Home grow in mind for many of the state’s first 4,000 patients

Missouri now has over 4,000 patient and caregiver applications.

As of July 23, the Department of Health and Senior Services has received 3,931 applications – 3,853 for patients and 78 for caregivers. Over 3,400 have been approved and just over 150 applications have been rejected. The State notes that rejections are not denials, but an opportunity for applicants to provide additional needed information.

Clinics – including Green Health Docs, CannaTherapyMD, and the Kathmandu Clinic – have been certifying patients since patient applications could be submitted a month ago, starting June 24.

“People want to get legal,” Randy Shaffer, marketing manager for Green Health Docs, said. “They want to have that card in hand, and all the legal protections that come with it. They also want to take part in Missouri history and show the public that medical marijuana patients come in all shapes and all sizes, backgrounds, ethnicities, as well as a different religious and political philosophies.”

Shaffer said pain and post-traumatic stress disorder are easily the most common conditions of patients, followed by cancer.

“There are various reasons that patients are coming to us early,” said Dr. Radhika Ratnabalasuriar, a.k.a. “Dr. Rad” of CannaTherapyMD in Clayton. “The most popular reason is to get ‘ahead of the rush.’ In other states that have legalized medical marijuana, as soon as dispensaries opened the supply sold out quickly. Our patients have waited long enough and do not want to run into the problem of undersupply. They want to be first in line to receive their medication.”

“Our patients frequently comment on how they did not think medical marijuana would be legalized in Missouri in their lifetimes,” said Dr. Rad. “They are encouraged by recent legislation and thank us for providing this service to them.”

Dr. Rad said they’ve seen patients with cancer, epilepsy, and multiple sclerosis, but an overwhelming amount of patients who also express a desire to stop using opiates.

“Many of the older patients are getting their cards just because they can,” Dr. Pratista Strong, DO, of Kathmandu Clinic in Kirkwood, said. “They have been using cannabis as medicine for, some odd of 40 years, a while and they really are a low risk at getting caught. They are getting their cards as a way of supporting the cause.”

Dr. Strong said she has been seeing anxiety and depression, pain from other conditions or surgery or injury, and also multiple sclerosis, Crohn’s and even Parkinson’s from patients.

Patients can apply for home cultivation along with their patient applications. Patient care cards cost $25 and the home cultivation allowance is another $100 each year.

Dispensaries will be licensed by the state before December 31, 2019, but must pass inspection before opening their doors. Estimates for dispensary openings are from February to June 2020.

Without dispensaries being available to patients now, some patients are getting their cards because “they can,” while others are looking towards home cultivation. Shaffer said the leading factor of patients coming in many months before dispensaries are open is for home cultivation. Dr. Rad said a large portion of her patients are also interested in cultivating.

“I actually encourage it. It gives better control of the plant, there are many uses for the plant, especially from an Ayurveda perspective, as what I practice. Cleaner, less dependent on dispensaries. I have convinced a number of patients to cultivate when they didn’t even know that option existed.”

Dr. Rad said there is certainly interest in how to get started and how to have successful home cultivation and a sizable population of their patients are hoping to cultivate. “We are hopeful that experts in the field will provide grow classes in the future to assist these patients.”

Patients can have a rotating 90-day supply of medical marijuana grown at home from 18 plants – 6 clones under 14 inches, 6 non-flowering, and 6 flowering. After the flower is harvested from cannabis plants, it must be cured before use. It takes, on average, 3-6 months from seed to usable medicine. Home cultivation consultants, such as Home Grow Solutions and Weed Squad, can provide patients with insights to be compliant and successful.

“Most patients seem excited about home cultivation,” said Green Health Docs’ Shaffer. “We’ve had many already submit their applications. And we’ve been helping patients apply since the process can be complicated.”

Though patients can apply for their cards and grow at home upon approval from the state, many primary care doctors are still hesitant to certify patients as having a qualifying condition to the state, yet doctors who will certify are readily accessible. Clinics such as Green Health Docs, Green Clinics, CannaTherapyMD, Medical Marijuana Card Missouri, and Kathmandu specialize in cannabis as medicine and actively certify. Other doctors around the state, such as Dr. Lisa Roark from Cassville and Dr. Kim Wood from Joplin, are also promoting that they will certify patients with qualifying conditions. Telehealth networks, such as HelloMD, also provide patient consultations and certifications.

Some clinics, such as Green Health Docs and Green Clinics, have locations throughout the state. Green Health Docs has clinics in St. Louis, Kansas City, Springfield, and Columbia. Green Clinics has locations in Kansas City, St. Louis, St. Joseph, Butler, Versailles, Poplar Bluff, and Trenton.

Cannabis clinic doctors are quick to recommend physicians to consider cannabis research and certification for their patients.

“We encourage physicians to ask questions and perform their own evidence-based reviews of current research, just as they would with any other newer medication,” Dr. Rad said. “If physicians feel unfamiliar with the pros and cons or have concerns, we encourage them to reach out to us. We are your colleagues and work in the emergency department on a regular basis. Therefore, it is important for us to respect your ongoing relationship with your patients while working to incorporate a potentially helpful new medication to their regimen.”

State applications only require physicians to provide the state with a certification that a patient does have a qualifying condition for medical marijuana use, not to recommend the use or dosage. Two or more doctors can recommend increased supply availability to the state for patients, as well.

“Do it. It’s easy. It helps your patients,” said Dr. Strong. “They are already using cannabis, and the more open you are with your patients, the more lasting relationship you can have with them. If you’re scared, send them to me!”