Soon to be Maine Patient

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crohnie31

Member
Hey Everyone, just joined the forum tonight, I've been reading it for awhile gathering information but now I have some questions of my own, any help is really appreciated!

So I currently live in the midwest and I'm planning on moving to Maine this summer. I'll be around the Camden/Rockport area. I have Crohn's Disease, so I know I pretty much qualify automatically. I don't plan on growing meds myself, atleast not right away. I just have some basic questions really.

Are there any dispensaries open within an hour or so of Camden and if so which is the best one in your opinion? I've tried looking for information on dispensaries and there is just not a lot of info on them since they are all so new. Also, whats an average price for say an 1/8th and ounce at a dispensary? Do the dispensaries carry a big selection of edibles, tinctures, drinks etc.? How is the selection of marijuana itself? I would love to try lots of different strains since I use cannabis for lots of reasons mostly nausea, appetite, depression, PAIN, anxiety and inflammation control.

If I decide to go the caregiver route, are prices comparable to a dispensary? cheaper or more expensive? I've seen that caregivers can only 5 patients. I don't think I smoke a whole lot, maybe a 1/2 ounce or so a month. I don't want to screw a caregiver by taking up a patient slot then not buying a whole bunch of product, does that make sense? and if that's the case, shouldn't I just go to a dispensary?

Well I think I'll wrap this post up, sorry for all the questions, there just isn't a whole lot of info about mmj in Maine. We were looking at moving to Maine or Colorado, and there is a HUGE difference between the 2 haha. I'm really excited to move to the area, also if anyone is from the Midcoast area, how do you like living there? It seems like there is just a TON of stuff to do there. Thanks again everyone for all your help.
 
maineyankee

maineyankee

Active Member
Good Morning Crohnie and Welcome to Maine (Well sort of) :-) First of all, I am a newbie, and do not have all of the qualifications that you are asking. But ... I can share a little bit of what I have experienced thus far since obtaining my card from this state in February of 2011.

Currently I have a sweetie of a CareGiver that is located 80 some miles south of me. I too do not smoke that much (1/2 to 3/4 oz per month), and I have brought up the same question to her. In her opinion that she gave to me, "It is not the quantity, but the quality that I can share with you, to get you better." And that was at the first meeting together. I have been impressed, will always be impressed, and we have developed a great friendship in the meanwhile. So there are some I am sure, that want to turn over the 5 ounces a month per patient. But I think here in Maine, we just do what is right. As far as pricing, my CareGiver has ALWAYS used me good. If I needed a hand, she was there. When times were better for me, I shared with her.
Maine's (Eight) Dispensaries are self sufficient, meaning that they cannot purchase any overages from growers, unlike one sees on the television reality show Weed Wars, based in California. Currently, all (Eight) are maxed out, and for whatever reason(s), are not accepting any new patients currently (as of this writing). Some people state that this is due to year-end and the State of Maine's position on some upcoming legislation, but I feel strongly that it is due to lack of goods on the owners part. I know on December 13th, I stopped at one located in Auburn, and spoke to Jenna, one of the owners, and she stated that it was because of the latter that she could not help me out. (All I wanted was to purchase edibles like I had seen on Weed Wars, and since I am currently growing my first crop, hence no canna butter). I do not know what kind of selection they have, but I can give you my spin on what I saw, which was not much. I sort of use this as a basis in life ... I would rather do business locally, where I can, to show support for my fellow brother or Sister, and not some company that has a CEO, CFO, and everything else. I will never, ever go to a dispensary if I can help it.

As for Camden goes, it is a picture perfect town. In matter of fact, many movies were either filmed or based in and around Camden. In the summer months, it is quite the bumper to bumper town. In Wintah (Winter) it gets downright cold like the rest of Maine ... Hence what I call ... Maine ... The Frozen Tundra of Planet Earth. If everyone liked one community, that community would be overwhelmed, and therefore forgotten just like so many have in the past. I do not know if you are looking for work, or disabled, or just retired. But, I think Camden would be a very nice town to settle in, just like so many others here in this great state that I call home.

Hope that this helps out, and again Crohnie .... Welcome To Maine !!
Merry Christmas and All The Best in 2012
The MaineYankee :-)
 
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mdanforth

Well-Known Member
there are no dispensaries that currently dispense any meds in quantity....I believe that NPG lets their patients get 1/8 per week....canuvo is similar and Remedy has nothing....

Caregivers are your best bet, price and quality are much better.....pm me and I might be able to help....
 
Maine Brookies

Maine Brookies

Active Member
What MD said. although i would add that, in addition to limiting quantities, the last i heard that are no dispensaries that are taking new patients.
 
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mdanforth

Well-Known Member
I know that Remedy isn't taking any, Glenn at Canuvo is discouraging patients from signing up...Not sure of NPG but I know they limit amounts and have trouble finding growers.....as are all the dispensaries.....

A*Good-Qualified*caregiver will be the way to go.....
 
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crohnie31

Member
Thanks for all your input everyone!

Maineyankee- I totally agree about buying local as much as possible, but that's why I was worried about not buying enough from a caregiver. What are growers supposed to do with the extra they have if it cannot be sold to dispensaries? just curious.


Also, I had another question for anyone that may have an answer... Currently I am seeing a pain management doctor who prescribes me pain meds. If I get a mmj recommendation, will doctors still prescribe any painkillers? Obviously, I want to get off the pills as much as possible, but there are some days that smoking just doesn't work as well. Also, I travel rather frequently and I can't just be in pain while traveling because I can't smoke... If anyone has any experience with this, or knows of anyone, I'd really like to know how this works exactly.

Thanks again everyone, and Merry Christmas!!! (I hope its not too cold for you guys up there! haha)
 
SickofPain

SickofPain

Member
chronie, I have no problems at all from either my MD or my rheumatologist giving me my pain meds. I have drastically reduced what I have been taking since starting to smoke again, but they do realize that there are times something stronger is needed. I don't know about other Drs. around here but Dr. Kaplan & Dr Jackson are great! (am I allowed to post their names? Sorry, but good Drs are hard to find & I found the best!)
Merry Christmas!
 
Maine Brookies

Maine Brookies

Active Member
crohnie31 said:
Also, I had another question for anyone that may have an answer... Currently I am seeing a pain management doctor who prescribes me pain meds. If I get a mmj recommendation, will doctors still prescribe any painkillers?
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I think it depends on the Doc. I had a friend with Krohn's (he's since passed) who was being seen at a pain management clinic in Lewiston. The doctor drug tested my friend and found THC in his system. My friend said he used it to help with the pain but the doc told him that, if he was still dirty at his next appointment, he would be unable to write for the pain medication even if my friend got a recommendation in the meantime due to concern about Federal regulations. This was in 2008 or so, so it is based on the 1999 law but i don't think anything in the two revisions since would change that physician's mind.

OTOH, i have another friend who got his recommendation from his neurologist, not an alternative medicine type doctor. I've also heard some oncologists will recommend.
 
maineyankee

maineyankee

Active Member
Maine Brookies said:
but the doc told him that, if he was still dirty at his next appointment, he would be unable to write for the pain medication even if my friend got a recommendation in the meantime due to concern about Federal regulations.

I know that MB did not use the word "Dirty" in the wrong sense or meaning ... But that just pee's me off when I hear that term being used in the medical sense. I remember like it was yesterday when one of two of my pain management doctors (One was more adept in giving me Pharma drugs, while the other was more into the "Electronic's" aspect of treatment) placed me on Actiq (Fentynol Sticks). Now if you want to call a drug, medicine, OTC, or whatever falls into that category... Actiq (IMO) would be "Dirty" and not MMJ ... By far !!
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Maine Brookies

Maine Brookies

Active Member
Those were the words my friend used and, to honest, the test was positive for a number of drugs - my friend loved drugs of all sorts and so dirty is probably an appropriate term!
 
Buddy232

Buddy232

Active Member
maineyankee said:
Maine Brookies said:
but the doc told him that, if he was still dirty at his next appointment, he would be unable to write for the pain medication even if my friend got a recommendation in the meantime due to concern about Federal regulations.

I know that MB did not use the word "Dirty" in the wrong sense or meaning ... But that just pee's me off when I hear that term being used in the medical sense. I remember like it was yesterday when one of two of my pain management doctors (One was more adept in giving me Pharma drugs, while the other was more into the "Electronic's" aspect of treatment) placed me on Actiq (Fentynol Sticks). Now if you want to call a drug, medicine, OTC, or whatever falls into that category... Actiq (IMO) would be "Dirty" and not MMJ ... By far !!
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I think younger doctors today are focused more on preventative treatment, while older doctors are more geared twoards pharma, making you "comfortable", etc. I'd be willing to bet most the PM doctors you've ever seen have been older gentlemen rather than people 30-35 and under?

The older guys are so willing to throw out those pharma's like they are candy. Last month my PCP took my blood pressure and then write me a perscription for a blood pressure medication (even though those really F with you and I have neurological problems... he even counseled me on that.) Guess what... I DIDN'T TAKE THEM! Two weeks later I went to my neurologist and she saw the new med (I'm in a program called medlink where all my doc's share info digitally). I told her I didn't take the blood pressure med's and why. She took my reading... PERFECT. I had another neuro appt yesterday, blood pressure, perfect. My neuro suggested I don't feel bad telling the doctor I didn't take the medication and that beleive it or not patients disobey them all the time.

So my PCP was going to legit put me in a blood pressure medication based on one fluke reading that proved conclusively to be irrelevant to my long term health. WTF!

To think, I started going to this guy 4 years ago because I was sick and he's in his 60's and has a good practice. I thought he'd be the best doctor for me. I'm the only person under 30 who goes there... I guess I found out why, the older you are the more likely you are to comply with some quack!
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