Hi there!
Please note that a medical "recommendation" and "prescription" are NOT the same thing. The language matters since medical marijuana prescriptions are fictitious.
In the United States, cannabis is still illegal on the Federal level and considered a Schedule 1 Drug. This means the DEA believes that cannabis has a high potential for abuse and no medicinal benefits – despite being approved for medical use in over 20 states in the nation.
Because cannabis is a listed as a Schedule 1 controlled substance, doctors cannot legally issue prescriptions for cannabis or any controlled substance. Issuing a prescription of any scheduled drugs can result in physicians losing their license.
With that said, Federal courts have found that "recommending" the use of cannabis for medical purposes is permitted and protected. Unlike a prescription, a recommendation has no legal effect under federal law, and recommendations are viewed as a discussion as the pro and cons of consuming cannabis. A medical marijuana recommendation is a statement from your physician that expresses that medical cannabis would benefit you, whereas a prescription comes with designated dosage and instructions for use, and can be filled by pharmacies.
By law, your medical cannabis doctor cannot provide prescriptions for medical marijuana or order specific medical strains, administration methods, or dosage amounts. For more information, you can click on this link below.
I hope this information helps! 🙂
VeronicaB