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AACP Annual Meeting
2015-07-11 - 2015-07-15    
All Day
The AACP Annual Meeting is the largest gathering of academic pharmacy administrators, faculty and staff, and each year offers 70 or more educational programs that cut across [...]
Engage, Innovation in Patient Engagement
2015-07-14 - 2015-07-15    
All Day
MedCity ENGAGE is an executive-level event where the industry’s brightest minds and leading organizations discuss best-in-class approaches to advance patient engagement and healthcare delivery. ENGAGE is the [...]
mHealth + Telehealth World 2015
2015-07-20 - 2015-07-22    
All Day
The role of technology in health care is growing year after year. Join us at mHealth + Telehealth World 2015 to learn strategies to keep [...]
2015 OSEHRA Open Source Summit
2015-07-29 - 2015-07-31    
All Day
Join the Premier Open Source Health IT Summit! Looking to gain expertise in both public and private sector open source health IT?  Want to collaborate [...]
Events on 2015-07-11
AACP Annual Meeting
11 Jul 15
National Harbor, Maryland
Events on 2015-07-14
Events on 2015-07-20
Events on 2015-07-29
2015 OSEHRA Open Source Summit
29 Jul 15
Bethesda
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.