In simplest terms, a patient should talk about their condition, talk about medical marijuana, but don't talk about how or where they might obtain it. What a patient needs most from their doctor is a professional medical opinion as to the possible usefulness of medical marijuana in their treatment. Patients should ask their physician to discuss the risks and benefits of medical marijuana for their particular case. Whether or not the doctor believes it might help, good medical practice requires the physician to record the fact that the conversation has occurred in the patient's medical records. If the doctor recommends marijuana, patients should ask that it be recorded in their medical records, and should request a copy of their records.
State law permits patients access to copies of their medical records.
Patients request copies of their medical records all the time, for a variety of reasons, and don't need to explain why. Whether a patient requests copies of their records to be protected under the Medical Marijuana Act, or merely to keep in a private file at home, should be of no real concern to their doctor. If a patient requests copies of their medical records from their doctor's office, they shouldn't unnecessarily mention anything about their possible intention to obtain or grow marijuana. Patients should ask for the entire chart or record, not just sections pertaining to marijuana. This copy of a patient's medical records, indicating that they have a medical marijuana recommendation, will be the basis for protection under the Act.