In past years, medical marijuana has been a source of contention.

But since the first dispensary opened in Pennsylvania in 2018, it's becoming increasingly mainstream in the medical world.

Medical cannabis is being used to ease things like pain and nausea.

“Cannabis is one of those things that ... (has) come around by its own volition,” said Dr. Bryan Doner, a doctor with ACMH in the hyperbaric wound division. “Things have changed.”

That social evolution is somewhat due to patients, according to Doner.

People with severe diseases or disorders looking for an alternative to pharmaceutical treatments found channels to medical professionals exploring the medical effects of marijuana.

The opportunities to find those channels seem to be growing every day.

“It starts with that patient contact,” Doner said. “Typically ... patients have one of the qualifying conditions.”

Doner said he's board-certified in emergency medicine. Aside from working with ACMH, he's also the chief medical officer and co-founder of Compassionate Certification Centers.

This health care provider group supplies patients with resources and guidance when it comes to securing a medical marijuana certification.

Doner said while patients can be certified as soon as 24 hours after their case is reviewed, the process can be “cumbersome.” Organizations like Compassionate Certification Centers are available to assist with it.

Medical cannabis may be able to help cancer patients in two ways, according to Doner. First, it can help ease symptoms associated with cancer treatments, like nausea and pain.

“We know that cannabis can be effective in (these) cases,” Doner said.

There's also some evidence that it may be able to treat cancer itself, according to Doner.

An article archived online with the National Center for Biotechnology Information specifically looks at the future of cannabinoids in breast cancer therapy.

There's evidence that cannabinoids may “decelerate tumor progression in breast cancer patients,” according to the article's abstract.

“The research is still being done,” he said. “It appears on a more ... molecular level, cannabis may play a role in treating cancer.”

One of the biggest s.

He said about 1,500 doctors in Pennsylvania are medical marijuana certified, though there aren't many “provider participants.”

One of the things Doner believes medical professionals and law makers will need to be cautious about moving forward is supply and demand.

If the state allows recreational marijuana use — as Gov. Tom Wolf and Lt. Gov. John Fetterman have proposed — those certified for medical use may have a hard time accessing what they need.

Planning ahead is important, according to Doner.

“It's a fun time to be involved,” Doner said.

For anyone wondering if they're eligible for medical marijuana certification, Doner has a simple piece of advice.

“The biggest thing I tell people,” Doner said. “They just have to c all.”

People can learn more about the Pennsylvania Medical Marijuana Program on the Pennsylvania Department of Health website.

<b>Position</b>Co-medical director at ACMH hyperbaric wound divisionMedical director of the Primary Stroke Center, and a ACMH emergency physicianChief medical officer of Compassionate Certification Centers<b>Education & Training</b>Medical studies — University of Massachusetts at Boston and Lake Erie College of Osteopathic MedicineResidency — Emergency medicine at Saint Vincent Health System, ErieFellowship — Wound care and hyperbaric medicine.Certified in Emergency Medicine, a Certified Hyperbaric & Wound Care Specialist (CHWS) by the American Board of Wound Healing,Fellow of the American Professional Wound Care Association