Events Calendar

Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Sun
M
T
W
T
F
S
S
1
2
3
5
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
1
2
3
4
5
“The” international event in Healthcare Social Media, Mobile Apps, & Web 2.0
2015-06-04 - 2015-06-05    
All Day
What is Doctors 2.0™ & You? The fifth edition of the must-attend annual healthcare social media conference will take place in Paris;  it is the [...]
5th International Conference and Exhibition on Occupational Health & Safety
2015-06-06 - 2015-07-07    
All Day
Occupational Health 2016 welcomes attendees, presenters, and exhibitors from all over the world to Toronto, Canada. We are delighted to invite you all to attend [...]
National Healthcare Innovation Summit 2015
2015-06-15 - 2015-06-17    
All Day
The Leading Forum on Fast-Tracking Transformation to Achieve the Triple Aim Innovative leaders from across the health sector shared proven and real-world approaches, first-hand experiences [...]
Health IT Summit in Washington, DC
2015-06-16 - 2015-06-17    
All Day
The 2014 iHT2 Health IT Summit in Washington DC will bring together over 200 C-level, physician, practice management and IT decision-makers from North America's leading provider organizations and [...]
Events on 2015-06-15
Events on 2015-06-16
Health IT Summit in Washington, DC
16 Jun 15
Washington DC
Articles

5 Things To Consider Before Switching To Medical Cannabis

medical cannabis

5 Things To Consider Before Switching To Medical Cannabis

Living with a chronic health condition is challenging, and the woes go beyond pain and discomfort. The cost of treatment and long-term side effects of medication are equally daunting. Fortunately, alternative therapies like medical cannabis can come to your rescue and change your life for the better. But everything boils down to using it the right way so that you can maximize the benefits. It is natural to be apprehensive about switching to medicinal cannabis because it was initially a recreational aid. But the legal status and medical research have changed the reputation over the years. Here are some things you must consider before switching to this alternative therapy.

Ensure the legal status of your state

Before you consider the idea of embracing this therapy, you need to ensure legality. Medical cannabis is now legal across many states in the US, so check your status before going ahead. Just ensuring legal status is not enough. Check other regulations as your legitimate age, qualifying medical conditions, and quantities you can buy and possess. It is easy to access the right products and be on the right side of the law if you cover all these fronts.

Find a medical marijuana specialist

Even if you live in a legal state, you cannot walk into a dispensary straightaway and start shopping. You will need a medical marijuana card which comes only after you get a recommendation from a specialist. The card registers you as a medical user, although it is optional in some states. But it still makes sense to get a doctor’s recommendation for products and dosing.

Choose the right product and method

Once you have a valid recommendation and medical marijuana card, you can switch to this therapy. At this stage, you will have to choose the right product and consumption method. Vaping is ideal if you want quick results for conditions like chronic pain, insomnia, and anxiety. You can explore an online smoke shop such as KING’s Pipe for understanding device options. Your doctor will suggest the right product and strain for treating your specific health issue. Conversely, you can opt for edibles if you want sustainable outcomes that last.

Not all cannabis is the same

As a beginner, you will probably believe that all cannabis products are the same. But the truth is different. Medical cannabis products are CBD-dominant because CBD is the healing compound that treats health issues. The recreational variants are THC-dominant, so they are more likely to get you high rather than heal. THC is the psychoactive component, making these products unfit for therapeutic use.

Know the apt dosage

Apart from skipping the THC-rich products, you also need to know the apt dosage. It becomes even more critical if you plan to use the therapy for the long haul. Your doctor will recommend the dosage depending on factors like your health condition, body weight, age, gender, and metabolism. But you must follow the rule of low and slow even with medicinal products. Listen to your body and understand your tolerance levels to find your sweet spot.
You will be more confident and comfortable while starting with medical cannabis once you sort out these factors. Keep them in mind, and you can get the best outcomes without any apprehensions.