Recreational V/s Medical Marijuana: Things You Should Know
Figuring out the differences between medical and recreational marijuana isn’t that difficult. Despite the conflicting stance towards the herb at the state and federal levels, both forms are pretty common to find around.
If you are a first-time user, it is helpful to know your cannabis and how to use it the right way.
Thankfully, this article will equip you with just what you need to get started.
Know Your Cannabis
As you may have already figured out, there are typically two forms of cannabis available in the market. One is solely for medical purposes, hence the name medical marijuana.
And the other is used for its euphoric effects that help relax and destress, thus the name recreational marijuana.
It is noteworthy that neither recreational nor medical marijuana is legal throughout the states.
As of now, all 50 states have decriminalized medical marijuana. But only, 11 states have legalized recreational use of the herb.
The Big Difference
Typically, the difference in the effects of these two types of weed comes from their composition.
The usual marijuana, aka recreational marijuana, has all the cannabinoids with no alterations. Meaning, it also contains THC, which is responsible for causing the high.
In contrast, medical cannabis does not contain THC or usually has less than 0.3% of it. Therefore, it does not create any euphoric effects.
Besides, the advancements in biotechnology have allowed us to experiment and create new strains that contain precisely the type and amount of cannabinoids we want.
For example, besides the usual marijuana and hemp strains, including Sativa and Indica, today we also have hybrid strains. OG Kush, quadra strain, sour candy are some of the popular hybrids available in the market. And, there are many more strains being developed.
How To Use Your Cannabis
First things first, you need to understand that whether you can get your hands on cannabis will largely depend on the state you live in or the state where you are buying.
Besides, if you are to buy medical cannabis, you need to present a medical prescription. Essentially, dispensaries around the country are required to check medical cards from the consumers before selling medical marijuana to them.
In contrast, buying recreational marijuana does not require any such formality. However, there is a possession cap on the amount you can buy, possess, and carry around with you. Confirm with your local dispensary about the state laws for more information.
That being said, if you are consuming medical marijuana, the best way to do it would be to use concentrates or extracts. In any state, you can easily find infused edibles, vape cartridges, salves, and tinctures for CBD (medical marijuana).
On the other hand, if you consume recreational marijuana, make sure you start with mild doses. Ideally, you should try smoking it for the first time. But, in case you are not comfortable smoking marijuana, you can also try other options, the same as medical marijuana. You can find edibles, tinctures, vapes, salves, and more in the recreational category too.
The Bottomline
Both recreational marijuana and its medical cousin are easily distinguishable. Make sure you talk with a friend who uses it already to be on the safer side. You can also ask dispensary staff if they can help you get the best-suited variety for your needs.
