What this site is (and isn’t)
Romelfanger Cannabis Education turns published research and official government information into clear summaries. Our main packets are written for doctors, nurses and pharmacists, so they can answer your questions with real sources.
- It is a place to learn the basics, find your state’s official program, and prepare for a visit with your clinician.
- It isn’t medical care. We don’t diagnose, suggest doses, recommend products or tell you whether your medicines are safe together. Those decisions belong to you and your care team.
Find your state’s rules
Cannabis laws are different in every U.S. state, and they change often.
- Open the U.S. state map and choose your state.
- Your state’s page shows its legal status and a link to its official program website, when one exists.
- Use the official website to confirm the current rules, who qualifies, and how to apply. If we haven’t verified a detail, the page says “See official site.”
Outside the U.S.? See our Nepal and Thailand pages, and check your own government’s official sources for the law where you live.
Bring your full medicine list
Before your visit, write down everything you take, including:
- Prescription medicines
- Over-the-counter medicines
- Vitamins, herbs and supplements
- Any cannabis or CBD products you already use
Ask your clinician or pharmacist to review the list for possible interactions. Only they can tell you what it means for you.
Talking with your doctor
It’s okay to bring up medical cannabis. Being open helps your clinician keep you safe. Here are some questions you could bring:
- Is medical cannabis something worth discussing for my condition? What does the research say?
- How might it fit with the medicines and supplements I already take?
- Is there anything in my health history that makes it a poor fit for me?
- What side effects should I watch for, and who do I call if I have one?
- How will we tell whether anything is helping, and when should we check in again?
- Does my state require a certification or a patient card? Can you help with that, or who can?
A tool to bring, not an answer: the Drugs.com Drug Interaction Checker ↗ lets you enter your medicines and look them up. Bring what you find to your doctor or pharmacist and ask them what it means for you. It is not a verdict, and it doesn’t replace their advice.
Want something to hand your doctor? Our free Intro to Cannabinoids and Neuropathic Pain sample brief are written for clinicians, and the full clinician packets cover many specialties.
For caregivers
If you help someone else with their health, you can make their visits easier:
- Keep their medicine list up to date and bring it to every appointment.
- Write questions down ahead of time, and take notes during the visit.
- Ask the care team what changes or side effects you should watch for, and who to call.
- Store all medicines, including any cannabis products, locked up and out of reach of children and pets.
- If your state has a medical cannabis program, its official website explains whether and how caregivers can take part. Find it on your state’s page.
Annie’s book for patients
Medical Cannabis Handbook: A Friendly Guide to Safe, Simple Healing by Christina (Annie) Romelfanger is a plain-language handbook written by a patient, for patients. Annie is not a doctor, and the book encourages you to talk with yours before changing any medicine.
Get the book on Amazon ↗