North Carolina Medical Marijuana Doctors via Telehealth: Complete Guide
Connect with a North Carolina Medical Cannabis Doctor Online
North Carolina has no state-run medical marijuana program, so there is no state registry to certify into. The only medical cannabis card available to North Carolina residents is issued by the sovereign Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) Cannabis Control Board, and it is valid only on EBCI Tribal land. What a North Carolina physician can do is complete the EBCI Doctor's Attestation, the written documentation the tribal board requires. Through MMJ.com, that evaluation is performed by Dr. Gaurav Patel, MD, a Family Medicine physician who holds an active North Carolina Medical Board license (#332709) and federal NPI 1023571379. The visit is a secure video call, and MMJ.com is not affiliated with the EBCI Cannabis Control Board.
Who Can Sign Your EBCI Doctor's Attestation
The EBCI Cannabis Control Board does not require a prescription or a formal recommendation. It requires written documentation, signed by a medical provider, that you have one of the 18 qualifying conditions recognized under the Cherokee Code. A North Carolina-licensed physician such as Dr. Patel reviews your relevant records, confirms a qualifying condition, and signs the Doctor's Attestation Form. The attestation is not a prescription and is not a state certification; it is simply the proof of diagnosis the tribal board needs to process your patient-card application. Your full medical record is not required, only enough documentation to establish a qualifying condition.
How the Telehealth Evaluation Works
Your MMJ.com visit is a 10 to 15 minute secure video evaluation. Dr. Patel reviews your medical history and confirms whether you have one of the 18 conditions recognized by the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Cannabis Control Board, including cancer, glaucoma, HIV/AIDS, post-traumatic stress disorder, Crohn's disease, sickle cell anemia, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, an anxiety disorder, an autism spectrum disorder, an autoimmune disorder, anorexia nervosa, opioid dependence or addiction, hospice care, a terminal illness, and any condition or treatment that produces cachexia, muscle spasms, seizures, nausea, or severe or chronic pain. If you qualify, he signs the EBCI Doctor's Attestation the same day. The $149.99 evaluation is refunded in full if the physician determines you do not qualify.
After Your Visit: Submitting to the EBCI Cannabis Control Board
After Dr. Patel signs your attestation, you submit it, along with a government-issued North Carolina ID and the EBCI patient-card fee, directly to the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Cannabis Control Board (online, by mail, or in person). The fee is $100 for North Carolina residents or $50 for enrolled EBCI members, non-refundable, paid by cash, check, or money order. The board reviews your application and issues your patient card, which is valid for one year. The card is lawful only on EBCI Tribal land, the Qualla Boundary and the tribe's other trust lands; off Tribal land, cannabis remains illegal under both federal and North Carolina state law. Approved patients purchase at the Great Smoky Cannabis Company in Cherokee, North Carolina.