One question that comes up routinely in the world of weed is, “What does medicinal mean?” Our response is sometimes met with a subtle grin or skeptical look, but we know the true power cannabis can hold when used medicinally.
Medicine is used to treat an ailment or improve the quality of life of the consumer, and cannabis products are no different. Their benefits are also nothing new. According to a report published by the NIH, the earliest documented use of medicinal marijuana in the US dates all the way back to 1850.
Read on to learn exactly what does medicinal mean at a dispensary, as well as common uses for this natural medicine that has existed for generations.
What Does Medicinal Mean?
Simply put, the “medicinal” in medicinal marijuana is exactly what it sounds like – it’s marijuana used as a medicine to treat a particular issue the patient is experiencing. This means that a patient has met with their medical provider and received a prescription for marijuana to aid in their treatment.
The uninitiated or skeptics of this increasingly popular medicinal treatment misinterpret this to mean that the doctor simply writes “go buy weed” on a prescription pad and sends off the patient to their local dispensary. However, this is not the case.
Oftentimes the physician and the patient will discuss differences in medicines that will better suit the patient’s needs, including strains and consumption methods. Ultimately, though, the patient does have some flexibility in selecting the proper medicine to match their preferences. That’s why a trusted dispensary makes all the difference.
Which Weed for What?
While we’ve spoken about this more in-depth in our blog post about finding the right weed strain for you, there are some basic guidelines that can help you and your local dispensary budtender find the right medicine to meet your needs.
Sativa vs. Indica?
Sativa and indica are the two sides of the weed world, with hybrids bridging the gap with features of the two. Sativas generally will produce a lighter “mental high” than their more heavily CBD counterpart, the indicas. Indicas tend to produce a more intense “body high” that many patients enjoy..
Which Medicine for Pain?
Indicas are often suggested for patients looking to alleviate pain without the use of habit-forming opiates. At the same time, long-term pain also comes with a lot of mental stress, and a quality sativa medicine can offer a great mental lift. Hybrid strains are a nice blend of both of these options.
Which Medicine for Insomnia?
Insomnia can be caused by many different variables, so there isn’t one single solution that works for everyone. However, the effect of THC and CBD on sleep was explored in a 2019 review published by the NIH, which recognized that medicinal marijuana can help people not only get to sleep easier but also sleep more soundly with fewer disturbances.
One key factor to getting the greatest benefit in sleep aid is to ensure that you’re looking for medicine with high THC content, which is often found in sativa and sativa hybrid strains.
Which Medicine for Anxiety or Stress?
Sativas are often the starting point for patients looking for relief from anxiety or stress – after all, THC-heavy medicine tends to do a great job of lifting mental weight for most users.
However, stress comes with physical effects as well, and those struggling with said effects can benefit from a CBD-heavy indica strain. Once again, a hybrid product might be the perfect choice for patients dealing with both mental and physical stress or anxiety symptoms.
While the term medicinal can get some skeptical reactions, we appreciate the opportunity to explain what does medicinal mean when it comes to cannabis products. Quality is key in the cannabis industry, and this focus helps realize the maximum benefits of this medicinal option that is ever-growing in popularity.
If you’re looking for relief from physical pain, insomnia, or any other ailment that could benefit from medicinal cannabis treatment, stop by the shop and let our professional staff help meet your need for high-quality medicine.