she wanted $9 a page...evil witch. My Primary care Doc was fine for free records. I chose what reflected the condition for what I was applying for my MJ license and that's it. That's all that's needed.
At first, I tested my doctor and asked him if he was familiar with Marinol and he said NO. I knew right then I had to find people like the THC-Foundation. Those people will help you. Become a patient.