Last Updated on December 8, 2023 by Team Spinfuel

As its name implies, medical marijuana refers to the use of marijuana or cannabis for medical purposes. Medical marijuana is typically made from dried parts of the plant, then processed into medicine. Many years back, the most primitive way of using medical marijuana was through relying on it as an herbal remedy.

What it Medical Marijuana?

The marijuana plant is composed of numerous compounds. But, for medical marijuana use, the focus is typically on two of the many: THC or tetrahydrocannabinol at no more than 0.3%, and cannabidiol, CBD. Because of the potential benefits that these two compounds from the cannabis sativa plant bring, there’s also now more doctors that approve the use of medical marijuana for their patients in states where doing so is legal.

Know Before Using Medical Marijuana

If you’ve decided to give medical marijuana a try, here are first six important things that you must know before getting head-on with using it:

There’s Only A Limited List Of Medical Conditions Approved For Medical Marijuana Use

First, you have to know that not every medical condition is now approved for medical marijuana use. Of course, the laws and conditions will vary from one state to another, so that’s something you also have to get acquainted with first. Otherwise, if your condition isn’t approved yet for medical marijuana, then you won’t be given the clearance from your doctor, or what’s also known as your medical marijuana cards in Florida or wherever you’re from, to purchase marijuana products for medical use.

Some of these medical conditions approved for medical marijuana are:

  • Glaucoma
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
  • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • Crohn’s disease
  • Cancer
  • Epilepsy
  • Multiple sclerosis

Do take this list of approved medical conditions seriously. It means that it’s only with those health conditions that research or clinical studies have been made. If your ailment isn’t found on the said list, never self-medicate.

What Works For One Patient May Not Work For You

Medical marijuana may show promising and effective results in some conditions, but this doesn’t mean that it’s a magic drug for all ailments.

Like any other medication, what works for one patient may not necessarily work for you. So, don’t compare one’s success or failure with using medical marijuana as equally to your ow experience. Remember that human bodies are different from one another, hence, they also react differently to various factors.

More so, the body can react differently to medications, even if its natural marijuana, depending on gender, age, and severity of the illness, among many other factors.

See a Physician First

So, don’t let another patient using medical marijuana be your physician. Focus on listening only to your doctor who approved you for medical marijuana use. This is especially very important for those patients with a very weak immune system. Your body’s condition will affect the way that you respond to medical marijuana. As a precaution, you’ve also got to check the quality of the medical marijuana product you’re using to ensure that it’s free from pesticides, heavy metals, and mildew.

CBD Image

There Are Many Different Forms Of Medical Marijuana

Especially for those patients who may have an aversion towards pills, or have difficulty swallowing pills and capsules, the good news for you is that there are many different forms of medical marijuana, which provides a variety of means of using it. So, unlike synthetic or chemical medicine, you don’t have to limit yourself only to pills.

Each product for medical marijuana use will have its own pros and cons. So, it’s up to you to factor these all in and weigh it all together, depending on your needs and preferences. For instance, you can inhale it through a vaporized spray, drop it on your tongue through tinctures, massage on your body to manage pain, or consume it through marijuana edibles.

There Are Many Ways It Can Help You

Once you apply medical marijuana on your body or take it orally, it binds with the endocannabinoid receptors of your body. Once this interaction takes place, the following effects may occur:

  • Stimulate appetite and improve weight gain.
  • It may reduce anxiety and depression.
  • Slow down the growth of tumors.
  • Reduce inflammation, which is beneficial for pain management.
  • Relax tight muscles in patients who suffer from multiple sclerosis.

Medical Marijuana Has Various Strains

As there are many different kinds of products for medical marijuana use, these also have different strains. Products that have different strains will also contain varying levels of the cannabinoids.

Hence, you shouldn’t expect the same effects across different kinds of products. Make sure you check the label, so you’re aware of the strength of each product that you’re set out to use. This can also enable you to ensure that you’re staying within the limits of the permissible dosage and frequency, as determined by your doctor.

There’s A Need To Practice Proper Storage

Sound research is very important when you decide to use medical marijuana. Once you bring home the product from the dispensary, remember that you’re on your own when it comes to the storage of the product. So, before you even take a specific product home, be sure that you ask your budtender and even your doctor as to how it should be properly and safely stored at home.

Remember that you’re using a natural medicine. In most products, these would be free from added chemicals that act as preservatives. If there are preservatives, these are also natural ones, which means that they’ve got more limitation than chemical ones do.

Most importantly, the effectivity and quality of a product can be affected if you don’t practice proper storage. So, be sure that you’ve got the right place to store your medical marijuana stash so the quality doesn’t get distorted.

Conclusion

All these considered, the most important thing to remember is that everything you’ve read here isn’t meant to substitute sound, medical advice. If you’re coming from a state or country where medical marijuana use is now considered legal, then it’s always best to consult with your doctor. Everything here is meant only to supplement your knowledge, so that you begin using medical marijuana on an informed choice. At all times, do stay safe, especially as you wouldn’t want your medical condition to get severe. Lastly, do ensure as well that you’re sourcing your medical marijuana products from a good and qualified dispensary and manufacturer.

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