CANNABIS AS MEDICINE

Medical cannabis uses the marijuana plant or chemicals in it to treat diseases or conditions. The marijuana plant contains more than 100 different chemicals called cannabinoids. Each one has a different effect on the body. Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) are the main chemicals used in medicine. THC also produces the “high” people feel when they smoke marijuana or eat foods containing it.

What is medical cannabis used for?

Medical cannabis is used to treat a number of different conditions, including:

• Alzheimer’s disease
• Appetite loss
• Cancer
• Crohn’s disease

• Eating disorders such as anorexia
• Glaucoma
• Mental Health Conditions
Like schizophrenia and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Multiple sclerosis

• Muscle spasms
• Nausea
• Pain
• Wasting syndrome (cachexia)

How does it help?

Cannabinoids — the active chemicals in medical marijuana — are similar to chemicals the body makes that are involved in appetite, memory, movement, and pain.

Research suggests cannabinoids might:

• Reduce anxiety
• Reduce inflammation and relieve pain
• Control nausea and vomiting caused by cancer chemotherapy
• Kill cancer cells and slow tumor growth
• Relax tight muscles in people with MS
• Stimulate appetite and improve weight gain in people with cancer and AIDS

How do you take it?

Medical cannabis may be consumed in different ways:

• Traditionally by smoking the flower

• Inhaling medical cannabis extract through a device called a vaporizer that turns it into a mist

• Orally, by eating medical cannabis extract infused within an edible or placing a few drops of medical cannabis extract under your tongue

• Topically, by applying it to your skin in a lotion, spray, oil, or cream

Each method works differently in your body. If you smoke, vaporize or sublingually consume cannabis, you feel the effects relatively quickly. If you eat it, it may take significantly longer as it can take 1 to 2 hours to experience the effects from edible products.

What is Cannabidiol (CBD)?

Cannabidiol, also known as CBD, is a natural substance that has recently come into the spotlight for a number of reasons. CBD is extracted and separated from specific varieties of cannabis, often known as hemp. Recently, CBD oil has become an accepted means of relaxation, and the substance’s popularity is rising fairly rapidly. CBD is legal worldwide (a controlled substance in Canada alone).

How do I choose which variety is right for me?

There is more to choosing the right cannabis medicine than you might think. There are many different variables to consider when choosing the right medical cannabis strains. There are two primary variable groups to keep in mind when choosing a quality medical cannabis strain. The first is the strain classification and the second is cannabinoid content. Strains are currently classified into three broad groups: indicas, sativas, and hybrids.

The next major factor to consider is cannabinoid content as different strains can produce highly varied effects. Some strains do not even produce a psychoactive effect at all. It all depends on what types of cannabinoids are most abundant in the strain.

Speak to your doctor and discuss your needs with an OTWC qualified representative for assistance in finding the right course of treatment.