Although medical marijuana is now legal for people with various ailments, consuming it is a serious business.
Cannabis has a complex chemical makeup, and there are plant-to-plant variations even when it’s lab-grown. Moreover, consumption methods affect the way it will impact you.
So, be a smart consumer and ensure the safety of your medicine. Let’s take a look at how to do so.
Ingestion Methods
You can ingest this medicine in many ways, and you should consider them all before you decide. Choosing the right method for your issue and convenience is the best way to take it safely.
- Eating: Ene of the safest ways, with more pronounced yet delayed effects.
- Tinctures and sprays: Similar to eating, but with even easier dosage control.
- Topicals: The least aggressive way if you’re using cannabis to heal ailments.
- Smoking: Familiar and fantastic for providing immediate relief. It could lead to coughing, though, so smoke as little as possible.
- Vaporizers: Similar effects as smoking, but without lung irritants.
- Bongs and water pipes: You shouldn’t use these regularly, as water vapor can end up in your lungs. Also, if you go for a bong, be sure it’s made of a safe material.
Cannabis Varieties
Cannabis comes in a variety of strains. A rough distinction is often made between Sativas and Indicas. However, modern breeding has led to many hybrids entering the market as well.
So, when choosing, check the effects of each variety and keep a log. Whichever type you pick, use high potency and high-quality medicine that hasn’t been treated with pesticides. If you need higher doses, go for concentrates.
CBD can cause nausea and appetite changes, as the most prominent side-effects. Experiment with different strains to find the one that works for you. Take a medicine vacation between strains to best gauge their effects, too.
Consider Drug Interactions
Although research still hasn’t found significant interactions between cannabis and other drugs, it’s something you should consider. Some studies indicate that it could enhance the effects of painkillers, but we know little about other interactions.
If you are regular with any other medication, talk to your doctor first. Also, avoid mixing it with alcohol.
No Quality Standards
Dispensaries are yet to get guidelines on raising the plants they sell to patients. So, you may end up with a different product with each purchase.
If possible, go for storefronts, not delivery services. That way, you’ll get to see what you’re getting and from whom firsthand. Be sure that you choose a reputable business. Check what other customers say about them and whether they offer any quality guarantees.
When you visit the store, ask them how they get the product. Getting a detailed answer here is vital.
In some cases, it’s challenging to get the cleanest possible product from a store, no matter how diligent you are.
So, you could consider growing your plant. There are many stores and websites such as I Love Growing Marijuana that sell affordable seeds, and that will put you on the path to a 100% safe product.
The Bottom Line
From strain to dispensary, everything can influence your experience with medicinal marijuana. Do your homework to ensure you’re getting the most out of it.
