Medical marijuana has expanded across the country, with states like West Virginia offering cannabis as an alternative medicine for patients diagnosed with any one of the approved conditions for medical marijuana.
Medical marijuana programs allow patients to access and use cannabis plants for medicinal purposes, which would otherwise be illegal without a medical marijuana certification.
The cannabis plant itself is extremely versatile and can produce a nearly infinite number of different cannabis products, some of which can even be designated as legal without a medical marijuana card.
Hemp plants, which are classified as cannabis plants containing less than 0.3% THC, can also be used to produce products that have some of the same properties as regular medical marijuana, though, without the THC content.
In this article, we’ll look at some of the differences in hemp-based products and medical marijuana products and discover why medical marijuana patients look for dispensary-grade products rather than over-the-counter cannabis.
The Difference Between Hemp-Based Cannabis Products & Medical Marijuana Products
Hemp-Based Products Suffer from Lack of Regulation and Inconsistency
For most medical marijuana patients, having access to products that are both safe to consume and effective in treating symptoms are the top priorities.
Medical marijuana products, which are products that contain over 0.3% THC and are cultivated and sold for medicinal purposes, undergo a high level of testing and analysis.
Consumer-grade cannabis products that can be sold legally such as CBD oil, delta-8/10 vape cartridges, or delta-8/10 edibles aren’t required to maintain the same level of testing and analysis, and as a result, don’t always contain the ingredients listed on the package.
While certain brands are gaining notoriety for their tight restrictions on contamination and quality ingredients, these are typically far and few among the long list of retailers selling wholesale CBD products, many of which contain very little CBD.
Medical Marijuana Products Have Associated Health Benefits for Chronic Patients
There’s no denying the powerful abilities of CBD and what it can do for many different symptoms.
Hemp-based products from reputable brands that offer high quality CBD can be a great addition to a medical marijuana treatment plan, and many medical marijuana companies offer products without THC at dispensaries.
Hemp-based products are not a replacement for medical marijuana, however, because the medicinal benefits associated with THC (and THC with CBD) are significant, and THC likely plays one of the most significant roles in treatment with cannabis.
While CBD has been shown to provide anti-anxiety, anti-inflammatory, and mood boosting qualities, it does so at a diminished capacity compared to THC. Utilizing CBD & THC together likely provides the highest therapeutic and medicinal effects, with THC winning the race by a decent stretch.
How Medical Marijuana Patients Use Hemp vs Cannabis
Hemp-based Products Are Secondary to MMJ, Typically for Addressing Side Effects
Though medical marijuana and hemp serve two different purposes, for many medical marijuana patients, they do intersect.
Many medical marijuana patients choose to use hemp-based products alongside their regular medical cannabis for a variety of reasons.
Patients who are prone to heightened anxiety from cannabis use may look to incorporate CBD into their medication schedule to help calm some of the more aggressive effects of cannabis products with THC.
CBD can work alongside THC for improved results with mood, inflammation, and for patients with conditions like epilepsy or seizures, CBD can be an important addition to medical cannabis products.
CBD products like tinctures, edibles, and vape cartridges are some of the most popular hemp-based cannabis products for medical marijuana patients looking to add additional cannabinoids to their treatment plan.
Medical Marijuana Products for Effective Results
Medical cannabis products have much higher amounts of THC than hemp-based products, and THC is what’s responsible for the noticeable “high” from cannabis.
THC is an important compound because it addresses a variety of regulatory functions across the body’s central nervous system, being transmitted and received in the endocannabinoid system.
The endocannabinoid system acts as a communication network for a large number of the body’s functions such as learning and memory, sleep, temperature, inflammatory and immune responses, and eating.
While THC goes into the endocannabinoid system and directly binds to receptors, CBD does not bind to receptors. Instead, cannabidiol works as an agonist for THC, reducing the aggressiveness of psychoactive effects and providing more support for the binding process of THC.
This makes CBD an important addition for THC, though the primary effects like pain relief, reduced stress, and improved mood come from THC the most. Patients looking to use THC and CBD together will find a large selection of THC & CBD products available for purchase, and tinctures are likely the most common.
Tinctures often come with higher ratios of THC:CBD than other products, commonly offering proportions such as 1:1, 2:1, and 3:1, and tinctures are one of the most convenient ways to dose both THC and CBD.
Get Your Medical Marijuana Certification in
West Virginia
The West Virginia medical marijuana program offers comprehensive access to cannabis products for patients who have received a medical marijuana certification.
You can get your medical marijuana card online today by booking an appointment with one of our compassionate doctors and we’ll work with you every step of the way to help you get the relief you deserve with cannabis!
Take the steps to schedule your medical marijuana evaluation appointment today and get access to legal marijuana products available at dispensaries!
Being a West Virginia medical marijuana patient allows you the freedom to take your medication the right way for you. We’re dedicated to helping patients every step of the way! Feel free to give us a call at 877-303-8424 and we can answer your questions about getting a medical marijuana card in West Virginia.
Doctors Who Care.
Relief You Can Trust.
West Virginia Marijuana Card’s mission is to help everyone achieve
wellness safely and conveniently through increased access to medical marijuana.
Our focus on education, inclusion, and acceptance will reduce the stigma for
our patients by providing equal access to timely information and compassionate care.
If you have any questions, call us at 877-303-8424, or simply book a medical marijuana evaluation to start getting relief you can trust today!
Check out West Virginia Marijuana Card’s Blog to keep up to date on the latest medical marijuana news, tips, and information and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to join the medical marijuana conversation in West Virginia.
Comentarios