Pharmacists employed by medical cannabis pharmacies in Utah are known as pharmacy medical providers (PMPs). By law, we are required to have a PMP on-site whenever our doors are open. This applies to both of our locations in Salt Lake City and Brigham City. That is good for you because it means you can consult with a pharmacist on every visit.
Should you? That’s up to you. But we would say that regular consultations with a PMP are a good idea. We will let you define what ‘regular’ means. It could mean every visit, every few visits, or just when you have questions.
On-Site to Serve You
The intent of the regulation mandating an on-site pharmacist is intended to help patients. That means you. The PMP on duty whenever you visit either Beehive Farmacy location is there to serve you. They are there to answer your questions, explain things that are confusing to you, and generally help you get the most from your cannabis medications.
Your healthcare provider, known as either a qualified medical provider (QMP) or limited medical provider (LMP) under the state’s medical cannabis regulation, will help you as much as they can. But remember that QMPs and LMPs are physicians, physician assistants, and advanced practice nurses. They do not undergo the same type of pharmacological education as a pharmacist does.
A Pharmacist Is More Qualified
A Utah PMP is a state-licensed pharmacist who has completed the same educational training as the pharmacist down at your local chain pharmacy. But in addition, a PMP has completed continuing education with a focus on medical cannabis. PMPs have a more in-depth understanding of the human endocannabinoid system and how cannabis affects it. That makes them the most qualified medical professionals to consult on medical cannabis issues.
In plain English, our PMPs know what they are talking about. When you have questions, they almost always have the answers. They also know how to find the answers when they get questions that stump them. It is all to your benefit, by the way. A PMP offers solid answers and qualified advice, both of which are good for your health and wellbeing.
Pharmacists Love Information
We would like to point out the fact that pharmacists love information. The more you can provide, the better they can advise you. A perfect example is tracking your medical cannabis use and bringing the resulting information with you every time you visit Beehive Farmacy.
Tracking is simple. You just write down your dosage, delivery method, and results every time you use medical cannabis. A PMP can look at that information and get a better understanding of how medical cannabis is helping you. When you have questions or need advice, the information informs what the PMP offers.
Just know that PMPs might want to know more than just your cannabis consumption habits. In other words, there may be other factors impacting how you feel. The pharmacist might ask about diet and exercise. You might get questions about the quality of your sleep and your social interactions. All the information you can offer helps to paint a more complete picture of your health.
Make It a Regular Practice
We will wrap this up by encouraging you to make consulting with a PMP a regular practice. Even if it is just a quick greeting followed by a word or two letting the pharmacist know that you are doing fine, every bit of communication helps. And of course, by all means take the time to consult with your pharmacist when you have pressing questions or concerns.
