Fee information
Cannabis Consultations
Dr. Abraham Benavides, MD
Virtual Appointment Only
With so many cannabis myths, misinformation, and products out there, figuring out the right cannabis plan is a lot easier with an experienced guide.
Dr. Benavides has educated over a million patients worldwide, including thousands of doctors and healthcare professionals. Dr. Abe meets virtually with our patients and their families to recommend and optimize cannabinoid and terpene approaches to complex and chronic conditions.
Visit Dr. Abe if you or a loved one have conditions ranging anywhere from mild to complicated, severe, or advanced cannabis care needs. His background in Family Medicine and cannabis research writing blend well to deliver knowledgeable, accurate, personalized, and compassionate cannabis care at any stage of life.
Dr. Abe is happy to consult with people of all cannabis experience levels, from beginners to advanced consumers. He listens to your history, needs, preferences, explains cannabis science, and helps find the best personalized approaches to complex cases. Dr. Abe skillfully employs the latest in cannabis and terpene research to custom formulate reputable affiliate products to best target your symptoms.
He can also assist in the recertification process for medical cannabis cards and recommendations.
Cannabis Coaching
Joelle Rabion, MS/MCST, HHC, AADP
In-person and Virtual Appointments
Bringing a long history of holistic health coaching to GW CIM, Joelle meets each patient where they are to provide prompt solutions using medical cannabis. Many of her patients are older and often new to cannabis.
Plenty of discussion with each patient concerning their history and current goals will inform a personal action plan. Patients will learn how cannabis works in the body and to discern the legitimate from questionable products in today’s overcrowded market.
Because CBD provides an excellent counterbalance when combined with THC, Joelle, with her comprehensive experience recommending varying ratios of CBD:THC products, facilitates each patient’s cannabis recommendations to provide relief for their medical issues.
Why do Cannabis Consultations or Coaching?
Our cannabis consultations and coaching sessions both provide a comprehensive and compassionate analysis and action plan based on your current conditions and health history. Depending on the needs, complexity, or in-person preference, you may choose to meet with either provider.
Listening to your preferences, goals, and needs are important for making the right cannabis action plan for you. During the session, we take these into account to create a reasonable, individualized approach using either or a combination of THC and non-impairing cannabinoids like CBD, CBG, and more. Certain natural plant terpenes may also be chosen as part of the cannabis action plan.
Note that It is not necessary to be impaired or feel altered in order to get the health and wellness benefits of cannabinoids and terpenes.
In these sessions, you can ask any and all cannabis questions, and learn about:
- Frequently asked questions about cannabis, CBD, hemp, and terpenes
- Find a local dispensary and reputable online hemp brand
- Explore local retail menus with you
- Recommend product selection, route, dosing, titration, frequency, and more
- Learn about the effects of different cannabinoids, terpenes, ratios, and consumption experiences
- Optimize your cannabis regimen for healthy, safe consumption
What do you get from Cannabis Consultations and Coaching?
- Cannabis Action Plan
- You’ll receive a detailed, custom cannabis action plan that targets your wellness goals and symptoms.
- This includes:
- Recommended cannabinoids, ratios, and terpenes
- Custom cannabinoid and terpene formulations
- Suggested dosing
- Titration schedule
- Frequency considerations
- Optimal routes of administration
- Product recommendations
- Next steps and follow up
- Discount codes for reputable affiliate products
- Personalized Cannabis Education
- One-on-one face time and personalized cannabis education from world-class experts
- Ask about any and all cannabis questions, benefits, side effects, and misconceptions
- Receive up-to-date and medically accurate cannabis science information
- Cannabis Recommendations
- Medical cannabis recommendations are available in DC, VA, and MD
- Plan ahead for yearly renewals
- Additional $100 fee applies for Dr. Kogan’s cannabis recommendation services
What can you use Cannabis and Hemp for?
Cannabis and hemp differ only by the amount of THC they make. Some patients prefer opting for non-impairing cannabinoids only, and that’s perfectly fine. In these cases, legal hemp products are available online without a formal cannabis recommendation.
For any plan containing THC, a medical cannabis recommendation is encouraged and may be required by your state.
Cannabinoids like THC, CBD, CBG, CBDA, CBGA, CBN, and more have demonstrated efficacy for conditions like:
- Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and dementia-related symptoms
- Appetite loss
- Arthritis
- Autoimmune conditions
- Cancer
- Chemotherapy-induced vomiting
- Chronic pain and difficult-to-treat pain
- Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis (IBD)
- Eating disorders like anorexia
- Epilepsy
- Gastrointestinal inflammatory and motility disorders
- General inflammation
- Glaucoma
- IBS
- Itching
- Insomnia and sleeping disorders
- Mental health conditions like general anxiety, depression, social anxiety, OCD, ASD, and post-traumatic stress disorder
- Muscle spasms
- Nausea and vomiting
- Neuropathy
- Palliative care in HIV/AIDS and terminal cancer
- Post-stroke care
- Psychiatric symptoms and psychological suffering
- Stroke and traumatic brain injury
- Substance use disorders
- Wasting syndrome (cachexia)
We have successfully helped many patients with these conditions using cannabinoid-based products. Medical cannabis may also be just one part of the integrative medicine approach to such conditions.
Besides medical cannabis consultations and coaching, GW CIM also offers a variety of complementary and alternative therapies such as naturopathy, holistic psychiatry, acupuncture, traditional Chinese medicine, Reiki, Ayurveda, and more that are to be employed in conjunction with medical cannabis.
Medical Cannabis Resources
Visit our recommended and beginner-friendly Cannabis educational resources page for more information:
Last updated by Dr. Abraham Benavides, MD, 7/10/2024
References:
- Blebea, N. M., Pricopie, A. I., Vlad, R.-A., & Hancu, G. (2024). Phytocannabinoids: Exploring Pharmacological Profiles and Their Impact on Therapeutical Use. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 25(8), Article 8. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25084204
- National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, Health and Medicine Division, Board on Population Health and Public Health Practice, & Committee on the Health Effects of Marijuana: An Evidence Review and Research Agenda. (2017). The Health Effects of Cannabis and Cannabinoids: The Current State of Evidence and Recommendations for Research. National Academies Press (US). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK425767/
