Ten years ago, DocMJ was founded on a belief that still guides everything we do today: patients deserve to live well and be treated with compassion. What began as a small, purpose-driven patient-focused medical practice has grown into a multi-state medical cannabis healthcare organization, but the heart of DocMJ has never changed. As we celebrate our 10-year anniversary, we reflect on a decade defined by trust, resilience, and the countless lives we’ve had the honor of serving.
A Decade of Growth, Measured in People
Since 2016, DocMJ has supported more than one million patient visits across seven states, operating 50+ office locations with the support of 75+ licensed healthcare practitioners and 150+ dedicated employees.
These numbers tell a story of growth, but more importantly, they represent people. People seeking relief. People searching for answers. People who needed a medical marijuana clinic willing to listen.
“From day one, DocMJ was designed to operate like a real medical practice, because patients deserve nothing less,” says Aaron Bloom, founder of DocMJ.
That commitment to legitimacy and professionalism helped shape DocMJ into a trusted medical marijuana doctors’ network at a time when medical cannabis was still widely misunderstood. We didn’t follow trends; we followed patients.
Putting Patients Before Trends
Medical cannabis, as we’ve always believed, is not about hype or shortcuts. “Medical cannabis is not about trends. It is about people facing real medical challenges and finding real relief,” Aaron explains.
For many patients, walking into a DocMJ office was the first time they felt heard, respected, and guided by a medical marijuana doctor who viewed cannabis through a responsible, clinical lens.
Some of those first visits involved an in-depth medical marijuana evaluation, a process we continue to uphold today as part of our standard of care. Whether someone is searching online for a cannabis doctor near me or is referred by another provider, we aim to deliver ethical, responsible care.
Trust Earned Through Standards and Consistency
Over the years, DocMJ has received over 10,000 five-star Google reviews, reflecting not just satisfaction, but trust. Trust that is earned through ethical standards, consistency, and compassionate medical care. As our founder puts it, “Longevity in healthcare is earned. Ten years later, trust remains our greatest achievement.”
That trust has been tested and strengthened through adversity. In the past decade, DocMJ has weathered 11 hurricanes, continuing to serve patients even when communities faced uncertainty and disruption. Because healthcare doesn’t pause during crises, and neither do we. Compassionate care means showing up when it matters most.
Education, Advocacy, and Reducing Stigma
The impact of DocMJ extends beyond clinic walls. With 20,500+ social media followers, we’ve worked to educate, reduce stigma, and elevate patient voices. “The stigma around cannabis fades quickly when you see how it restores dignity to patients’ lives,” Aaron says. Education has always been central to our mission, helping patients understand their options and empowering them to make informed decisions about their health.
Our providers are committed to delivering accurate medical cannabis evaluations that ensure each patient’s unique needs are considered. It’s not just about meeting the requirement for a medical marijuana certification; it’s about making sure the care plan fits.
After a decade of listening, one truth stands out above all: Quality of life matters.” The most powerful moments in our work aren’t measured in metrics; they happen when a patient says they’re sleeping through the night again, or when a family realizes there is finally an option that helps. The most meaningful feedback we receive is simple: ‘I finally feel like myself again.’
Responsible, Physician-Guided Care That Treats the Whole Person
DocMJ has never positioned medical cannabis as a loophole or a cure-all. Instead, we’ve advocated for physician-guided medical cannabis care. Our role has always been to listen, educate, and guide, never to overpromise. We are not here to make claims. We are here to listen to patients and respect their lived experience.
At its core, DocMJ exists because medicine should treat the whole person. “Ten years in, I am more convinced than ever that medicine must treat the whole person,” Aaron reflects. That philosophy has shaped how we practice, grow, and lead in an evolving healthcare landscape.
Looking Ahead: A Commitment That Continues
As we mark this milestone, we know the work is far from finished. “A decade later, the work continues. Compassionate care is not a milestone. It is a commitment,” he reiterates. Our mission remains exactly what it was on day one: help patients live better through thoughtful, compassionate medical care.
To our patients, providers, partners, and team members, thank you for trusting DocMJ over the past decade. Your stories are the reason we exist, and your lives are the difference we strive to make every day. Here’s to the next chapter of compassionate care.
Dr. Rothman is a diplomate of the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology. He has received multiple special awards and recognitions, including Physician of the Year, from the Pinellas County Medical Association (2014 – 2015) and the President’s Service Award from the Pinellas County Medical Society.
He attended medical school at State University of New York Upstate Medical Center in Syracuse, New York, where he also completed his Obstetrics and Gynecology residency. In addition to practicing medicine, Dr. Rothman’s professional career includes being an Assistant Professor at the University of South Florida and Clinical Instructor at the University of Tampa’s College of Nursing.
Dr. Rothman received his Florida Medical Marijuana Physicians Certification in 2016 and was one of the first recommending physicians through DocMJ in the state and is loved by many of those early patients today.