Will I qualify for a card?

I live in OR, and I've been thinking about trying to get a medical card. I've been searching google trying to find detailed qualifications for the card in OR, but all I can find is "severe pain". I get migraines ocassionally, and have a prescription for it already. Do migraines fall into the severe pain category? My current prescription works just fine, and I don't get them that often. Will they only give it to severe cases where normal drugs don't work...or do I have a chance? (without lying) I assume having this in my medical history for the last 5 years or so will help?

Some migraine's are severe. I know my mom has some pain pill's for when she has one and it get's bad. Im not to sure, but if your's get that bad then I would suppose you have a chance.

Depends on the doc. Migraines are a condition that will qualify a person for medical marijuana. Try to find a doc that is known to be "medical marijuana friendly". Just tell him your situation, let him know the meds you already have work but that you don't particuarly like taking synthetic chemicals and prefer a natural remedy. I'm sure that wouldn't be a lie, would it? I don't know about Oregon but that would work down here in San Francisco.

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Originally Posted by Fengzi

I'm sure that wouldn't be a lie, would it?

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No, not at all. The pills I have actually give me a pain in the neck, that's one of the listed side effects. It basically just moves it from my head to my neck. :rolleyes: I usually just take excedrin, and that works, but often I get rebound headaches from taking it too many days in a row.

Basically, I'm mostly wondering if they save weed for a last resort, or is saying "I want something natural" enough? I'm sure if I tried some other prescriptions I could find something that works, but that's not nearly as much fun. ;) Are they going to want me to try other prescriptions before they let me have medical marijuana?

Does anyone else here have a card in Oregon? Was it hard to get?

BUMP
I am still very interested in finding out the answer to this question. Anyone get a medical marijuana card??? What was your experience - was it easy, hard?

No you will not qualify with "severe pain". Migraines are bad, yes.. but not the "severe pain" they're talking about. But yes, it depends on the doctor you talk to.
Unless you're actually diagnosed with a cause for the migraines, you will have a very hard time getting anywhere in terms of getting a medicinal card. MS, epilepsy, glaucoma, Hep. C., things like that..

Usually it needs to be "chronic" pain (mind the pun) in order to get considered for a medicinal card.

Bob.

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Originally Posted by BobBong

No you will not qualify with "severe pain". Migraines are bad, yes.. but not the "severe pain" they're talking about. But yes, it depends on the doctor you talk to.
Unless you're actually diagnosed with a cause for the migraines, you will have a very hard time getting anywhere in terms of getting a medicinal card. MS, epilepsy, glaucoma, Hep. C., things like that..

Usually it needs to be "chronic" pain (mind the pun) in order to get considered for a medicinal card.

Bob.

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Just wondering...have you ever had migraines? Most migraines do not have a known cause, "migraine" is the diagnosis you get when you have headaches and no obvious reason why. They also fit the definition of "chronic pain" exactly. According to the dictionary - Chronic: continuing a long time or recurring frequently. I get multiple headaches a week...that's pretty chronic.

As for the severity of them, no, mine aren't that bad usually, but the doctor doesn't know that. :D (and on occasion they ARE excruciatingly painfull) I emailed a local MM clinic about this and they said migraines could qualify me, but clearly they didn't want to speak anymore until I pay them.

So do you want medical marijuana for actual pain, or just to get high for legal? Medical cannabis is for people who have no other choice in medication. It sounds like you don't really need it at all.

You need a diagnosis from your doctor first to even consider giving you a card. He has to give you a thorough physical examination first to determine if you really need the aid of cannabis.

They usually give out cards to people where their illness affects their daily lives, where they can't even function because of their illness without the aid of cannabis. A few migraines a week that you claim aren't even that bad will not get you a card.

Don't try and take advantage of the system because believe it or not, there are people who can't take any pills and really do need cannabis for their pain. You sound like you don't even need it and you just want a card to get stoned legally.

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Originally Posted by Nochowderforyou

So do you want medical marijuana for actual pain, or just to get high for legal? Medical cannabis is for people who have no other choice in medication. It sounds like you don't really need it at all.

You need a diagnosis from your doctor first to even consider giving you a card. He has to give you a thorough physical examination first to determine if you really need the aid of cannabis.

They usually give out cards to people where their illness affects their daily lives, where they can't even function because of their illness without the aid of cannabis. A few migraines a week that you claim aren't even that bad will not get you a card.

Don't try and take advantage of the system because believe it or not, there are people who can't take any pills and really do need cannabis for their pain. You sound like you don't even need it and you just want a card to get stoned legally.

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Exactly.. you can't get a medical MJ card for migraines... no matter how bad they are. If you're having constant migraines have you ever considered serious medical help? neurological problems are what is considered the norm for medical marijuana card holders.

And yes, i've had migraines.. I've had 4 concussions and I'm only 21. I know the pain you feel..very well. And no.. it certainly does not qualify me for medical marijuana.

Bob.

Not sure where you are Bob, but here in California migraines do qualify. Below is an excerpt directly from the State website:

"Q: What serious medical condition(s) do I need to have to qualify for a MMIC?

A: A serious medical condition, as defined by SB 420, is any of the following: AIDS; anorexia; arthritis; cachexia (wasting syndrome); cancer; chronic pain; glaucoma; migraine; persistent muscle spasms (i.e., spasms associated with multiple sclerosis); seizures (i.e., epileptic seizures); severe nausea; any other chronic or persistent medical symptom that either substantially limits a personâ??s ability to conduct one or more of major life activities as defined in the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, or if not alleviated, may cause serious harm to the personâ??s safety, physical, or mental health. "

The real question would seem to be not whether he could get a card, but whether he should. As Nochowder put it "So do you want medical marijuana for actual pain, or just to get high for legal? " I've been asking myself the same thing recently. I get severe muscle spasms in my back, once every other month or so, that are extremely painful and last about a week. OTC pain relivers don't help much but the prescription muscle relaxants the doc gave me do. The only problem is that they put me to sleep so there's no way I can use them during the day. Even if I only use them at night, I still feel pretty zonked the next day.

I know that marijuana provides a lot of relief for my condition and typically that's what I end up using, although illegally. I know I can get a Doc's recomendation but I'm not sure if I should. I've been asking myself "is it abuse of the system to get it for something that only effects me for a week or so ever two months?" On the one hand I think "yes" because it's not like I couldn't live without it. On the other hand, it does help me better than anything else and isn't it just another prescription? After all, possession and use of the prescription muscle relaxants without a prescrition is illegal too, right?

What do you think??

A migraine qualifies no problem. Any long term ie..chronic condition that someone has will qualify them for medical marijuana if it reduces suffering and increases quality of life. I don't know why people are so hard up on people "abusing" the system. If it makes your life better than go for it....I smoke in lieu of sleeping pills for insomnia, I now get my much needed sleep without crazy ass sleeping pills that make you feel like shit or have odd side effects that could hurt me. I don't want anyone to get jailed and waste my tax $ on some BS that ruins there life for growing for your own use. Get legal and protect yourself.

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Originally Posted by Nochowderforyou

So do you want medical marijuana for actual pain, or just to get high for legal? Medical cannabis is for people who have no other choice in medication. It sounds like you don't really need it at all.

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Both. Just because I don't have migraines 24/7 doesn't mean I don't need a card, and just because I have a card doesn't mean I can't also smoke recreationally. You make it sound like there is a limited supply of cards, and if I get one somebody else will have to suffer. That isn't even remotely true. Even if I was 100% healthy and lied to get a card that has absolutely no effect on anybody else. None what so ever.

It would be no problem for me to complain of a massive migraine every other day, and even if that isn't true no doctor could tell, and I could easily get a card. Notice my first post says "without lying". The bottom line is I have chronic severe pain, which most certainly does interfere with my life, and all the synthetic medications I have used come with undesired side effects. I also have half a dozen other valid medical problems which are cured with marijuana, and although they don't qualify me for a card, it's just as valid as any other reason as far as I'm concerned. I do not let the government tell me which medications are "valid" cures.

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Originally Posted by BobBong

Exactly.. you can't get a medical MJ card for migraines... no matter how bad they are. If you're having constant migraines have you ever considered serious medical help? neurological problems are what is considered the norm for medical marijuana card holders.

And yes, i've had migraines.. I've had 4 concussions and I'm only 21. I know the pain you feel..very well. And no.. it certainly does not qualify me for medical marijuana.

Bob.

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Even though you claim to get them, you seem to know absolutely nothing about migraines. Yes, they DO give medical cards for migraines, that is not the question. The question is how do they determine which people with migraines get cards and which ones don't? Of course I've had serious medical help, that's why I know I have migraines. The definition of a migraine is a headache with no obvious cause (like a tumor) and no cure. There is also quite a lot of information online from credible sources that suggests marijuana is a good form of relief for migraines.

The only thing, if you have a felony in most states, even if it was 10 years ago, they won't give it to you.
Adieu

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Originally Posted by BlueBear

The only thing, if you have a felony in most states, even if it was 10 years ago, they won't give it to you.
Adieu

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I don't have so much as a parking ticket. :D

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Originally Posted by BigBlock

Even though you claim to get them, you seem to know absolutely nothing about migraines. Yes, they DO give medical cards for migraines, that is not the question. The question is how do they determine which people with migraines get cards and which ones don't? Of course I've had serious medical help, that's why I know I have migraines. The definition of a migraine is a headache with no obvious cause (like a tumor) and no cure. There is also quite a lot of information online from credible sources that suggests marijuana is a good form of relief for migraines.

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Of course Cannabis will help with migraines it can either lower or raise your blood pressure (did you know it could do both?) Don't get hostile with me for giving you my opinion. I know very well what a migraine is and for the record, a brain tumor would be an obvious reason for migraines...and probably would qualify you for an MMJ card. The point i was making was that you do not (around here anyway) get medical marijuana consideration for simple pain, there needs to be a diagnosis to go with it. Generally pain is caused from something...whether you know what that something is or not is another issue.

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Originally Posted by BigBlock

Even if I was 100% healthy and lied to get a card that has absolutely no effect on anybody else. None what so ever.

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Unfortunately that's not true because it shows blatant abuse of a system that is in place for people that need it, not people that just want it. That is why the medicinal fight is being lost amongst the propaganda because people take this attitude of it's "my right to smoke it legally,especially if i'm in pain."
It's your right to smoke it sure, especially if you're in pain ...but it's the governments place to say who and what laws are bent and why.
If you have other medical issues that are aided by the cannabis than that should be addressed also...perhaps all of these things are due to something that hasn't been diagnosed yet. Until you're diagnosed with whatever it is that's causing the pain your fight for medical acceptance will be a big one. That's how it is here and Canada has been considered more pot friendly than the States.
My uncle is still struggling to get medical marijuana acceptance and he has many diagnosed illnesses that would obviously qualify him (MS,glaucoma,epilepsy). Even then it is a struggle to find a doctor that is willing to get involved with that aspect of "medication" because of the increasingly hostile political atmosphere.

However don't patronize me for giving you my opinion because yours stinks just as bad. :o

Best of luck with your medical mission.

Bob.

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Originally Posted by BobBong

However don't patronize me for giving you my opinion because yours stinks just as bad. :o

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Sorry, but your opinion is just plain wrong. Over and over you've tried to tell me migraines don't qualify, and that is totally false. I don't mean this in a rude way, but you don't know what you're talking about, so I'm not looking for your advice. Just like I wouldn't ask my doctor how to grow marijuana, that's not his specialty. Once again, I have been diagnosed with something, and that is migraines. That is the only diagnosis I need. They give medical marijauna to migraine sufferers. End of discussion. Whether my migraines specifically qualify me in my state you have no idea, nobody here has any idea except my doctor. No cause needs to be specified for the migraines, that is totally irrelivant.

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Originally Posted by BigBlock

Sorry, but your opinion is just plain wrong. I don't mean this in a rude way, but you don't know what you're talking about, so I'm not looking for your advice. Just like I wouldn't ask my doctor how to grow marijuana, that's not his specialty. Once again, I have been diagnosed with something, and that is migraines. That is the only diagnosis I need. They give medical marijauna to migraine sufferers. End of discussion. Whether my migraines specifically qualify me in my state you have no idea, nobody here has any idea except my doctor. No cause needs to be specified for the migraines, that is totally irrelivant.

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Right .. and here.. that's not how it would work.
So like your opinion.. mine means just as little i guess.
I understand you've been diagnosed with migraines. It sucks. My migraines were caused by head trauma but migraines can even be hereditary so there very well could be no "cause" for the head pain at all.

"Whether my migraines specifically qualify me in my state you have no idea, nobody here has any idea except my doctor."

Then why'd you post? You were expecting your doctor to read this thread?

Anyway, again good luck with your search. You need the opinions of people in your area.

Bob.

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Originally Posted by BobBong

Then why'd you post? You were expecting your doctor to read this thread?

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Notice the top where I am asking for other Oregonians with medical cards? ;) It seems I'm the only Oregonian, and strangely, there's almost nobody on this board that actually has a card.

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Originally Posted by BigBlock

Notice the top where I am asking for other Oregonians with medical cards? ;) It seems I'm the only Oregonian, and strangely, there's almost nobody on this board that actually has a card.

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Give it some time, you might get the answers you're looking for.

I moved the thread to the Oregon forum in hopes that you'll get more localized replies.

Cheers,
Bob.

I will not get into an argument about whether you should have a card or not but I will tell you what I know for a fact. I live in Oregon and I have registry identification card as a grower and a second one as a Caregiver. I do not have a patient identification card. I only know the medical history of one person whose caretaker I am. He has degenerative arthritis and his physicians statement says he has chronic pain. The NSAIDs given for that are hard on the liver and kidneys so he can't take them. The attending physician fills out a form called the Attending Physician's Statement. On that form there are 5 main categories that he can use to qualify you and they appear exactly as below:
1. Cancer
2. Glaucoma
3. Positive for HIV or AIDS
4. Agitation due to Alzheimers
5. A medical condition or treatment for a medical condition that produces for a specific patient one or more of the following(check all that apply)
a. Cachexia
b. Severe pain
c. Severe nausea
d. Seizures including but not limited to those caused by epilepsy
e. Persistent muscle spasms, including but not limited to spasms caused by multiple sclerosis.

I don't know what part of Oregon you are but in Portland there is an organization you can go to that will counsel you and they have medical marijuana friendly physicians. They will do a brief physical and complete this form (for a fee). Then you take the form to Salem to apply for your card (and pay another fee).

Also, note that an Oregon card will not protect you from federal prosecution, although if you are growing the legal number of plants and they're legal sizes and in possession of the finished amount allowable by law, you will probably not have any problem.

for those that are in the area, dr dodge in portland is friendly. i have a lesion in the left ventrical of my brain that causes hydrocephalys prolly spelled that wrong but oh well. bad head aches blurred vision and nausea. mj fixes it right as rain :D

I am on OMMP and migraines are one of my qualifying conditions, so yes you can get it for migraines in Oregon.

I have the card.

You need to 1st find a doctor that says you could benifit from medical MJ. Then every year after you need a letter from an MD saying that you have a qualifying condition, which are:

Chronic pain
artheritis
cancer
glaucoma
and something else, I forget what.

I qualify on 2 counts

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Originally Posted by Opie Yutts

and something else, I forget what.

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Here's the complete list of qualifying conditions from the physician's statement...

Debilitating Medical Condition: Check appropriate boxes.
[ ] 1. Malignant neoplasm (Cancer)
[ ] 2. Glaucoma
[ ] 3. Positive status for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) or Acquired Immune
Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS)
[ ] 4. Agitation due to Alzheimerâ??s Disease
5. A medical condition or treatment for a medical condition that produces for a
specific patient one or more of the following: (check all that apply)
[ ] a. Cachexia
[ ] b. Severe pain
[ ] c. Severe nausea
[ ] d. Seizures, including but not limited to seizures caused by epilepsy
[ ] e. Persistent muscle spasms, including but not limited to spasms caused by
multiple sclerosis.

psteve....what dr do you see?? How expensive is it?

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Originally Posted by DarkHairedSativa

psteve....what dr do you see?? How expensive is it?

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I just use my own personal physician, but there are several clinics here in Portland that can help.
If you see Dr Orvald (sp?) at the THCF clinic, you can be legal in 5 states, since he is licensed in Oregon, California, Hawaii, and Washington. Montana also accepts cards from other states, so you'd be legal there too.
Or Mama's clinic is here too, and Voter Power, who had the first MMJ clinic.

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Originally Posted by DarkHairedSativa

psteve....what dr do you see?? How expensive is it?

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Here you go:

The Hemp and Cannabis Foundation, Medical Marijuana Clinics, Serving The Cannabis Community Since 1999, Medical Marijuana Clinics, medicinal marijuana as treatment for chronic pain, chronic nausea, AIDS, cancer, glaucoma, chronic muscle spasms, marij. This is the THCF web site. Long friggen name.

This is where I got started, and as far as I know it's the only place in the portland area that can really help from beginning to end. They have a doctor that can qualify you, they help you with your paperwork, answer your questions. I think it was about $255.

Every year after that you just need your medical charts or a doctors letter (3 mo. current) stating that you have a qualifying condition. It doesn't have to say anything about medical MJ. It costs $100 to renew, or $20 if you are getting food stamps or the oregon health plan. You send your renewal to here, and it's a good place to get started with the forms and exact legalities:

State of Oregon: Oregon Medical Marijuana Program (OMMP)

good luck

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Originally Posted by marmarkus2006

for those that are in the area, dr dodge in portland is friendly. i have a lesion in the left ventrical of my brain that causes hydrocephalys prolly spelled that wrong but oh well. bad head aches blurred vision and nausea. mj fixes it right as rain :D

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Dr. Dodge is no longer signing off on your apps. I guess he approved too many people or something.

I work at a MMJ clinic and migraines can qualify you. You have the diagnosis and the history. Your medical records do need to describe your migraines as severe if only even occasionally. If you tell a doctor the pain is well controlled with your current medications you will not qualify.