Will I qualify for a card?

[BigBlock]

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?

BigBlock Reviewed by BigBlock on 10-18-2006. 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) Rating: 5

[Big Haze]

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.

[Fengzi]

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.

[BigBlock]

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

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. 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?

[TheSmokingMonkey]

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?

[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.

[BigBlock]

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.

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. (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.

[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.

[BobBong]

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.

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.

[Fengzi]

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??