The Benefits of Medical Cannabis & becoming a Medical Patient
The ongoing discussion of cannabis in Canada has been controversial since recreational cannabis legalization in 2018. However, with the industry booming, it seems like the Canadian cannabis industry is not going anywhere anytime soon [Thank goodness!]. Cannabis is a versatile substance and has become a go-to therapy for many ailments and disorders. Even with the legalization of recreational cannabis, there are still numerous benefits to being prescribed medical cannabis through a healthcare practitioner, as opposed to self-medicating with recreationally purchased cannabis. While medical and recreational cannabis could seem very similar at first glance, both can be very different in safety, product range, medical benefits/effectiveness, price, and more.
Safety
As a medical patient, you gain access to healthcare practitioners and professionals who are experts in the use of medical cannabis. These professionals consider your medical history, symptoms, and healthcare needs and deliver uniquely tailored recommendations and plans. If your doctor determines that cannabis could be an effective treatment, he will write you a prescription. The prescription and advice your doctor give you will be personalised in a few ways:
Grams per day
Strains
Methods of intake
They can also help you monitor the effects and efficacy of your cannabis intake and help you navigate potentially dangerous drug interactions and side effects.
Medical benefits & Effectiveness
As we know, the legalization of cannabis in Canada was because of its unique medicinal properties.
“Our bodies have an endocannabinoid system, which is in charge of a lot of our bodily functions, such as our sleep cycles, regulation of appetite and emotional state” says Amanda Daley, the vice president at Spectrum Cannabis, a Canadian medical cannabis company. “The body has natural receptors for cannabis-like compounds, which means that, if we’re suffering or deficient in one function, the cannabis will gravitate towards those receptors and help reduce the symptoms we’re experiencing, whether that’s pain or a sleep disorder.”
Additionally, research has shown that it can have benefits in treating common issues such as sleep disorders, some anxiety-related issues and chronic pain. Daley notes that 1 in 5 Canadians suffer from some chronic pain. Cannabis is a particularly attractive method of treatment, as it’s natural, and doesn’t come with the unpleasant side effects pharmaceutical pain killers often have. The National Academies study in 2017 concluded that there is substantial evidence to support the use of cannabis in treating chronic pain in adults, chemotherapy-induced nausea in cancer patients and even spasticity symptoms in multiple sclerosis patients, and more.
"When you use marijuana recreationally, you’re guessing both the correct dose and which strain to buy, especially since retail sales representatives at recreational outlets will be unable to give shoppers medical advice, or advise on the ‘effects’ of the strains sold.”
In short, leave it to the Pros! If you’re looking into using cannabis as a treatment option, seek advice from a medical professional! Estimating and guessing the right course of treatment for yourself can be dangerous, expensive, and ineffective.
Wide Product Range
The amount of innovation and progress in cannabis products and strains today since the legalization is impressive! While accessibility to popular cannabis product formats like dry flowers, vapes, extracts, edibles, beverages, and topicals is easy and convenient, some new forms like transdermal patches, suppositories, lozenges, and sublingual strips are exclusively available to medical patients. The wide product range available to medical patients means more freedom to select their method of consumption and better ways to get themselves treated!
Affordability
When it comes to price, while we can’t guarantee it, there is often medical coverage and discounts for medical clients. It is becoming increasingly common for workplace insurance plans to cover medical cannabis. As more research becomes available, more providers are recognising it for some medical purposes, such as multiple sclerosis, HIV-AIDS, cancer, rheumatoid arthritis and palliative care.
Conclusion
While a medical prescription is no longer legally necessary to consume cannabis in Canada, it may be beneficial for a multitude of reasons. If you’re interested in becoming a medical patient, visit our “Where to Buy” page for more information.
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