Questions to ask your doctor

Here are some examples of questions to ask your doctor.

Do as much research as you can about medical cannabis as a treatment for your particular condition before making an appointment with your doctor. If you can find evidence that medical cannabis has helped other people with your disease, print the study or article and bring it with you. A scholarly journal or an academic study is the best evidence, but less formal evidence such as patient testimonials or blog posts can also serve you.

Clearly identify the symptoms that you think might be better treated with medical cannabis. Make a list of the medications and therapies you have already tried to treat these symptoms and identify which ones were relevant and which ones were less relevant.

Medical cannabis is often prescribed when conventional medications are simply not enough. Here are some questions you may want to ask your doctor at your next appointment:

• Given my condition, is medical cannabis an appropriate treatment for me?
• Is the use of medical cannabis safe for me?
• Will medical cannabis interact with my other medications?
• What are the side effects ?

If your doctor is not comfortable prescribing medical cannabis, ask him or her if they can refer you to a specialist.