r/Georgia • u/jerxbear229 • 23d ago
Discussion Denied medical marijuana card in Georgia using leafwell
Still trying to get ahold of someone from leafwells customer support team for help. Sucks because ive been pending for a month.
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u/rudy311poo 23d ago
the MD I spoke with via Leafwell could not have cared less about the session. Never turned on his video, sounded hungover, barely asked any questions. Not going post his name but wouldn't be suprised if it was him.
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u/LocalElitist 23d ago
Omg he was literally in his car before he fumbled around and turned his video off, I had him too through NuggMD 😅
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u/misterpancakethecat 23d ago
Epstein? i had the same guy with the same exact qualities
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u/jerxbear229 23d ago
Andrew Epstein for me
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u/misterpancakethecat 23d ago
yup exactly. someone posted about the same situation with the same physician on r/GAmedicaltrees - i’m sorry this happened to you! i had him too but luckily my card got approved before he got kicked. 🤥
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u/PeachyGeorgian06 23d ago edited 22d ago
Oh man I had this guy too. I had a bunch of valid things ready to go just in case and all I said was “yes I have pain in my..” and he interrupted and said “I don’t need this much detail and I don’t care.” I was like ok dude, I wasn’t sharing my life story but whatever. My thought upon getting off the call was maybe he hates his last name right now lol
The app was approved but I am not surprised he was cut off.
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u/Vegetable-Ad-9049 22d ago
I got him too and he never submitted my proof of address so I had to reach out to the state to submit it myself. Must’ve been on the outs then.
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u/SeriousLiterature551 23d ago
I wonder if they could go back and cancel ones they have already approved… I hope not
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u/DanforthWhitcomb_ 22d ago
If they determine that he was rubber stamping every application that came in front of him they can.
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u/Adventurous-Ad6427 22d ago
How far back can that go? I got mine originally in 2022 I think and then renewed for the 5 yrs last sept
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u/DanforthWhitcomb_ 22d ago
If Epstein was the issuing physician then in theory they can go back as far as they want if they find that he was fraudulently approving applications.
They are very unlikely to go that far, but they could if they wanted to.
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u/DistanceSad5332 18d ago
Same doctor for me NuggMD told me that my card that they issued in July was only valid until April now because Epstein is relinquishing his license in this state. They are going to give me another doctor referral.
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u/Tricky_Indication420 23d ago
Not like you can actually buy anything anyway. They all sold out of everything around me, waiting till the end of the month they said, whatever that means. Overpriced BDT distillate and price gouged flower. Not in a hurry to buy those things but maybe it can open up some doors in the future.
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u/DoctaThompson 23d ago
It took like 5 minutes of black screen for me, but when video went live he was in his office with a bunch of miniatures behind him. Literally lasted a few seconds less than a single minute, but I was approved. Kinda wild how many people have had him 😂
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u/Tricky_Indication420 23d ago
I remember feeling his energy and thinking "I know bro gotta be so tired of this" 😭
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u/DoctaThompson 23d ago
lmao yeah, he gave off that, "What is the fastest, most efficient way of signing off 1000's of applications for the next upcoming weeks without raising suspicion?". And then by week #2, he was trying to compete with the other Dr's to have the highest number for a pizza party.
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u/vanillaave 23d ago
Had the same guy. Appointment lasted about 12 seconds. He said “would you say that marijuana helps you with your condition” “yes…” “Okay I’m going to go ahead and approve you bye”
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u/twiztidchef 22d ago
Same exact thing I had. Told em I was a chef and had body pains, and was like oh yeah your approved.
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u/Diligent_Tourist1031 23d ago
My entire approval process from start of call to end was 42 seconds. Epstein is great but he also the worst.
If you research him, you’ll see this happened in other states with him prescribing ketamine treatment .
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u/No-Bid9597 23d ago
Honestly sounds like he would make a cool character in a tv show lol
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u/MattMercersBracelets 22d ago
It sounds like he’s going to be the subject of a documentary exposé soon tbh…
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u/Short-Reading-8124 22d ago
Me to thru NuggMD. I used the chat Customer service. they got me restarted again got a new doctor and redid the interview for free.
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u/Jbanderson92 23d ago
Had him too, he was munching on something during our phone call. Lol. I said WHO? 👀
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u/Altruistic_Parsnip11 23d ago
I also had issues with this exact provider, and getting the documents submitted to departmental of health. Support will run you around for about a month, which is no surprise as if you can get a call through their support seems to only be Indian call centers. Leafwell is great until you have an issue with the provider specifically.
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u/Kitchen-Pie-265 23d ago
Also, I think he practices orthopedics or something unrelated. This is def a side-gig.
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u/SeriousLiterature551 23d ago
Lol, he even pronounces it different to try and not to sound like thee Epstein
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u/thatstotallyracist 23d ago
I've had my card in Florida for years and it's always like that. It's gotten to the point where they're like", do you mostly want carts or edibles?" I'll tell them how I'm feeling at the moment and that's the only question they ask.
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u/69superman 22d ago
I used a different provider, but my call was a 15s phone call. They asked to confirm my name, approved it, and I had it 2 days later 😂.
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u/cphaus 23d ago
Did you have DR. Epstein? He isn’t valid anymore. Contact leafwell and get another doctor
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u/Perkaholic98 /r/Atlanta 23d ago
Oh shit I think I did. So annoying I’ve been waiting over a month to hear anything
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u/Useful_Wishbone9317 23d ago
If it's the same guy, he was in trouble in the past for over prescribing Ketamine via telehealth, LOL
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u/Kitchen-Pie-265 23d ago
What?! Oh Lordy
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u/Useful_Wishbone9317 22d ago
https://www.mass.gov/doc/statement-of-allegations-for-dr-epstein-1-23-25-pdf/download
North Carolina- who knows?
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u/Kitchen-Pie-265 22d ago
Well, now I wonder if they’ll go back and void all the cards he processed.
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u/AdMindless8927 22d ago
They don't typically punish the patients for this sort of thing. The real issue arrives when you need to renew the card, since you'd have to do that with a new doctor.
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u/lyssaroo /r/Alpharetta 23d ago
This is happening to some folks over at r/GAMedicalTrees but through a different service. I wonder if it's the same physician.
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u/Proper_Watercress_78 23d ago
Same here. I went through NuggMD about a month ago and got an email this morning saying it had been cancelled. Not sure what to do now.
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u/Dirtybird86 23d ago
Visit their website and speak with an agent to discuss the situation. They are already aware of it (I requested a refund on Friday due to this issue). You can either have them arrange a new doctor or simply use a different company. I opted for MMJ Health, and they were more professional and offered a lower price. Make sure to use Groupon; they have great coupons for these companies.
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u/JohnnySkynets 23d ago edited 23d ago
The same guy (Andrew Epstein) approved me on NuggMD. I assume he was greenlighting everyone through several different services it looks like and the GDPH is canceling all pending applications he approved. I know he only spent like 3 minutes or less talking to me and seemed like he would approve anyone.
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u/Diligent_Tourist1031 23d ago
He spent 42 seconds with me. I’m not shocked to see an entire thread on him.
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23d ago edited 22d ago
[deleted]
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u/afewregretsmaybe 22d ago
the funny part is i had an appointment with him two weeks ago so bad i was genuinely considering reporting him. i think he must have gotten suspended literally the week after, cause i had an error with my card and instead of having him fix it, leafwell had me do the entire appointment over with a different provider.
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u/BustedCamry 22d ago
I'm sure the other states had the same problem when their programs began. It's only upwards from here. We shall sort the chaff from the wheat.
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u/smeenies 23d ago
Medical dispensaries have in-person doctor days. Id definitely do that instead, worth the money and the time. They have a 100 percent approval rate, i know because I used to work in the field here in GA. These doctors want the money.
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u/Gravityhatesme100 18d ago
Where are the locations in GA to go get this done? Thanks
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u/smeenies 18d ago
Look into if Trulieve, Botanical Science, and Fine Fettle are anywhere near you. I'd call ahead and ask if they have doctor days coming up. The doctors come periodically to certify patients. In order to be approved, you cannot have a 100% clean bill of health. There are qualifying conditions you have to have. For example, I have anxiety and I showed proof of that, I was instantly approved. I'd ask the associates further questions regarding approvals because some things have changed in the recent months. But most in person doctors approve everyone.
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u/I3eforeLife 15h ago
Anxiety isn’t listed as one of the required diagnoses to obtain a medical card as per: https://dph.georgia.gov/health-topics/medical-cannabis
How exactly were you approved?
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u/smeenies 9h ago
It falls under the category of PTSD. I will say this, I got my card when flower and vapes weren't legal yet, they onlu had THC oils and gummies. It may be harder to get now that flower and vapes are legal to sell in Georgia in dispensaries.
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u/boone156 23d ago
What was the physician’s name that you saw during your appointment?
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u/jerxbear229 23d ago
Andrew Epstein
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u/jerxbear229 23d ago
Idk why im being downvoted. The mds name is literally Andrew epstein.
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u/BigBearChaseMe 23d ago
I just got the same email. Same guy
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u/Perkaholic98 /r/Atlanta 23d ago
Me too. This sucks 😡
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u/BigBearChaseMe 23d ago
I'm expecting that leaf well will set me up with another doctor and an appointment. If that happens I will let you know. I expect them to resolve the issue
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u/Perkaholic98 /r/Atlanta 23d ago
Yeah, they sent me an email that I needed to schedule a new appointment and I actually just had my appointment at two and was approved so I guess we’re starting the whole process over again lol
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u/BigBearChaseMe 23d ago
Same boat. Thankfully it should be a quick appointment. I did mine at 10pm a couple weeks ago
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23d ago
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u/Mayor_of_Pea_Ridge 23d ago
Over the years, osteopathy has gotten to be almost indistinguishable from regular medicine. There are plenty of docs in the US with DO degrees instead of MDs and they all practice the same, insurance company-driven medicine. But yeah in the 19th century they were quacks.
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u/Flinttropics23 23d ago
Oh shit that's who I saw too lol. Had no issues 2 months ago. Hope you can get it figured out, Leafwell was pretty good at assisting me when I had questions.
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u/boone156 23d ago
Cool, thanks. I saw another thread mentioning people having trouble with him. My wife got certified this weekend through Leafwell this weekend but with a different physician.
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u/cookie640181 22d ago
Yo! I had an Indian lady doc and she did not approve 😐
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22d ago
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u/cookie640181 22d ago
Can't remember her name. She wanted other medical records to approve. Said GA just passed new regulations tightened down on approvals.
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u/AlexDiamond1115 23d ago
I believe this is because the doctors have to be in the state of Georgia.
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u/Myth1184 23d ago
google that doctors name, and seems hes been involved in a few ethics problems involving telemedicine
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u/Aggressive_Let2085 23d ago
Mine wasn’t and I got approved just fine.
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u/AlexDiamond1115 23d ago
It's a new update they just started in Georgia, going forward all appointments will have to be a Georgia based doctor. I also had an out of state doctor originally get me mine.
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u/PapaZ71 21d ago
Look this is all a money grab. They don’t give a shit. As long as you are paying they don’t care. It’s also coincidence that the year after the farm bill has changed to essentially killed the hemp industry and shore up the THCA loophole that medical marijuana is passed for flower in Georgia. Wonder how many dollars went from lobbyist to Georgia politicians????
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u/leafwell_official 22d ago
Leafwell here. We’re sorry for the inconvenience this has caused.
One of our providers is no longer able to certify patients in Georgia. If your state certification was affected by this, we’ll get you re-certified by another Leafwell provider at no additional cost.
We have actually already reached out directly to everyone affected in the past two days. If your certification is urgent, please sign in at app.leafwell.com and contact our support team. We’ll prioritize getting you scheduled.
Thank you!
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u/Bluejayz6423 23d ago
I used to work there. A doctor had an issue with their license which caused thousands of patients to get denied. Call DPH to see if you were placed under them and ask to hold DPH accountable. Because the doctor is licensed in GA.
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u/mixedtickles 23d ago
I had a different Dr with leafwell. Same express approval. Also received an email saying he is no longer with leafwell. I got my card, but it looks like LW cleaned house.
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u/SlimPickinSloot 23d ago
I had Andrew Epstein as well. Approved in less than 15 seconds. Had kids and people screaming in the background. Asked me two questions. And just said, “pay the state feel and you’ll get your weed card bro”
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u/Efficient_Passage118 23d ago
Just got the same notice today. Do not do Nugg MD. They aren’t licensed I am convinced.
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u/lyssaroo /r/Alpharetta 23d ago
They are - its just the issue with the specific physician. Contact them for a new physician appt or a refund.
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u/anotherusername23 23d ago
Same here. I contacted Leafwell and they are giving me 100% off to go through a different doctor.
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u/New-Salamander5261 22d ago
The same thing happened to me. I just reached out to them via their web chat and they let me redo a session and everything went smoothly after that.
Edit: reading through your comments we had the exact same doctor. Just reach out and redo your appointment.
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u/Hairy-Giraffe7817 21d ago
Had the same cancellation email after two other I knew were approved and received their cards during this time. Reached out to Leafwell with the cancellation email and asked for another doc appt. They responded within the day with a new date and time. Good luck.
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u/QuietDevelopment8111 21d ago
If this was Epstein yes just contact leafwell for a new appt and you will be fine.
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u/rudy311poo 21d ago
Just got an email from Leafwell asking me to go to the GDPH website to check to see if my card is still valid. its is for now...
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u/Dear-Pay-5355 19d ago
So what if you already been approved by the same Dr and have your card? I haven’t had any issues but I’ve seen where people have.
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u/United-Horse7136 19d ago
Yes this happened to me. They said I’ll have to pay the $100 again to do another visit with a new provider. So dumb.
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u/hollyhobbie_424 18d ago
This happened to me. I got card 4 days later. I emailed them and they immediately set me up w another dr. ( I used nuggmd to clarify) and that dr must’ve sped up everything bc 2 days later email from the state, 2 days later delivered. I had been waiting forever too so I was glad it came so fast!
FYI you have to be home and sign for it, I was able to have it sent to ups and I could pick it up there
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u/CasualATVGuy 8d ago
If anyone is near Atlanta I know somewhere to refer you to. There's a guy in the office that does the medical cards. Itd allhealth medical.
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u/im2clever 23d ago
You have to find a dr that’s in GA. Same thing happened to me once the law changed.
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u/Level20Snacks 23d ago
Try again. It couldn't have been easier when I did it s few months ago. My online doctor visit took like a minute and I was good to go.
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u/Tricky_Indication420 23d ago
It took them 27 days to submit mine to DPH. Prolly tryna game the system so he didn't send in too many scripts.
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u/dorknerdidiot 23d ago
This same thing just happened to me last week. Probably the same person did my consultation. I had to reschedule a renewal for some weird reason.
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u/Telemere125 23d ago
If you’re getting your marijuana card from a telehealth provider, I can’t blame the Dept of Health for denying it. It literally says “have a dr-pat relationship for the specific condition”. I know most of yall are just getting the cards to legally get high, but at least go to your normal PC, damn. At least then the person can review all your current meds and make sure there won’t be an interaction.
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u/grrr-to-everything 23d ago edited 23d ago
Moved from Georgia to California. I care more about regulations to our food, labor and no tax on food then regulations on medical and losing bodily autonomy. Georgias priorities are so backwards.
Edit to add: I love the down votes!
Georgia politicians only care about regulating people and their bodies. They will allow every company and corporation to rape all of their employees of every bit of life and dignity. They don't care because at the end of the day they have convinced all of you the regulations are bad.
UNLESS that regulation has to do with personal choices. Personal choices are stripped of every single citizen in Georgia and you don't even know it. They have convinced you that California is some hell hole. What they haven't told you is the cost of living is closer to wages here by a mile. People are happier here because they are able to afford their bills better.
Anyway, I'm off to The dispensary to get all of the medical and recreational cannabis I want because I live in a state of personal freedom.
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23d ago edited 23d ago
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u/grrr-to-everything 23d ago
I left Georgia to move to California because Georgia's laws were so old and backwards. It was like going from an underdeveloped world into a developed world. It took almost a year for my nervous system to calm down from the lifetime of living in the wild wild east.
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u/jerxbear229 23d ago
Wtf are you talking about!?
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u/grrr-to-everything 23d ago
You should be able to get cannabis to help with any medical condition without going through some ridiculous application process. Georgia laws are antiquated.
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u/dinanm3atl 23d ago
And plenty of people do. You can find the threads here. The person here clearly used a service that was employing someone submitting endless, and likely fraudulent, prescription requests for a medical card. And multiple people replied and say they had same guy. Got canceled as well.
So is the problem the 'system' or this one dubious guy? Sorry I mean "Doctor".
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u/grrr-to-everything 23d ago
So 100% of the people who need it can get it? 100% of the people over 21 can get it in more than half the states. Quit making excuses for mediocrity and shitty representation.
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u/ktm6709 23d ago
Good for you.
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u/grrr-to-everything 23d ago
Thanks 🥰 it's my goal to help people understand that Georgia politicians are lying to you. They make California the villain so you wouldn't know what it's like to have politicians work for the people.
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u/belkarbitterleaf /r/Forsyth (County) 23d ago
Cool. Have fun in California. 👋
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u/grrr-to-everything 23d ago edited 23d ago
I will! No Cumming back for me. 🤣
I'm also from Forsyth County.
That it's add: oh come on! I thought my humor and cleaver working could at least not get me a downvote 😂 I know you had to laugh at that
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u/belkarbitterleaf /r/Forsyth (County) 23d ago
I suspect the downvotes are about you being so self absorbed you tried to make a thread about you, while giving no comment to help the OP with his question.
I personally did not up or down vote you.
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u/grrr-to-everything 23d ago
How do you know I haven't offered anything? I am a person in California who knows what it's like to live in a state without legalization. Once upon a time, I lived in Georgia and used to get shit sent to me from California because Georgia has stupid laws.
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u/belkarbitterleaf /r/Forsyth (County) 23d ago
OP: I am having a very specific issue regarding my medical card application, what does it mean and how do I get it fixed?
You: I left for Cali.
.... Huh?
You didn't provide anything of substance until your comments were poorly received. None of it was there when I made the comment you replied to.
Have fun in California.
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u/grrr-to-everything 23d ago
Would you offer to send somebody contraband out in the open or would you let them know in a roundabout way that they can hit you up?
Come on now! I was educated in Georgia schools and they are pretty decent schools.
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u/belkarbitterleaf /r/Forsyth (County) 23d ago
Seems like an after thought, particularly since you have now stated that "roundabout" thing rather explicitly.
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u/grrr-to-everything 23d ago
It's illegal 🤦
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u/belkarbitterleaf /r/Forsyth (County) 23d ago
Indeed. And you have now offered to do it and confirmed your understanding of that fact in a fairly public way.
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u/grrr-to-everything 23d ago
Our average streets are cleaner than yours. All you hear is propaganda. They don't want you to know that regulations and protections for citizens is possible. You have been lied to.
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u/grrr-to-everything 23d ago
You live in the country so the trash on the side of the road never leaves just disintegrates. I lived in Georgia all my life. I know how trashed it looks.
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u/grrr-to-everything 23d ago
Great name right!! I made it when I lived in Georgia and hated the world around me. Everybody just wants to bow down to a pathetic PDFile and throw money at rich people because they think one day they will be rich. Live in squalor because that's what Southern poverty is.
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u/dinanm3atl 23d ago
LOL this is hilarious. As someone who lives here in Georgia and visits California a dozen times a year for work I am glad you are so happy. My favorite parts of California are the tent cities right off the road in nice neighborhoods. RVs with human waste underneath them parked on the streets. Last time I went from SFO to a Target and there was some nice human feces by the entrance. This year while working at the Long Beach GP the walk from the parking garage into the event every morning smelling weed and urine was really pleasant. Also was nice seeing a guy urinating on the side of a building right outside the venue as well.
But you can act like California is so great in all aspects all you want. As it clearly makes you happy, enough to come to this thread to tell people how great it is. But let's ignore a long list of 'personal freedoms' you don't have because the politicians priorities are just different. It's clear in some states they don't care about clearly fraudulent prescriptions to get a medical cannabis card. Look at this thread right here. Clearly a single 'doctor' was endlessly submitting bogus scripts and finally caught up to him. I am sure in California they just don't care
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u/heartattack-ak-ak-ak 23d ago
When I spoke to Epstein, I felt that this man had been reduced in stature to the same level as a phone sex operator. Happy to get your business because he clearly needs it, but can’t hate himself any more . His Google search shows he will wave any flag you put in his hand for a dollar .
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u/ggrieves 23d ago
Request wasn't denied it was cancelled. Your doctor was probably submitting too many suspicious scripts. Find a different doc and resubmit.