Whether you’re new to this side of the medical spectrum or just new to a strain, a product, a potency, you must do some diligent research. Cannabis is not just a herb but multiple, with hundreds of known strains and somewhere over a hundred individual cannabinoids that make the plant.
Recreational or medical marijuana, no matter what you invest in, there are a few things you need to remember. This could be in regards to what you should consume and how much, the potential benefits and side effects of the herb and how it can interact with other supplements you might be consuming.
Here is a basic list of pointers shared by the medical marijuana doctors you must remember before you invest in any cannabis strain, product or potency. Just remember that there is no set rule for its use and the herb affects everybody differently. While some may be extremely sensitive to a particular product, leading to a quick high, some might require higher doses to feel any effect. This also means that some level of experimenting would be required to find the right product for you. But before you buy a certain product you like, remember these.
Don’t just buy anything, learn about what you’re putting into your body, how it’ll affect you and then choose the most suitable product.
A lot of us smoke a joint for the relief it brings, while others might need it to alleviate their chronic symptoms. That being said, both these consumers are probably using very different cannabis products. Why?
Because a recreational user may not require very high potencies to feel the relief, especially if they smoke some good quality flowers. On the other hand, a patient requiring medical marijuana assistance is more likely to be consuming high potency products, which are not safe for recreational use. These MMJ products are recommended by physicians and a patient cannot get their hands on these items without an MMJ card.
With the card, a cannabis user is legally allowed to buy, possess and grow their high potency stash. Here, high potency majorly refers to the THC concentration in the flower.
Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the psychoactive cannabinoid found in cannabis, the one compound that creates the euphoric high in consumers. While recreational products can only have up to 0.3% of THC or less, medical doses do not follow the same limitations.
You can never disregard this, ever.
If you’re on any prescribed medication to tackle a medical condition and are looking into cannabis use for the same or different purposes, you must consult a physician. Cannabis is known to interact with other medications. That in itself is reason enough to take a professional opinion. We can’t always know if they will interact positively or negatively. Remember when we said you should experiment your way into cannabis? Don’t do it here.
It’s not wise to put your body at risk by consuming your prescribed medication and recommended MMJ at the same time.
What you must do is, consult your physician to learn about the interactions, their possible benefits and side effects. If your doctor advises against combining the two, cease use immediately.
You can then weigh the pros and cons with your doctor and choose the one that promises better returns(better health).
Here are some of the interactions you should know about.
Ever witnessed a newbie passing out after a few shots? That’s because they gulp them down without giving their body time to adjust.
You don’t want to overwhelm your body with high potencies, especially when you’re trying out new products or a different method of administration. For those who prefer smoking, shifting to edibles can sometimes lead to such a situation.
While smoking and vaping can make you feel the effects almost immediately, edibles take much longer. Don’t let the absence of immediate results let you chew on another gummy within the same hour.
Edibles hit late, but are stronger than smokeable and stay in the system for longer. Wait for a few hours till the effects hit you, and then consume more if the effects aren’t strong enough.
If you’re consuming medical marijuana, it’s best to remember how far the benefits go.
It can help alleviate chronic symptoms like pain, nausea, depression or fatigue associated with Arthritis, Cancer, Alzheimer’s etc, but MMJ is not known to treat these conditions.
This also means that physicians won’t recommend substituting your medical prescriptions with cannabis use. They’ll work best in conjunction and not separately.
The only time that you should substitute your medication with cannabis is when there are no improvements in your condition.
There is no rule of thumb when it comes to the right way, dose or strain to cannabis consumption. That also means that how much you consume may or may not have the desired effects you’re hoping for.
Marijuana, medical or otherwise has been closely associated with improving health conditions and alleviating chronic symptoms. However, the herb hasn’t been extensively researched, which means that we’re still in the dark regarding what’s the best way to consume it. How many amounts to the perfect dose and how potent should a serving be? We still haven’t answered these questions and further studies are required to do so.
This is why we have to experiment our way into cannabis use. While we’re at it, it’s important to learn about the product you’re consuming, and find the best method of consumption for you. Keeping these 5 things in mind, you’re sure to find a safe and convenient method of administration.
