There’s a growing interest in using cannabis as medicine. Many states now allow medical marijuana to treat pain, nausea, and other symptoms. Evidence supports the use of medical cannabis in conditions like multiple sclerosis, epilepsy in children, and chronic non-cancer pain. However, who can use medical marijuana, and in which form? This guide looks at everything you need to know about medical marijuana prescriptions.
What is medical marijuana?
Medical cannabis refers to cannabis-based products formulated for medical use. It is a legal product compared to cannabis for recreational purposes that remain illegal in many places. In some states, laws allow doctors to certify individuals with severe medical conditions to obtain medical marijuana from state-licensed dispensaries.
At the moment, most medical cannabis products contain CBD and THC compounds. Cannabinoids are active chemicals in cannabis comprising THC and CBD, among others. While THC is responsible for the psychoactive effects of cannabis, CBD helps reduce pain and has fewer psychoactive effects. There are different medical cannabis products available to treat various conditions.
Medical marijuana comes in several forms, including oil, pills, powder, tincture liquid, topical creams, and ointments. You can take it as a liquid extract, smoke it, vaporize, or eat it as CBD bath bombs. Each form has unique benefits and challenges, so talk to your doctor to determine the right fit. The quickest way to experience the effects of medical marijuana is through inhaling the vaporized form. Taking pills has the slowest onset of effects.
Does medical cannabis work?
Many people who use medical cannabis argue that it’s effective. It effectively reduces painful and severe side effects in cancer patients to improve the quality of their lives. The product has possible health benefits for conditions like Alzheimer’s, epilepsy, seizures, multiple sclerosis, Glaucoma, chronic pain, and severe vomiting from cancer treatment. Severe or chronic pain is why people ask for a medical marijuana prescription.
Since the human body already makes cannabis-like chemicals that affect inflammation and pain, taking medical marijuana can sometimes enhance these natural chemicals to work better. Evidence shows that some medical cannabis products can relieve symptoms in palliative care.
Is medical marijuana legal?
Despite the legislative change, getting a prescription for medical cannabis is still challenging. One reason clinicians are reluctant to prescribe is a lack of familiarity with medical cannabis. For example, it still lacks robust clinical evidence, while the US Food and Drug Administration has not approved using cannabis to treat any medical condition. It remains a schedule 1 controlled substance by The Drug Enforcement Agency.
However, the FDA has approved cannabinoids Cannabidiol (Epidiolex) to treat certain forms of epilepsy. It has also approved THC in treating nausea and improving appetite. THC is a the primary ingredient in marijuana and is available by prescription Marinol (dronabinol). While the federal government considers cannabis use illegal, you won’t be prosecuted for using medical marijuana.
Who can prescribe medical marijuana?
Medical marijuana is mainly dispensed to individuals with conditions like seizures, neurological diseases, multiple sclerosis, cancer, and HIV/AIDS. The correct medical cannabis products vary depending on the symptoms or conditions meant to treat. Your doctor will have to assess your needs and decide whether it is appropriate to use medical cannabis.
If you’re considering medical marijuana as therapy, talk to your health care provider for more information. If the doctor is a current medical cannabis prescriber, they will recommend a suitable treatment option.
A medical specialist can only prescribe medical marijuana if they are on the relevant specialist register. They can apply for approval to prescribe medical cannabis for any medical condition and provide evidence showing that medical cannabis is effective in treating a particular disease.
Your doctor will prescribe for you once they determine the condition. When consulting with the doctor, they will discuss your issues, symptoms, current medication, and the benefits and risks of using medical marijuana. They will have a clinical view of whether the treatment route is appropriate for your condition.
Where to purchase medical marijuana
You can access legal, medical cannabis products via your treating doctor or buy from state-licensed cannabis dispensaries. Several cannabis dispensaries are selling medical marijuana. However, States determine where and how you purchase medical marijuana. Typically, cannabis contents, potency, and safety determine their legality.
How often to use medical marijuana
Discuss with your doctor whether you can use medicinal cannabis to treat a specific condition. The doctor will prescribe a cannabis product appropriate to treat your condition. In most cases, you administer medical marijuana by yourself.
The dosage and frequency of use will depend on its form and symptoms. Usually, a pharmacist determines the correct dosage depending on the patient and their needs. You can receive up to 30 days’ supply of medical marijuana at a time.
Side effects
Medical marijuana can have side effects that rarely last long. These side effects include dizziness, drowsiness, short-term memory loss, and euphoria. Patients with a history of psychosis should not use cannabis products because they can exacerbate the symptoms. Not all experts agree on promoting marijuana for medical use because the FDA does not approve it. The symptoms, relief, and side effects also vary depending on the type of medical marijuana you use.
Bottom line
You should only use medical marijuana once you have a card from a medical doctor. Talk to your physician about the safest way to use the product. If you live in a state where medical marijuana is legal, you will get a marijuana card from your doctor that allows you to buy the product from authorized sellers. Doctors rarely prescribe medical marijuana to anyone less than 18 years.