Telemedicine and Ohio Medicinal Marijuana – 5 Things You Need to Know

Today we’re all facing a ‘new normal,’ and we’re learning and making adjustments as we go. Many of us are working from home, ordering groceries online for pickup or delivery, and even having virtual happy hours to stay connected. During this extraordinary time, government officials are making adjustments too. Governor Mike DeWine recently extended the stay-at-home order to at least May 1. Ohio health officials also recently ruled food, banking services, and medical treatment – including marijuana – as essential services. This is big news for the thousands in our state that rely on cannabis as medicine every single day. 

Telemedicine and Ohio Medicinal Marijuana do I qualify? 

For those suffering from any number of conditions – chronic pain, Alzheimer’s disease, epilepsy, HIV/AIDS, PTSD, MS – and many others – medical marijuana is a game-changer. Many users report significant relief of symptoms and improved quality of life. So if you’re new to medical marijuana, or need to renew your card in this strange COVID-19 era, what does this mean for you? 

What is telemedicine? 

As of March 9, 2020, the State Medical Board of Ohio (SMBO) also took executive action allowing telemedicine appointments – or video calls – to happen between medical marijuana patients and certified physicians. 

Telemedicine services improve patient access by bringing medical marijuana health care services directly to patients – using real-time, live-video technology. Previously, telemedicine was reserved primarily for serving rural and under-served communities. Now, with state-mandated shelter-in-place orders, medical marijuana telemedicine is available to all who qualify in Ohio. What can you expect from medical marijuana telemedicine services? Keep reading.

1. Stay safe at home – In-person visits are no longer required between providers and patients when it comes to obtaining or renewing medical marijuana cards. After making an appointment, medical marijuana patients can see a doctor using a video call from the safety of their homes. 
2. Get access to qualified physicians – Are you curious about what conditions make you eligible for a medical marijuana card? Physicians can provide a comprehensive evaluation and expert medical marijuana consultation over the phone. You can also learn more about common marijuana treatments from many sources, including the Harvard Medical School or the Mayo Clinic.
3. Face-to-face interactions – Telemedicine appointments are made via videoconference so patients can build a trusting relationship with the doctor and have a face-to-face conversation, virtually. Releaf Health offers a secure, and easy-to-use medical marijuana telemedicine portal for conducting appointments. Patients can connect into video call appointments using a smartphone, tablet, or laptop, or computer. 
4. Medical records are secure – Before your telemedicine consultation, qualified team members clearly explain what patients need to bring to the appointment and what they can expect after. Releaf Health’s medical marijuana telemedicine portal uses secure token authentication and secure SSL certificates to ensure privacy and security for all patients. 
5. Digital cards are available quickly – Another benefit of telemedicine appointments is that very soon after the consultation and payment, physicians submit information to the Ohio Medical Marijuana Control Program for processing. Patients then receive an email from the Ohio Medical Marijuana Control Program with instructions on how to register, activate, and receive their card. Certified medical marijuana cards can then be downloaded and saved digitally on a smartphone. Patients can also directly print the card at home, or a dispensary can print out the certification and laminate it. 

The doctor is in

At Releaf Health our passion is helping patients across Ohio get access to qualified physicians who take a personal, consultative approach to medicine. Our medical marijuana telemedicine program is the ideal platform for individuals looking for the simplest, quickest, and most convenient way to obtain a medical marijuana card. If you have questions about qualifying for a medical marijuana card or want to learn about the next steps, email or call anytime!