Medical cannabis users are at a slight disadvantage when it comes to figuring out how to take their medicines. They don’t have the advantage of a prescription that spells everything out in detail. In addition, they ultimately have to choose the medical cannabis products they are going to use. So how do they do it?
Not a Prescription Medication
It is important to preface the rest of this post with a discussion of medical cannabis and its status as a prescription medication. There are states that like to refer to ‘prescription cannabis’ or ‘prescription marijuana’. But both terms are misnomers. There is no such thing.
Marijuana is a Schedule I controlled substance under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). As such, it is also illicit. Neither doctors nor advanced practice nurses can legally prescribe illicit substances. So instead, clinicians who help their patients acquire medical cannabis make recommendations.
The Medical Cannabis Card
The states vary in how they implement medical cannabis recommendations. In most states, patients are issued a medical cannabis card with a doctor’s recommendation officially submitted to the state. That is how it works in Utah.
Utah patients take their cards to a medical cannabis pharmacy like Brigham City’s Beehive Farmacy. A card acts as a license to enter, shop, and ultimately make purchases. Unfortunately, a medical cannabis card does not dictate the exact product, dosage, or delivery method a patient must purchase.
A general rule in medical cannabis is to start with the lowest possible dose and work up from there. The idea is to use just enough to achieve symptom relief. By utilizing what is known as the ‘low and slow’ approach, patients can avoid the temptation of consuming too much.
Plenty of Product Options
The challenge for many patients is wading through all the product options to land on whatever will work best. For starters, medical cannabis products come with different doses of THC. A new patient might be looking for a low-dose product but still end up with something that has more THC than he really wants.
Different products are based on different delivery methods, as well. A medical cannabis vape mimics smoking. A patient inhales a THC-infused vapor through a specialized vaping device. Other delivery methods include:
- Dry heating
- Edible products
- Concentrated oils and tinctures
- Topical applications
- Raw cannabis flower (for recipes made at home)
If you have never used medical cannabis, you may not know why the delivery method matters. Delivery method impacts how quickly THC gets into the bloodstream and how long its effects last. Someone choosing to vape may need a lower dose compared to someone who is using a gummy. That’s because gummies have to work their way through the digestive system. Some of the THC gets broken down as a result.
That’s What Pharmacists Are For
A small number of states with medical cannabis programs mandate that doctors dictate dose and delivery method. Then it’s up to the local medical cannabis pharmacist to make sure those directions are followed. However, such states are in the minority. Most states ultimately leave dose and delivery method options up to patients.
A medical cannabis pharmacist is a patient’s best option for figuring it all out. Indeed, that’s what pharmacists are for. They study the human endocannabinoid system. They understand how the body interacts with all sorts of drugs. They are the most qualified individuals to offer sound advice on dosage, frequency, and delivery.
If you are new to medical cannabis and struggling to find the right product, talk with your pharmacist. That is where you’ll get answers.
