FAQ’S
[Frequently Asked Questions]

  1. Ok, I'd like to get started with M4-C.  What do I need to do?
  2. Could you provide a more detailed description of M4-C's services?
  3. It's been more than a week since I sent in my forms to M4-C, but I have not been called, yet.  What gives?  What should I do?
  4. What if I don't want to wait 7-10 days - how can I speed up the process?
  5. Who may be eligible for a permit?
  6. Why do I need records from prior physicians?
  7. Why do I need a primary care provider or treating specialist?
  8. What constitutes appropriate and sufficient medical records?
  9. Why is a face-to-face meeting & physical examination necessary?
  10. How do I obtain my medical records, myself?
  11. Ok, I have my physician's certification; what do I do, now?
  12. How long will the certification last?
  13. Do I need to be referred to M4-C by another physician?
  14. What is the cost to apply for a medical marijuana permit?
  15. Will my insurance cover the certification process, consultation, or application?
  16. Are there restrictions on what a doctor can do to help a patient who requests medical marijuana?
  17. Why do I need to have a physician sign an "Attending Physician's Statement"?  Why can't I just provide my medical records?
  18. I normally see a nurse practitioner (NP), Physician's Assistant (PA), or Chiropractor.  Why can't they sign the certification?
  19. Why does M4-C sometimes spell marijuana with a "j" and sometimes with an "h"?
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1.  OK, I’D LIKE TO GET STARTED WITH M4-C.  WHAT
     DO I NEED TO DO?
  • You will fill out and sign a questionnaire (called the “Current Health Status Questionnaire & Medical History” form) regarding the CURRENT STATUS of your potentially qualifying condition(s), any other pertinent health factors which may affect your ability to safely use Medical Cannabis, and other health history information. 
  • You will fill out and sign the “Healthcare Agreement” form.  At the bottom of the page, you will provide the name and contact information of your primary care provider or clinic and/or the specialist whom you currently see for your qualifying condition(s). 
  • You will fill out and return the “Authorization to Release Medical Records to M4-C.”  (Fill out 1 Release form for each healthcare provider or specialist you have seen from whom we should obtain medical records.) 

We must be able to obtain records from a prior provider in order to verify the presence of a pre-existing qualifying condition.

*(All 3 forms have been included as attachments to the initial email you received from M4-C.  If you need new copies, please contact us via email at support@M4-C.com or via telephone at (517)376-3229.)
  • Fax, email, or via post service, send these 3 forms back to M4-C: 
Via Fax:  (810)496-0073

Or

Via Email: Patient.Forms@M4-C.com

Or

Via United States Postal Service: 
     Mitchell A. Cohn, D.O. @ M4-C
     P.O. Box 1217
     Okemos, Michigan  48805-1217

THAT’S IT!  … We’ll take it from there.

We’ll use these documents to obtain the necessary medical records, perform a pre-visit record review, and contact you regarding setting up an appointment, if appropriate.


2.   COULD YOU PROVIDE A MORE DETAILED
      DESCRIPTION OF M4-C’s SERVICES?
      STEP 1 – Medical Record Collection
We will attempt to obtain your medical records for you, so that you do not even have to leave your home to get them.

The most important pre-visit task is gathering information about your condition. Without proper medical records documenting your qualifying condition, our physician will be unable to review your case or help you reach your desired goal. 

      STEP 2 – Pre-Visit Medical Record Review
After our office receives your medical records they will be reviewed by our staff physician.  If your medical records are inadequate you will be contacted and advised regarding what steps may be taken next. If, however, records are adequate and the Pre-Visit Review suggests that you may potentially qualify for certification, you will be contacted to set up an appointment for a consultation with Dr. Cohn or one of our medical providers.. 

      STEP 3 – Consultation
Dr. Cohn or one of our other medical providers will see you in our office (or at your home if you have mobility issues) for a brief, in-person encounter.  At the time of the encounter and PRIOR TO EXAMINATION, the patient must present a valid Michigan ID or Michigan Driver’s License

After verifying your identity, the medical provider will discuss your medical information with you including your qualifying condition(s), your past medical history, and any other pertinent conditions such as psychiatric or respiratory disorders which may affect your usage of marijuana as a medicine.  Finally, the doctor will perform a brief, non-invasive physical examination.

Upon completion of the visit, if your are deemed to be qualified for use of medical marijuana under Michigan’s guidelines and in accordance with proper medical care, you will be issued a
signed State Certification Form
that will allow you to apply for Michigan’s Medical Marihuana Identification Card.

THAT’S IT!  … and you thought this would be difficult!


3.  IT’S BEEN MORE THAN A WEEK SINCE I SENT IN MY
     FORMS TO M4-C, BUT I HAVE NOT BEEN CALLED,
     YET.  WHAT GIVES?  WHAT SHOULD I DO?
Your records may not have been received, yet, from your prior treating physicians.  We will generally not call you until after the records have been received and reviewed by our physician. 

Please allow 7-10 days for us to send out your records request(s), receive and process your records, and contact you.  If you have not been contacted after 10 days, PLEASE, feel free to contact us via email, fax, or telephone to inquire about the status of your case.

4.  WHAT IF I DON’T WANT TO WAIT 7-10 DAYS – HOW
     CAN I SPEED UP THE PROCESS?
You can try to speed up the process by going to your physician(s) and obtaining the records yourself, then faxing, emailing, or mailing the records directly to our office. 

When you send back the “Current Health Status Questionnaire and Medical History” form, simply let us know that you will be obtaining the records yourself so that we do not duplicate your request.  Physician’s offices find such duplicate requests annoying and time-consuming for their staff.

*Refer to question 10 for instructions on how to obtain your own medical records.

5.  WHO MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR A PERMIT?
Under Michigan Law, if a patient has been diagnosed with and is currently undergoing treatment for the following debilitating medical conditions, they may qualify for a permit to use marijuana (cannabis) to alleviate their symptoms or make their symptoms more tolerable:
  • Cancer
  • Glaucoma
  • HIV/AIDS Positive
  • Hepatitis C
  • Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
  • Crohn’s disease
  • Agitation of Alzheimer’s disease
  • Nail patella syndrome
  • Any other medical condition or treatment for a medical condition approved by the Department of Community Health.

Also, if a patient is undergoing treatment for any medical condition and that treatment produces, for that patient, one or more of the following
  • Cachexia or Wasting Syndrome
  • Severe and Chronic Pain
  • Severe Nausea
  • Seizures (including but not limited to those characteristic of Epilepsy)
  • Severe and Persistent Muscle Spasms (Including but not limited to those characteristic of Multiple Sclerosis)
he or she may also qualify for a permit if, in a physician’s opinion, the use of medical marijuana may alleviate the symptoms or make them more tolerable.

Clarifications:  
  1. PAIN FROM ANY SOURCE CAN QUALIFY (examples include headaches, backaches, IBS {nausea and pain}, etc.) IF the pain is chronic or chronically recurrent, and severe enough to cause you problems with your everyday functioning or ability to sleep.
  2. NAUSEA FROM ANY SOURCE CAN QUALIFY (including unknown causes, nausea caused by taking other medicines for other ailments, etc.) IF the nausea is chronic or chronically recurrent, and severe enough to cause you problems with your everyday functioning or ability to sleep.


6.  WHY DO I NEED RECORDS FROM PRIOR
     PHYSICIANS?*
Although some patients have conditions where very few records are needed, M4-C requires current records (WITHIN THE PAST 3 YEARS) be available and relate to your qualifying condition. Documentation is required for at least the two (2), and preferably 3, most recent visits pertaining to your qualifying condition.  In order to comply with legal guidelines, proper records, including appropriate test results, must be available which document the patient’s claimed health problem.  The state will not simply take the doctor’s or patient’s word that such problems exist.

*If you wish to obtain your own records see information in question 10, below, to learn more about how you may obtain your own medical records.

7.  WHY DO I NEED A PRIMARY CARE PROVIDER OR
     TREATING SPECIALIST?
Since our providers are consulting with patients specifically about their qualification for medicinal cannabis, and do not act as a patient's primary physician, we require that all of our patients have at least one other current (i.e. someone they have seen within the last 3 years) physician, clinic, urgent care facility, chiropractor, or nurse practitioner, if possible.  Such care is necessary for ongoing care of your medical disorder, if appropriate, as well as for complications from your disorder, other health problems, or use of medical marijuana (ex. allergic reaction or exacerbation of a pre-existing psychological disorder) which could occur.

8.  WHAT CONSTITUTES APPROPRIATE AND
     SUFFICIENT MEDICAL RECORDS?
Although some patients have conditions where very few records are needed, M4-C requires the records to be current (WITHIN THE PAST 3 YEARS), if at all possible, and relate to your qualifying condition. Documentation is required for at least the two (2), and preferably 3 or more, most recent visits pertaining to your qualifying condition.  Records should demonstrate that the condition meets the criteria as laid out by the Michigan Department of Community Health (refer to question 5, above).

*If you wish to obtain your own records see information in question 10, below, to learn more about how you may obtain your own medical records.

9.  WHY IS A FACE-TO-FACE MEETING & PHYSICAL
     EXAMINATION NECESSARY?
The Michigan Medical Marihuana Program (MMMP) contacts each physician during the application process to verify that the patient is under the physician’s care. 

Michigan Department of Community Health guidelines state that a proper physician-patient relationship should exist in order for a physician to certify a patient for medical marijuana usage.  In Michigan, a face-to-face meeting between a physician (or his Nurse Practitioner or Physician’s Assistant) and a physical examination of the patient is considered part of the usual establishment of a proper physician-patient relationship.  In order to establish this proper relationship, avoid questions of impropriety or legality, and to avoid questions which could lead to revocation of a patient’s Permit, M4-C requires a face-to-face meeting and brief physical examination before a certification can be issued.

10.  HOW DO I OBTAIN MY MEDICAL RECORDS, MYSELF?
You must either obtain your medical records yourself and send them to us, or you may authorize your medical records to be faxed or mailed to our office. M4-C has provided a medical records release (see attached form) which you may use to obtain the necessary records from your primary provider or specialist’s office.  Your Provider may require that you sign a release provided by their office, instead.  Please be aware that your provider’s office may charge for records. 

You or your provider’s office may:
  • Mail Medical Records to:
Mitchell A. Cohn, D.O.
Records at M4-C
P.O. Box 1217
Okemos, Michigan 48805-1217

  • Fax Medical Records to:
Fax: (810)496-0073 
If you are faxing, please do not fax more than 25 pages.

If you request records, yourself, it is your responsibility to make sure all required medical records have arrived at our office prior to review.

*We do keep appropriate provided records for our files.  If you desire copies for yourself, please make copies before sending.

11.  OK, I HAVE MY PHYSICIAN’S CERTIFICATION.  WHAT
       DO I DO, NOW?
       A.  Fill out the Michigan Medical Marijuana Application
      Packet, provided courtesy of M4-C – or you may obtain
      it from the Michigan Department of Community Health
      website: http://www.michigan.gov/mmp

      B.   Send your application packet, including the signed
      Physician’s Certification form, and any other required
      information and fees to:

Michigan Department of Community Health
Medical Marihuana Registry
P.O. Box 30083
Lansing, MI 48909

     The state will verify information within 15 days
     of receiving the application. If approved, your
     card will be issued within 5 days and sent to
     the address you provided.

12.  HOW LONG WILL THE CERTIFICATION LAST?
Certifications must be renewed every year.  So that your ability to legally receive the benefits of medical marijuana usage do not lapse, we advise that you call well before the expiration date of your license to schedule another visit to obtain a renewal of your Physician Certification.

13.  DO I NEED TO BE REFERRED TO M4-C BY ANOTHER
       PHYSICIAN?
NO.  Self-referral is fine.

14.  WHAT IS THE COST TO APPLY FOR A MEDICAL
       MARIJUANA PERMIT (IDENTIFICATION CARD)?
The State of Michigan charges $100 to file an application.  Reduced fees of $25 are available to recipients of Medicaid or Social Security Disability.
   
15. WILL MY INSURANCE COVER THE CERTIFICATION
      PROCESS, CONSULTATION, OR APPLICATION?
NO.  At this time, we are not aware of any insurance companies covering these costs.  Even if some companies may eventually cover such costs, M4-C does not participate with any insurances.

16.  ARE THERE RESTRICTIONS ON WHAT A DOCTOR
       CAN DO TO HELP A PATIENT WHO REQUESTS
       MEDICAL MARIJUANA?
YES!!  Doctors CANNOT
  • Prescribe medical marijuana. Doctors may only provide a recommendation and certification which attests to the patient’s qualifications for legal marijuana usage.
  • Assist patients in obtaining marijuana.
  • Cultivate or possess marijuana for patient use.
  • Physically assist patients in using marijuana.
  • Recommend marijuana without a justifiable medical cause.

17.  WHY DO I NEED TO HAVE A PHYSICIAN SIGN AN
       “ATTENDING PHYSICIAN’S STATEMENT”?  WHY
       CAN’T I JUST PROVIDE MY MEDICAL RECORDS?
According to the Michigan Medical Marihuana Act (MMMA), a physician must state in writing that the patient has a qualifying serious or debilitating medical condition and that medical marijuana may mitigate the symptoms or effects of that condition. The Michigan Medical Marihuana Program (MMMP) contacts each physician during the application process to verify that the patient is under the physician’s care. 

18.  I NORMALLY SEE A NURSE PRACTIONER (NP),
       PHYSICIAN’S ASSISTANT (PA), OR CHIROPRACTOR.
       WHY CAN’T THEY SIGN THE CERTIFICATION?
Michigan Law specifically states that the certification must be signed by a fully licensed PHYSICIAN, either a Medical Doctor (M.D.) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.)

19.  WHY DOES M4-C SOMETIMES SPELL MARIJUANA
       WITH A “J” AND SOMETIMES WITH AN “H”?
Although the common spelling of marijuana is with a ‘J’, for some arcane reason, the State of Michigan and some other jurisdictions have chosen to use the alternate spelling, marihuana, with an ‘H’.  This legally obligates M4-C to use the 'h' spelling in certain circumstances.

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Michigan Mobile Medical Marihuana Certifications, PLLC 
P.O. Box 1217, Okemos, Michigan 48805
Telephone: (517)376-3229
Email: info@M4-C.com