Many people tend to focus on the major cannabinoids like THC and CBD when picking out their cannabis strains, but that’s not the only medicinal component to the plant. Terpenes are the essential oils that provide cannabis plants their different flavors and aromas. Some terpenes even help supplement the indica or sativa properties of cannabis strains. While there are over 200 different terpenes, in this article we’ll go over the most common ones to look out for.
In recent years, attitudes toward cannabis have steadily improved. In fact, a 2017 study by Pew Research found that 61 percent of Americans favor marijuana legalization. (In our own practice at Green Health Docs, we have certified over 7,000 medical cannabis patients in both Ohio and Maryland and are thrilled that so many patients are able to get access to this wonderful medicine with their medical marijuana card.) This year, California became the ninth state to legalize the use of cannabis for recreational reasons. As an economic leader, the Golden State’s move is sure to have a significant impact on the industry.
Undeniably, the legalization and growing acceptance of marijuana have opened many possibilities for its application. In fact, weed is showing great promise in the fields of medicine and health.
Keep reading if you are curious about how marijuana can help address various health issues when combined with popular wellness techniques like meditation.
When most people think of cannabis edibles they picture baked goods and candies which are often featured on TV shows and in West Coast dispensaries. Maryland law prohibits selling cannabis ‘food’ due to concerns about minors mistakenly using their parents’ medication. Maryland dispensaries are able to provide other oral options such as pills, tablets and infused drinks. (Ohio patients will be able to purchase edibles from dispensaries unlike Maryland patients, however.)
There are ways to use cannabis as a food since it is possible to purchase raw cannabis flower and make your own.
Medical Marijuana will be coming to Ohio before you know it, and you may be pleasantly surprised to find that you too can qualify to become a legal cannabis patient! One of the most important steps to getting your Medical Marijuana card in Ohio is simply receiving (and being able to provide proof of) a diagnosis for at least one of the following qualifying conditions:
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is a condition caused by the immune system abnormally responding to natural intestinal bacteria and fungi. The two types of IBD are Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis. Crohn’s Disease can affect any portion of the GI tract, from the mouth to the anus, and can cause damage to the full thickness of your intestines.
Ulcerative Colitis is limited to your colon and only affects the inner lining. Both can be devastating to patients and involve multiple symptoms and complications – that is why IBD is a qualifying condition in many states where medical cannabis is legal, including Ohio, whose program will be launching early this fall.
Green Health Docs primarily mission is to give Maryland and Ohio residents medical cannabis cards so that they can access cannabis to better manage their conditions. While being able to treat pain and other symptoms can greatly improve one’s quality of life, so can maintaining a healthy lifestyle. The majority of the patients we see are seeking relief from their chronic pain, and no doubt have been counseled numerous times by their healthcare providers to try and be more active. Using your joints regularly helps to keep them healthier, even if they are arthritic – so could something typically associated with ‘stoners’ lying around eating snacks on the couch actually help you become more physically fit?
By using the right strains and dosages, patients may find that cannabis can be used as a tool not only to relieve their pain and other symptoms, but to improve their overall well-being. We’ve had some chronic pain patients return for their yearly check-ups reporting that they are more active and have been losing weight. This can seem counterintuitive at first, especially since cannabis is often promoted as an appetite stimulant that induces lethargy, but there also exist many strains that increase energy to help you be more active. Some cannabinoids, such as CBN and THC-V, can even help suppress appetite.
In states where cannabis is legal, it’s no surprise that many cancer patients and their loved ones have considered the possibility of trying medical marijuana. When faced with such a devastating disease, it’s common to explore every available avenue, even those outside the realm of conventional medicine. However, as with most alternative medications, there will always be some individuals who oversell its benefits or even bill it as a “miracle” cure. So, what is medical marijuana’s actual role when it comes to cancer?
America has nearly 55 million adults who have used marijuana once or twice in the past year, says the same 2017 survey by Yahoo! News and The Marist Post. Over 35 million of them are regular users, who use the drug at least once or twice every month.
Twenty-nine states and the District of Columbia have legalized medical marijuana, while recreational marijuana has been legalized in nine states. Some states have also been updating on their policies to ensure safety of patients. Sixty-four percent of Americans support legalization, according to recent Gallup poll.
More Americans are gradually changing their attitudes toward cannabis. Far from the menace it was projected to be in the 1930s, marijuana has been proven to give several health effects to humans. Read further to find out how cannabis can positively affect the body and mind.
Back in February, Green Health Docs published a blog about medical marijuana and gun laws. Due to federal laws regarding marijuana, Maryland residents cannot legally purchase or possess firearms upon attaining their medical marijuana patient status. Purchasing is especially problematic because of a question on the ATF Form 4473 that individuals are required to fill out when purchasing firearms. This form forces prospective buyers to identify whether they use marijuana or not under threat of perjury. Fear not, however, as we have some exciting news regarding this issue!
While there are over 100 cannabinoids present in medical marijuana, THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol) are the two most well-known and abundant. THC is the component that gets you ‘high’ and is classified as a schedule 1 drug by the DEA. CBD, on the other hand, can be found & legally purchased, even in most states where medical marijuana is not legal, since it produces no psychoactive effects. Both have their separate uses and we’ll go over their individual strengths and weaknesses. To understand better why one should be used over the other, it’s helpful to compare their chemical differences.