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  • Do you have any COVID-19 policies?
    Our Medical Marijuana Card certification service is 100% online and happens via a telemedicine appointment. In this case, we do not have any COVID-19 restrictions or requirements for our service.
  • If recreational is legal, why get a medical card?
    The medical card not only protects your job, but it also will save you from the huge taxes they plan to charge when the dispensaries are allowed to sell marijuana recreationally.
  • Is the Medical Cannabis Registration Card from the Board of Pharmacy still required?
    Starting July 1st, 2022, the only document you need in order to shop in a Virginia dispensary is the certificate from Athena Heals. Gov Youngkin signed a law that eliminated the need for the state registration card. This means that the certificate from Athena is your "medical card".
  • ¿Cómo puedo obtener una tarjeta médica?
    Necesita dos documentos para comprar servicios médicos en Virginia: 1) el certificadoque indique que califica para la tarjeta médica y 2) la propia tarjeta médica. El certificado es lo que obtienes de Athena Heals. La "tarjeta" (ahora es un correo electrónico) proviene de la Junta de Farmacia del estado.
  • ¿Califico?
    Para calificar para una tarjeta médica, necesita lo siguiente 1) tener al menos 18 años 2) ser residente de Virginia 3) tener una condición que creemos que se beneficiará de la planta (¡muchas condiciones lo hacen!) y 4) haber probado algún tipo de tratamiento tradicional en el pasado (medicamentos, cirugía, asesoramiento, fisioterapia, acupuntura, quiropráctica, etc.). Si, por algún motivo, el estado no le otorga la aprobación, Athena Heals le reembolsará la totalidad de su tarifa. Simplemente envíenos por correo electrónico la carta de rechazo con la solicitud de reembolso.
  • Do I need a Virginia ID?
    No, any government issued ID will do to prove your identity. If your ID does not show your current Virginia address, you will need an additional document that proves your residency. A tax receipt, mortgage/apartment statement, or utility bill with your name and address will all work.
  • ¿Cuánto cuesta?
    La certificación básica cuesta $125 ($100 con referencia médica). El estado cobra $50 por separado por la tarjeta en sí. Hay una lista completa de precios en la página de Servicios aquí. ¡No hay tarifas ocultas!
  • Necesito una renovación, pero obtuve mi tarjeta original con un médico diferente. ¿Qué tengo que hacer?"
    ¡Hicimos un descuento especial solo para gente como tú! Se llama Renovación anual - Nuevo en Athena, por $65. Normalmente, un certificado cuesta $ 125 para pacientes nuevos y $ 50 para que lo renueven cada año. No necesita el mismo nivel de instrucción que ellos, pero aún tenemos que trabajar un poco más para crear un nuevo gráfico para usted. Pensamos que este es un buen compromiso. A partir del próximo año, calificará para la renovación de $50. Haga clic aquí para programar una cita.
  • ¿Cómo hago una cita?
    En Athena Heals, le permitimos programar sus propias citas. Para hacerlo, simplemente haga clic en el botón Reservar ahora (o haga clic aquí). Esto lo llevará a nuestra página de servicios. Desde allí seleccione qué cita desea. Eso le permitirá elegir la fecha y la hora que prefiera. Puede pagar por adelantado (elija la opción Molinete) o más tarde (elija Pagar en persona, pero en realidad no pagará en persona), después de reunirse con Athena y haber respondido todas sus preguntas. También puede optar por no continuar y no pagar en absoluto. ¡Sin presiones!
  • I let my card expire. Which appointment do I need?
    It's ok if your card is expired! You still need less explanation than a brand new person 😊 So, if you have seen Athena before, feel free to pick the renewal option for $50. If you were certified through someone else and that expired, pick the $65 renewal option for people who have never seen Athena
  • Who Will Know I Have a Medical Marijuana Card?
    First of all, there is a difference between who will know you have a medical marijuana card and who will know that you have purchased medical cannabis from a Virginia Medical Dispensary. If you never use your card at a Virginia Medical Dispensary, then the only people in Virginia who will know you have a medical marijuana card is your cannabis provider and the Virginia Cannabis Control Authority. Once you purchase cannabis at a Medical Dispensary, you will lose some privacy. When you use a Virginia Medical Dispensary, your purchases get documented on a website called the PDMP (Prescription Drug Monitoring Program). In fact, the purchase of any controlled substance, including things like vicodin or xanax, get documented here. Though some out of states medical cannabis purchases do not get reported to the Virginia Board of Pharmacy, Maryland and DC do share their PDMP database with Virginia. The people who will know you have a medical marijuana card will therefore depend on whether or not you use a Medical Dispensary. If you use a Virginia Medical Dispensary, the people who will know includes your cannabis provider, the medical dispensary staff, the Virginia Cannabis Control Authority, and the DEA if they have a reason to look into it. And, if you use any Medical Dispensary in a state that shares it's PDMP database, every doctor or pharmacist who serves you will also be able to see your cannabis purchases in all of those states (but the doctor or pharmacist will have to go out of their way to search for your file). Especially important to know, your health insurance company might possibly find out that you use medical marijuana if your doctor decides to document it in their notes. The people who will not know you have a medical marijuana card (unless you tell them or give them permission to access your medical records) are everyone else. That includes your current employer, your prospective employers (even hospital employers and state employers), and any government agency besides the DEA. That includes Child Protective Services, the DMV, the ATF, the FBI, and the CIA. Ok, so, if you're on the Most Wanted List, maybe the FBI could find out. Stay off the Most Wanted List! All joking aside, if you are suspected of a crime, you can unfortunately lose your privacy rights.
  • ¿Qué es una referencia médica y cómo funciona?
    Una referencia médica es una carta o receta de cualquiera de sus médicos solicitando una consulta de Athena Heals para evaluarlo y obtener una tarjeta médica. Necesitan incluir su diagnóstico en la derivación. Pueden enviar la referencia por correo electrónico a me@athenaheals.org o pueden enviarla por fax al (571)517- 1184. Alternativamente, puede tomar una foto de la referencia y enviarla por correo electrónico usted mismo.
  • ¿Cómo pago?
    Se le dará la opción de pagar por adelantado cuando haga su cita o más tarde, a través de una factura. Para pagar más tarde, elija la opción "Pagar en persona". Esto no significa que pagará en persona, es solo una forma de evitar pagar por adelantado. Preferimos los pagos con tarjeta de crédito, pero el efectivo o el cheque de caja también son opciones si vive cerca de Alexandria (debería hacer arreglos directamente con Athena para eso). No aceptamos cheques personales. Pinwheel es el nombre de la empresa que asegura su tarjeta de crédito en línea, por lo tanto, cuando vaya a realizar un pago, haga clic en la opción Pinwheel. El cargo solo dirá Athena Heals y no mencionará el nombre de la planta en ninguna parte.
  • Do You Take Insurance? Flex Cards?
    Since cannabis is still illegal federally, there is currently no insurance company that will pay for anything related to cannabis. For this reason, we offer a discount on the initial certification for Medicaid and Medicare patients. Flex cards are similar, however, you can request an invoice that is generic and doesn't specify exactly what you are paying for. It would be up to your insurance company to investigate which service you purchased.
  • ¿Cuándo obtengo mi tarjeta?
    Recibirá su certificado de Athena el mismo día que tenga su cita con ella. A la hora de sacar tu tarjeta médica es un poco más complicado. Deberá usar el certificado para solicitar la tarjeta al estado. Cuando completa esa solicitud, actualmente el estado tarda 60 días hábiles en aprobar la solicitud (alrededor de 3 meses). La buena noticia es que ya no envían una tarjeta de papel. Recibirás un correo electrónico cuando seas aprobado.
  • ¿Cómo funciona la telemedicina? ¿Dónde encuentro el enlace de zoom?
    Cuando haga su cita, recibirá un correo electrónico de confirmación titulado "¡Gracias por reservar!" eso le asignará un enlace de Zoom para nuestra reunión. El correo electrónico dirá "Videoconferencia: unirse a la reunión de Zoom". Cuando hace clic en las palabras Unirse a la reunión de Zoom, se abrirá automáticamente su aplicación Zoom si la tiene. Si no tiene la aplicación, lo llevará a donde debe ir para descargar la aplicación. Descargue la aplicación (es gratis), configure una cuenta básica y asegúrese de que el enlace funcione antes de nuestra cita (esto incluye asegurarse de que puede encender el micrófono y el video). Cuando sea el momento de nuestra cita, vuelva a hacer clic en el enlace. Te llevará a lo que se llama una sala de espera en Zoom. Espere allí hasta que Athena lo lleve a la videoconferencia. No intente organizar la reunión. Atenea será la anfitriona. Si tienes una aplicación de video diferente que prefieres usar (como FaceTime), infórmaselo a Athena y estará encantada de atenderte.
  • No puedo encontrar el correo electrónico con mi (certificado/enlace de zoom/enlace de pago)
    Revise sus carpetas de spam/basura. Si aún no los ve, contáctenos en me@athenaheals.org.< /p>
  • ¿Hay una fecha de caducidad? ¿Cuánto es la renovación?
    Sí, el certificado vence un año después de la fecha de su cita. La tarjeta también caduca después de un año. Le recomendamos que programe su renovación aproximadamente 1 semana antes de que caduque el certificado. Para programar su cita, haga clic aquí. Cuesta $50 renovar el certificado. El estado siempre cobra $50 por la tarjeta, ya sea por primera vez o por renovación.
  • What Are the Risks of Medical Marijuana?
    Research on Medical Marijuana is limited due to the fact that its legal status is very limited. Keep this in mind when reading about both the benefits and risks of using it. Here are the main risks we know about so far: Side effects vary from person to person and depend on the potency and amount of marijuana used, as well as the frequency of use. People who are chronically exposed to THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), the active constituent in marijuana, are less likely to have side effects than those who have never used it or only use it occasionally. Marijuana can cause short-term paranoia in some people, resulting in symptoms such as anxiety, agitation, confusion, panic attacks and occasionally, psychosis. These reactions may be more common in people with an underlying psychiatric disorder or who are genetically more susceptible to mental health disturbances. Dependence on Marijuana can arise with long-term use and has caused withdrawal symptoms in some people. Children and adults under the age of 24 are especially at risk of addiction. There has been evidence of damage to the pleasure centers of the brain when people in this age group use it daily. The damage leads to decreased IQ and difficulty succeeding in life. The risk of coronary artery disease and a heart attack is also increased in the hour following Marijuana use; people with underlying heart conditions should use Marijuana with caution. Marijuana cigarettes tend to be smoked without filters, are inhaled more deeply, and are smoked to a smaller butt size. This leads to higher amounts of smoke being drawn deeper into the lungs than with cigarette smoking. Marijuana smoke leads to 5 times greater absorption of carbon monoxide than cigarettes. Due to how long Marijuana smoke is held in the lungs, there is 4x more tar deposited in the lungs. Benzopyrene, a cancer-causing agent, is present in similar amounts in Marijuana as in cigarettes. Marijuana smoking is also known to damage lung tissue, leading to asthma and chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD). Researchers warn that smoking Marijuana may also decrease reproductive function (the ability to have a baby) and can increase the risk of cancer of the mouth and tongue. Marijuana may potentially weaken the body's immune system and may increase the risk of leukemia and other cancers in children whose mothers smoke Marijuana during pregnancy. Users should also be aware that Marijuana purchased off the street can sometimes be laced with other drugs or substances that can lead to more dangerous side effects. Click here or here for more information.
  • Is Marijuana safe with blood thinners?
    Anyone on blood thinners or antiplatelet medications needs to know that Marijuana products can dangerously change the way your medications work. You will need to talk to both Athena and the doctor prescribing these medications before you can safely use Marijuana .
  • Can I use Marijuana with birth control?
    Unfortunately birth control pills use the same liver enzymes that Marijuana does. There is concern that using Marijuana while you take a birth control pill will cause the pill to not work for the NEXT 28 DAYS! So it is recommended that you use another form of contraception when using Marijuana .
  • ¿Qué son las Credenciales de Athena?
    Athena tiene una maestría PA de Baylor College of Medicine, está certificada por la junta de NCCPA y tiene licencia en el estado de Virginia como asistente médico. También es una practicante registrada en la Junta de Farmacia de Virginia para certificar pacientes para tarjetas médicas.
  • What are Virginia Cannabis Laws?
    Some of the important Virginia cannabis laws I have found include the following: Medical Medical patients may purchase 4 oz every 30 days in Virginia. In DC it's 8 oz. You can't drive under the influence. You can't use it near a school. You can't use it in public. You can't have an open container in the car, even if you're a passenger (anything where the original seal has been broken). You can't have anything in the passenger area of your vehicle. Your Virginia cannabis license will not protect you in a state where it is illegal. There is a law that provides job protection as long as you have a valid certificate. It doesn't include federal jobs and contractors who are subject to federal law. Also doesn't cover pre-employment pee tests. Your employer can still test you and say that your job can't be impacted by your cannabis use, that you can't be high at work, and that you can't have drug paraphernalia at work. Keep in mind some people have still lost their jobs, so know your company policies well. Nonmedical Adults 21 and older may possess up to one ounce of marijuana. Everyone Adults 21 and older can smoke marijuana privately in their homes. Adults 21 and older can grow up to four plants in their homes. The plants cannot be seen from the street and cannot be accessible to anyone under the age of 21. The plants must include a legible tag that includes your name, driver's license or ID number, and a notation that the marijuana plant is being grown for personal use as authorized by law. Up to one ounce of marijuana may be shared with another adult who is 21 or older, provided there is no remuneration or exchange of money or anything of value. You can't cross state lines with it. It can't be mailed. It's illegal on any federal property. You can't buy a gun if you possess cannabis. You might be able to possess a gun in Virginia while possessing cannabis - this is a grey zone. Virginia law implies that it is ok, while Federal law says it isn't ok. DISCLAIMER: I am not a lawyer and I cannot give you legal advice. I'm just passing along what I have found online. Always talk to a lawyer to be certain of your rights and restrictions.
  • I'm under 21, can I get a card?
    Unfortunately daily cannabis use and heavy cannabis use have been shown to cause changes to young brains that can lead to lifelong addiction and difficulty functioning normally in life. The younger the person is, the worse the effect, but these changes can happen all the way up to age 24. For this reason, we discourage using medical cannabis on a regular basis when people are under the age of 24. Since recreational is available from age 21 and up, we require patients between the ages of 18 and 21 to get a note from their doctor saying that they do not object to their patient's cannabis use. Children under 18 must demonstrate extraordinary need and will require approval from their doctor. Both groups will need to schedule the "Special Needs" appointment.
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