A Beginner’s Guide to Medical Cannabis

Most Americans have by now heard of medical cannabis. Over the last several decades, the plant has gradually gained acceptance as a valid medical treatment for a range of conditions. However, a large amount of stigma remains around the use of cannabis, whether medically or recreationally. For those who don’t know where to begin or what to think with medical cannabis, this guide is for you.

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Medical Cannabis Vs Regular Cannabis

People will sometimes refer to ‘medical cannabis’ as if it is different from normal cannabis. This isn’t quite the case. Both medical and recreational cannabis are the same plants. However, there are many different varieties of the cannabis plant. The females of these varieties, or species, produce THC, the substance that is mostly responsible for the intoxicating effects. Medical cannabis tends to have more CBD than THC, meaning that it confers less intoxicating effects, but some conditions are better treated with THC. But what isCBD and THC?

THC and CBD

There is a wide range of cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant. These substances all act on cannabinoids receptors, which are found throughout the body. Note that not all cannabinoids are psychoactive. THC is the primary psychoactive compound present in cannabis and is responsible for the ‘stoned’ feeling associated with the use of the plant. THC does have some medical benefits, but in this regard, it is mostly outshone by CBD.

CBD is non-psychoactive cannabinoid, meaning that it doesn’t cause any intoxication. As a result, CBD oil is freely available in many countries. Anyone planning on treating themselves with CBD oil, however, should be aware that, unless it is provided via prescription, the production and marketing of CBD oil is mostly unregulated. It isn’t easy to assess the quality of the final product at home so buy with caution.

Extracts

Sometimes the whole cannabis plant is used medically. It can be smoked, vaporized, even cooked and eaten, in order to produce the desired effects. However, as we mentioned above, there is a wide range of cannabinoids present in cannabis, many of which serve specific, subtly different, functions. Therefore, it is more effective in some cases to isolate specific cannabinoids for the purpose of medical treatments.

Because of this, cannabis extracts have been gaining popularity in recent years. As well as becoming popular themselves, there is also now a range of synthetic cannabinoids that we have discovered as medicines. These discoveries relate directly to current research into the medical properties of cannabis and how they are mediated.

Is it Safe?

While there seem to be few, if any, concerns about the safety of cannabis physically, it should not be given to children under 18. There is a growing body of evidence that exposure to cannabis at a young age might increase the chances of serious mental illness. There is a debate about whether cannabis is the cause of this, or whether those with mental illnesses are more likely to be drawn to the drug.

Medical cannabis is rising in popularity and prominence. The future of medical cannabis is uncertain under the current US administration. However, every indication we have is that it is here to stay and will only become a more important part of our healthcare system.