Using The Healing Center to get your AK medical card

What's up Alaska puffers!

Looking to get a dr's recommendation? Then consider The Healing Center: www.thehealingcentermedicalclinic.org/ I went 2 weeks ago, and while I wouldn't call my experience with them impressive, it did the job and I'll soon have an additional layer of protection against absurd mj laws.

I moved up to AK a couple months ago. I got my AK drivers license, and the next day I went to an appt at THC's Anchorage office to get my dr's recommendation. It was painless and efficient, although I wouldn't call the appointment "medically thorough." They had a doc up from California (although he is licensed in AK) to sign recommendations. Like most of my outpatient medical experiences, this visit felt a bit like a conveyor belt and I spent just 5-10 minutes with the doc. The nurse/receptionist was helpful, easy-going and very efficient. The doc wasn't really someone I would seek out as my primary doc, or even someone I'd look to for advice. But that wasn't why I was there, and the experience was adequate for my needs: getting legal to grow and use my own home-grown medicine.

However, if you're not experienced with cannabis as medication, I wouldn't recommend you expect THC to be your sole source for info on the plant's appropriateness to your condition. Yes they hand out photocopied literature and encourage follow-up calls with questions. But for people who already find cannabis useful in their lives and are just looking to protect themselves against draconian drug laws, the experience was more than adequate- if overpriced at $300! (more if you don't have medical records...) This is the 4th time I've been state-sanctioned as a med mj patient although its my first in AK, and my first at THC. $300 was more than I've paid before, but I believe that if you're growing your medicine and/or can afford it, the additional protections are well worth the cost. I also believe its valuable to keep adding to the ranks of mmj patients, as increasing patient numbers breeds cultural confidence and eventually change, like further decrim or even outright legalization! Bring it!

And in case you're wondering, I have no affiliation with THC other than that single visit.

To be clear, it can be difficult finding a physician willing to recommend cannabis, and THC is, admirably, stepping up to the plate. For that they deserve to be commended. They're also getting out of the city more- here's their schedule for June- Note its cheaper if you connect with them in Anchorage...

Anchorage ~ June 12, 13,14,15

call today for an appointment
907.717.9966New Location: 4050 Lake Otis Parkway Suite 100A
Fee: $300 w/ records, $375 without
Renewals $250

Fairbanks ~ June 16,17

call today for an appointment
907.887.4449Location: Pike's Waterfront Lodge
Fee: $350 w/ records, $400 without
Evaluations done on site
Renewals $300

Juneau ~ July, TBA

call today for an appointment
907.717.9966Location: TBA
Fee: $350 w/ records, $400 without
Evaluations done on site
Renewals $300

Nome ~ June 21,22

Location: TBA
Fee: $350 w/ records, $450 without
Evaluations done on site
Renewals $300

Soldotna ~ June 19,20

Location: TBA
Fee: $350 w/ records, $450 without
Evaluations done on site
Renewals $300

Now thats a mixed review!

I would advise avoiding the TMC Clinic at all costs, first off the owner has identified himslef as an Officer of the Law to me personally. Second his Doctor has been forbidden to practice medicine in Arizona and California for being "unsafe to practice medicine". Third, you can grow more without a card legally and if you do get a card you are giving the state permission to enter your home for compliance inspections AND telling them that you grow and where you grow and if they find a weapon in the same house while they are doing their inspection they can cart you off to jail.

StoneyBurke said:

I would advise avoiding the TMC Clinic at all costs, first off the owner has identified himslef as an Officer of the Law to me personally. Second his Doctor has been forbidden to practice medicine in Arizona and California for being "unsafe to practice medicine". Third, you can grow more without a card legally and if you do get a card you are giving the state permission to enter your home for compliance inspections AND telling them that you grow and where you grow and if they find a weapon in the same house while they are doing their inspection they can cart you off to jail.

Click to expand...

WOW!!! I'll have to read those laws!! That is absolutely messed up!!! I am glad I did not move up there ... and here I thought that Alaska was all about freedom ... that is ridiculously restrictive.

Stoney- I've seen your posts elsewhere about what sounds like a shitty situation, sounds like a hassle.

Like i said in the op, my original experience at THC did feel shady, mostly because the interaction with the doc was so inconsequential/lame. But I already use cannabis medically, don't live in ANC and I don't have a general doc. So to get a recommendation no-bullshit like THC provides seemed the way to go. If not THC, do you have a better recommendation?

Your points about granting the state rights to trespass/check my medicine, well I'm not sure about and I'll go read the law now. But if you're right that sucks. I disagree with you here though-

• you can grow more without a card legally
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I don't believe I give up any of the Ravin rights by being a cardholder- why do you think that. Thanks for weighing in and if you've got a recommendation for an ANC doc, please let us know.

Your wrong about the gun thing... we can have guns in our homes. 2nd amendment rights dont go away because we are sick. Just dont keep it "inside" the grow room and your allll good

I think the gun thing stems from the whole notion of never having a gun/scale/medicine within x number of feet. We are strictly protected here from being left without a firearm to protect ourselves or our property.

I have an old friend up north, her brother was busted with over a hundred plants. The troopers took all they need to confiscate but still had to leave him with one shotgun to protect himself. I'm not sure if it was a courtesy or just the troopers avoiding the guy getting mauled by a bear.

Last time I looked at the laws here. It read like this to me. I can grow up to 25 plants in my home with no fear of problems from Alaska Law Enforcement. The big thing up here if you read between the line is that they don't want people maintaining structures to grow in but not live in.

Alaska wants you to live with your dope, not run grow houses.

Mission Accomplished.