Are you looking to understand if you can access Delaware medical marijuana for chronic seizures. As you are aware, seizure disorders can be an extremely debilitating diagnosis. Seizures can be accompanied by many symptoms, but some include temporary confusion, a staring spell, uncontrollable movements of the arms and legs, loss of consciousness or awareness, cognitive symptoms, anxiety, fear, depression, and many more symptoms. And many will often experience side effects from the medications they are taking to treat their seizure disorder. So, it’s no surprise that you may be searching for alternatives for your seizures.
The good news is that as a Delaware resident a person can access medical marijuana for seizures. If you have seizures and have questions about the possibility of obtaining a Delaware medical marijuana card, the team at Green Relief Health is here to help! Our Patient Care Coordinators can be reached Monday-Friday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM at 302-564-9994 or by scheduling an appointment here.
What Are Seizures?
A seizure is a sudden, uncontrolled electrical disturbance in the brain. It can cause changes in your behavior, movements, feelings, and in levels of consciousness. Having two or more seizures at least 24 hours apart that aren’t brought on by an identifiable cause is generally considered to be epilepsy.
There are many types of seizures, which range in symptoms and severity. Seizure types vary by where in the brain they begin and how far they spread. Most seizures last from 30 seconds to two minutes. A seizure that lasts longer than five minutes is a medical emergency.
Delaware Medical Marijuana And Seizures
Medical Marijuana has become a trusted option for many with seizure disorders. In fact, more cannabis-based treatments are emerging as a promising approach to improving the lives of many with seizures. Epilepsy is one of the most common seizure disorders. Medical cannabis has become an effective alternative for many with epilepsy that have hard to control seizures.
Epilepsy is one of the most common non-communicable neurological diseases. Approximately one-third of patients with epilepsy have seizures that are resistant to traditional antiepileptic medications. Studies have been done on cannabis’ potential to help manage seizures for years. In fact, in 2018 the FDA approved the cannabis-based drug, Epidolex, to treat two rare types of treatment resistant forms of epilepsy.
The early results of various studies suggest that medical marijuana could play a role in the treatment of various seizure disorders. In recent years, several studies have shown the benefit of certain plant-based CBD products in treating specific groups of people with epilepsy who have not responded to traditional therapies.
What The Latest Research Says
There are more and more states like Delaware that have approved medical marijuana. This means that there are now more research opportunities than ever before. A few years ago, in 2017, Devinsky et al. did a study on 120 patients with epilepsy. For 14 weeks, 61 patients were in the CBD group, and 59 were given placebos. Of those in the CBD group, 43% had a decrease in seizure frequency, and 5% were completely seizure-free.
In June of 2022, a world-first Phase 2A trial published in the Journal of the American Medical Association looked at the safety of transdermal CBD gel in adults with focal epilepsy. Focal epilepsy is the most common form of epilepsy in adults, affecting 60% of patients, and is treatment-resistant in one-third of patients.
This study was conducted across 14 epilepsy trial centers in Australia and New Zealand. It found that using CBD oil in skin patches was safe, well tolerated, and accepted by patients.
In the first 12 weeks, patients did not see a difference in seizure frequency, but by month six, there was a reduction in seizures by at least 50% in more than half of the participating patients.
Can I Get A Medical Card For Seizures In Delaware?
Yes, you can absolutely get a medical card for seizures in Delaware. The state of Delaware has 14 medical conditions that are specifically outlined in the law that a patient can qualify for to get a Delaware medical card. One of those specifically outlined conditions is seizures. To qualify for a medical card for seizures you will need to be able to document your seizure disorder.
A patient can document their seizures through their medical history. You will need to be able to show that in your medical history you have been seen by a provider for seizures. Inside your medical history there will be notes that your provider has made to document the existence of the seizures. It is also important to remember that typically a chronic condition is anything over three months in duration.
Getting Your Delaware Medical Card For Seizures
Once it has been determined that you have a qualifying condition for medical marijuana in Delaware like seizures, the process to get your medical card is relatively simple. You will meet with a certified provider to go over your medical history and qualifying condition. If the provider finds that you meet the qualifying criteria, the provider is then able to submit a certification to the state of Delaware.
After your doctor’s visit there is still one step to go to qualify for a Delaware medical marijuana card. You will then need to submit an application to the state of Delaware to verify your residency in the state. In addition, you will sign a form to release your medical information to the state of Delaware which is a part of the approval process. This process can either be done online or through the mail. There is a $50 application fee to submit this application to the state of Delaware, which is important to keep in mind.
Visiting A Compassion Center
The final step in the process of obtaining medical cannabis in Delaware is to visit a compassion center. Now that you are a certified medical cannabis patient, you can visit a compassion center to obtain medical marijuana products. The state of Delaware has compassion centers located throughout the state. You are not required to go to any one compassion center but can go to whichever compassion center you would like. When you arrive at the compassion center you will have to show your Delaware medical cannabis card to purchase products. Compassion centers typically have very friendly and helpful staff that can walk you through the process and make recommendations on products that would work best for you.
How Can Green Relief Health Help?
If you’re curious about whether you may qualify for a Delaware medical marijuana card for seizures, reach out to us today! If you’d like to speak with a Green Relief Health team member, you may contact our office Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. On our website you can also find a large selection of educational blogs, an FAQ page with answers to frequently asked questions, and our own line of hemp-derived CBD that’s recommended by physicians!
